OL Kyle Kalis Visiting Michigan This Weekend

Submitted by TomVH on

Ohio State OL commit Kyle Kalis has been caught in the mix with the Ohio State allegations. He said that he was set to decommit from the Buckeyes until interim head coach Luke Fickell talked him out of it. Kalis then went on to say that he does have interest in Michigan and a few other schools. He told me tonight that he and his father will be visiting Ann Arbor this weekend. Here's a look at his film and what he had to say.

TOM: Is there any chance that you head up to Michigan this week for their camp?

KYLE: Yeah me and my dad are going up there this weekend to meet everyone for a visit. We're driving up Friday night then staying all day Saturday. 

TOM: What prompted this visit? I know that you've been saying you are interested in Michigan, but why visit now?

KYLE: It's pretty much for the past few months I've become really good friends with Tom Strobel and he said I would love it up there, he fell in love with it. Tom was up there last weekend and he was talking about me with the coaches, they were joking around saying we could be roommates. I think Chris [Wormley] will be up there too [TomVH ed: I confirmed with Wormley that he is visiting this weekend]. I'm closer with Tom, but I am friends with Chris.

TOM: Is that important for you to have people that you already know there, too?

KYLE: Yeah, a big part of me liking Michigan is being able to come in with guys like Tom, maybe Chris [Wormley], being able to know that I'll practice with guys that are going to make me better.

TOM: I'm assuming your dad is an Ohio State fan too, what has he said about all this?

KYLE: He's actually not an Ohio State fan, he's indifferent. With him he's already been through this so he tells me to go with my heart. He's told me to get up there and talk with Coach Hoke, get up there and meet them in person.

TOM: What are you looking to get out of this visit

KYLE: The main thing is just getting a chance to sit down with Coach Hoke and a big thing is also to meet with the strength coach. I want to sit down with him and see his tactics. I also want to sit down with Coach Funk and maybe meet a few of the players.

TOM: Is this your first time up there?

KYLE: Yes, this will be the first time. Tom [Strobel] said when you get up there it's just a different place.

TOM: What's next after this? Are you taking any more visits?

KYLE: This summer I might get out to Auburn, Alabama, Iowa, or Miami. I probably won't get out to all of them, I want to enjoy my summer so we'll see.

Comments

Mr Mackey

June 20th, 2011 at 11:20 PM ^

WOW. did not see this coming. Thanks, Tom. 

With all those visits planned, and him really wanting to play with his friends, do you still think he ends up at OSU? Or does it depend on the sanctions coming?

WoodleyIsBeast

June 20th, 2011 at 11:20 PM ^

Long term goal would be to see him rocking Maize and Blue for four years.

At the very least, the short term puts pressure on some of the bigger names, this is what a Michigan offense is all about!

GO BLUE MP3

June 20th, 2011 at 11:23 PM ^

He looks to have good technique and is only going to get bigger and stronger.  Would love to have him on the good guys side and not have to battle him for the next few years!

ken725

June 20th, 2011 at 11:43 PM ^

I think you might be right about that.  It seems like Blake Bars and Trey Keenan are really high on Michigan right now.  To be honest it is great to get the guys with 5 stars to their recruiting profile, but if the coaches are willing to except a commitment from others  I'm happy with that.  

AAB

June 20th, 2011 at 11:46 PM ^

The whole point of recruiting rankings is that they're really fricking predictive of college success.  If you get a bunch of high 4 stars and 5 stars interested in you, you do what you can to get some of them, even if it means holding spots open.  

mmiicchhiiggaann

June 21st, 2011 at 12:11 AM ^

Who are you two to be pissed at the coaches accepting one of the 4 stars versus a different 4 star or 5 star, obviously they know how to evaluate talent for the system they want to run, which may have different rankings than rivals or scouts generic lineman rankings. Also, did't we just have 10 different posts last month how offensive line is the hardest positon to predict and the sites do the WORST job at evaluating lineman.

Gores

June 21st, 2011 at 12:35 AM ^

The fanbases that typically talk about how OL rankings are hard to predict are the same fanbases that strike out with the top 100 kids. You won't hear USC, Bama, etc. having that discussion bc they are getting those top kids. We need to reach for the stars, even if we fall short we'll still land on the moon...

jerseyblue

June 21st, 2011 at 9:44 AM ^

So you're saying that if we hold out for the 4 and 5 star guys that we could end up on a planet ruled by apes!!  Let me think. we could have 5*OL recruits and everything else would be the same or we could have 3* but live on a planet ruled by apes BUT there would be hot women that are mute........Well I for one would welcome our new ape overlords.

Hail Apes!

 

turd ferguson

June 20th, 2011 at 11:47 PM ^

Honestly, if that's the strategy, I'm not crazy about it.  We're in the top lists for so many elite recruits that we can be selective.  First-come, first-served seems like a strategy that gets you the least well regarded prospects you've offered, since those are the guys who might think that nothing equal/better will come around.  I hope this coaching staff is willing to cool down on a few guys if they think that one of their dream prospects is thinking Michigan but wanting to take a little more time.

I Bleed Maize …

June 20th, 2011 at 11:59 PM ^

seems to be the route Hoke is taken.  It sounds like Blake Bars is VERY high on us now.  Tre Keenan loved his visit and from that interiew Kalis almost sounds like he has one foot out the door of OSU already. Some are saying  to hold off on guys like Bars or Keenan.  But Bars has offers from PSU, LSU, FLorida, and many others so he's no slouch.  We are in on so many top flight Olineman and are going to fill up before some of the guys the posters think we should wait for decide.  IMO Hoke and Co. are doing the right thing and they hold all of the Oline guys we are in play with in high regard and would be happy with any of them.  Ben Braden is only a 3* right now but could be one of the best lineman we get in this class.  Evaluating Oline prospects is hard and we shouldn't just look at stars and rankings as a barometer of talent.

ryebreadboy

June 21st, 2011 at 5:01 AM ^

Bars, I'd be fine with.  From all accounts, Keenan did not have a good camp, and I still don't understand why everyone is so enamored with Olson.  If he was really that good and cutting for academic reasons, he'd at least have an ND or Stanford offer.  We are in on some superb recruits at this position.  Banner has scheduled TWO officials, and we are one of them.  I would much rather wait and see how things shake out with Garnett, Peat, Banner, Kalis, Diamond and Thurston.  Yes, Ben Braden is on a tear and looks likely to earn that fourth star (from what I've heard, he's killing it at camp), but for every three-star Ben Braden who kills it, there's probably one who doesn't.  I get that O-Line is hard to predict and that star rankings are not the end-all, be-all.  There are quality players who are three-stars.  Of course there are.  But the players who are ranked four- and five-stars are widely considered to be much better (or more ready to play immediately, which certainly couldn't hurt).  I don't understand the whole first-come/first-served mentality.  I agree with an above poster that it probably nets you players who are less highly-regarded (since those in the top 150 generally take a lot more time to decide).  I don't think there's anything wrong with telling Keenan/Olsen that we are considering many options at their position and not looking to finish off the position group until the middle of the season.  If they like us enough to commit now, they'll still like us then.

turtleboy

June 20th, 2011 at 11:26 PM ^

Top it off with Joshua Garnett naming Michigan in his top 5 AND he and Zach Banner professing a desire to play together and suddenly I can't stand up without it getting embarrassing.

NJblue2

June 20th, 2011 at 11:31 PM ^

Thanks for the interview. I love how Tom Strobel is helping recruit this kid also. This could end up being an insanely talented class for all positions.