OT: Ifeadi Odenigbo Commits to Northwestern
One time Michigan linebacker recruit from Ohio, Ifeadi Odenigbo commits to Northwestern University. Rated 50th in the nation on ESPN, might be the biggest recruit they have landed in a long time. Can't really see why he would commit to Northwestern with plenty of good offers, might be able to see early playing time at Northwestern. Oh well I am happy with our LB crew!
January 10th, 2012 at 1:22 AM ^
Wow. What a get.
As for why he went to NU, Odenigbo has long been said to be a recruit who would make his choice almost entirely based on academics. Glad he stayed in B1G country instead of heading out to Stanford.
January 10th, 2012 at 1:33 AM ^
On academics alone he should have gone to Stanford.
January 10th, 2012 at 1:42 AM ^
There were rumors there were admissions hold ups at Stanford FWIW. Not sure that makes much sense, by all reports he's a great student that cares greatly about academics, but NW is no worse than Stanford in my mind unless he is looking into engineering. My only guess is it was some other sort of hold up at Stanford if this is true.
Either way he looked like a great player and by all accounts is. Big pickup for NW.
January 10th, 2012 at 1:51 AM ^
NU is a great school, but Stanford is a notch above. Maybe being closer to home gave NU the advantage.
When applying for undergrad there were two schools I would have chosen over Michigan without pause... Stanford and Princeton, that's it.
January 10th, 2012 at 2:02 AM ^
January 10th, 2012 at 2:18 AM ^
Kellogg id great, top 5 b-School, but few would put it ahead of Wharton, Stanford, Harvard. But great school and honestly the top 7 are about the same and each is better in particular areas.
January 10th, 2012 at 2:20 AM ^
Agree, Stanford would've been the only school I would've gone ahead of Michigan for undergrad (I did EECS and bschool so I am biased towards those careers).
January 10th, 2012 at 2:20 AM ^
Or Penn's M&T program
January 10th, 2012 at 1:40 AM ^
I had a chance to chat with him last summer when his list included the likes of Stanford and Cal. Academics and career opportunities were the most important factor for him. He was talking about looking for internship opportunities that would lead to a job in the tech sector while in school. He walked the talk by selecting the most highly regarded academic institution in the B1G. I wonder if he was ever shown the Michigan North Campus if he visited Ann Arbor. Best wishes to a quality young man.
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January 10th, 2012 at 9:47 AM ^
Would guess Stanford, with it's proximity to Silicon Valley and all the VC ties in the area, would offer better opportunities in the tech field.
However, glad to see he is going to a great school (NW is nothing to sneeze at).
January 10th, 2012 at 12:12 PM ^
I have relatives in D1 coaching and have had some interaction with high quality recruits and coaches. Fitz @ NU is one of those coaches that garner tons of respect by both.
Happily, same is true about Hoke. When those guys say something they mean it and will work hard to back it up. Fitz is a honestly impressive guy and defensive minded coach. Odenigbo should do well there and I wish him the best. (Of course not on UofM game days. 8)
January 10th, 2012 at 1:27 AM ^
A damn good university with a decent football program.
January 10th, 2012 at 1:31 AM ^
i got to meet coach fitzgerald this summer, and can easily see why kids want to play for him, and why he's such a hot commodity whenever coach searches come up. the guy is a real class act, and it undoubtedly carries over into his recruiting.
January 10th, 2012 at 1:58 AM ^
Agreed. I didn't used to like him, but the guy grew on me over the season. He has the best sideline demeanor of any coach in the Big Ten.
January 10th, 2012 at 9:31 AM ^
I would put Hoke and Fitzgerald in the same class for "sideline demeanor". I've been terribly impressed with Fizgerald during his coaching tenure. I'm also terribly impressed with Hoke.
January 10th, 2012 at 9:44 AM ^
If I had a son, Coach Fitzgerald would certainly be one of the top 3 coaches I'd want him to play for. A man that cares and a great football coach. IMO Coach Fitz and Coach Hoke (along with Coach Ferentz to an extent) are the class of the B1G.
January 10th, 2012 at 1:31 AM ^
Can't really see why he would commit to Northwestern with plenty of good offers
Maybe he liked the school?
January 10th, 2012 at 1:47 AM ^
I played with him, and honestly he is all speed and not what we were looking for in the aspect of lastting talent, size, etc. I like him as a person, but as a recruit, I feel that we could do better.
January 10th, 2012 at 6:38 AM ^
I hate defensive players who are fast. Give me a slow guy all day long!
January 10th, 2012 at 11:23 AM ^
I didn't know talent was temporary.
January 10th, 2012 at 2:30 AM ^
and purple
January 10th, 2012 at 7:02 AM ^
but this is pretty old news
January 10th, 2012 at 7:17 AM ^
January 10th, 2012 at 8:05 AM ^
At least he didnt commit to TSDS. i thought he was
January 10th, 2012 at 9:18 AM ^
If he's basing it on academics there was never a chance of that happening
January 10th, 2012 at 8:32 AM ^
This kid played really well in the UA game. I was really impressed with him, and wondering which SEC team was going to snap him up. Glad to see NW got him.
January 10th, 2012 at 9:23 AM ^
why would he commit to TSDS? he said he cared about academics
January 10th, 2012 at 9:31 AM ^
Maybe he is on drugs? Oh wait it is called college for a reason. Northwestern is a good college to learn at. Maybe he liked a degree they offer.
January 10th, 2012 at 9:37 AM ^
Very old news....
January 10th, 2012 at 10:26 AM ^
I would put Hoke and Fitzgerald in the same class for "sideline demeanor". I've been terribly impressed with Fizgerald during his coaching tenure. I'm also terribly impressed with Hoke.
Remember, this is the same guy who helped his team lose to us because of his technical foul. Hoke would never do THAT. This guy was more like Kelly than Hoke in that game.