Chatting With Logan Tuley-Tillman, Wolverine
I've been keeping up with Logan Tuley-Tillman, the eighth player to commit to Michigan this past weekend, since the beginning of his recruiting process. He needs little introduction, as much has been written about his class, determination, and perseverance while growing up in Peoria, IL, and doing everything in his power to become a Division I football player. Logan's dream was realized on Sunday, and I had the opportunity to talk with him about why he chose Michigan, how he made the pledge, and much more:
ACE: What made you decide that it was the right time to commit?
LOGAN: I just really felt like it was time. I'd seen all my friends doing it, and I knew that Michigan was where I wanted to be. I really wanted to go see [other schools], but I came to realize that there was no other place where I fit in more than Michigan, and was probably just the cities that I wanted to see most out of those places, which is understandable because of the high-profile places that they were. I just came to the realization that Michigan was where I belonged and where I needed to be.
ACE: How did your commitment go down?
LOGAN: I actually got home and I knew I was going to announce it, so I put something on Twitter. I was just talking to my mom about it the whole day. Then when I got home, I told her I was going to decide, and she said "okay," and walked away when I was on the phone. She was really trippin', because I was just at Wisconsin, and she didn't think it was going to be Michigan. I got on the phone, I called Coach Darrell Funk, and we talked about me committing. My mom, she was sitting there listening, and I was talking to [Coach Funk] and Coach Hoke the whole time, and they was just so exuberant about it, really happy. It was really crazy coming from where I came from and not ever having nothing to being able to have an opportunity to play for Michigan. It's just so crazy to me.
ACE: You being the eighth player to commit over the weekend, were you talking to any of the other recruits, especially the guys who committed over the weekend?
LOGAN: No, I actually didn't talk to anybody. I just sat by myself for a couple hours, I didn't even answer any calls or anything like that. When I sat there thinking it really just came down to Michigan, Florida, Florida State, Alabama, Wisconsin, and USC. I just took all the places that I'd seen and thought about me waking up there, would I be happy, and the one I would be happiest in is in Ann Arbor, so that's when I decided to commit.
ACE: What about Ann Arbor made you decide that's where you'd be happiest at?
LOGAN: Just the tradition and family support that I have there, how great the coaching staff is, the man Coach Hoke is, how he's him constantly and he's going to tell you how he sees things and how he coaches.
ACE: Now that you committed, I see a lot of Team 134 talk. What's it like being able to be a part of a class that's already so tight-knit, and what are your goals as a class?
LOGAN: It is very exciting. I heard someone say that we've got the number one offensive line class in the country. It's just so great to be able to say that; not just that the people that I'm going to play in college with are great players, they're great people, Michigan Men, and we're all good friends and close to each other, or will eventually be. We're ranked real high right now as a group, and right now we don't even have all of our guys committed yet, so we're just honestly trying to get in there and all push each other as hard as we can. Because everyone's all really talented in our class, honestly making it to the national championship, that's our goal when we're actually on the field.
ACE: Are you planning on doing a little recruiting on your own at this point?
LOGAN: (laughs) Yeah, most definitely. I'm not going to say any names, but I know there's three for a fact that I'm going to try to get for certain. Another thing is, we're real good friends too, so that's one of the things that I'm telling to them. I'm going to be off the roof for them, I'll have their back, wherever they go, but just the family that we have here at Michigan is why I personally, as a friend, would say Michigan or be pro-Michigan and when we talk just tell them about it.
ACE: Going back to talk about Coach Hoke and the coaching staff as a whole, what set them apart from the coaching staffs at the other schools that you went to?
LOGAN: They were just so personal, on a personal level. Coach Borges, too, he's a great coach, I really appreciate all the time they put in. They actually came to my school about five or six times. I know Coach Funk, I think he actually drove the whole seven hours just to come to my school and he had to leave at night because he got there at about 8:30. Just the small things that they did really proved to me that they wanted me.
ACE: I know last time we talked you said you were up to around 304 pounds. What's your goal now in terms of getting better on the field and working off the field before you get to Michigan?
LOGAN: Yeah, I'm up to 307 now, but I can still run a lot. I still have track practice and I'm still real mobile, that's one of the things I really like, it really surprised me because I figured that I would be able to do the same things that I can. I can still dunk at 307, so that's a real big thing, just staying mobile and loose and pushy, just really add another dimension to my game. Then of course there's the weight room, which is every young lineman's thing that they've got to get knocked out of the way. I've got to increase all my numbers in there, which I'm doing pretty good on. I maxed out at 605 on the squat, so I'm just trying to build up on that, at least put 100 pounds on that before I get there, because I know the guys there are doing way more than that.
ACE: If you had to sum up in a couple of words what this weekend was like for you, what did it boil down to?
LOGAN: It's hard to say. For three words, it would have to be: emotional, triumphant, and Michigan.
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:22 AM ^
605 on the squat as a junior? Wow.
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:42 AM ^
I had a similar reaction, but that's what he said. I'm not gonna argue with a 6'7", 307-pounder of any age.
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:55 AM ^
And he wants to add 100 to that before he gets to Ann Arbor? I thought I read somewhere that Mike Martin "only" squats 700.
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:19 PM ^
Magnus, you have looked at the film and have serious concerns about LTT's technique and coaching. What can happen with this in the next year? Does he do anything, or does this wait about a year and a half when he is done with High School? I'd love to see LTT use this summer and the next season to begin to better utilize all the raw athletic ability he already has.
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:04 PM ^
The "I can still dunk" quote was huge for me. 307lbs would definitely shatter some backboards!
February 22nd, 2012 at 6:21 PM ^
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:25 AM ^
I feel bad for all the shots and discs he'll be throwing around this track season. He really must work hard. It's one thing to be naturally big, but to get that strong takes a lot of work and mental toughness. I've heard as much anyway.
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:27 AM ^
Great interview, Ace. I've seen a few interviews with LTT after his commitment, but this had some new info.
I'm going to guess the three guys he was talking about are Pocic, Treadwell, and Isaac. That's not really going out on a limb though.
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:28 AM ^
Damn. He really knows all the right things to say, huh? I love the dedication coming out of the new commits. They are already pulling for the program, and aren't even HS seniors yet.
Bravo 134. Bravo. Keep up the good work. Can't wait to see all of you.
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:29 AM ^
I know there has been discussion about a Illinois threesome that was close friend, including LTT, but are the three guys he is talking about? From what I can remember there is at least one wild card in there. The other two guys were Ty Isaac and Laquon Treadwell, right? Is it Pocic?
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:40 AM ^
I know that these kids are freaks, but 605 on squat just seems a little too freakish to be real.
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:41 AM ^
He tweeted yesterday that he was coming up to Ann Arbor for the weekend, possibly with some guys from Illinois. Here's to hoping he gets them to come along.
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:46 AM ^
when is that photo from? he looks like the slimmest 300 pound dude ever.
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:23 PM ^
It's either from his sophomore or junior year. He played at 280 as a junior, so he's added a fair amount of weight just since last season ended—he works out as much as he can at Core 6 in the Chicago area with several top prospects like Bosch, Pocic, Isaac, Treadwell, and others.
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:05 PM ^
Hopefully he's as good a recruiter as Morris. I'd love to have Isaac and Treadwell in the fold.
February 23rd, 2012 at 6:01 PM ^
I was hoping that Pocic, Issac and Treadwell were the three guys he wants to recruit.
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:53 AM ^
Usually good decisions aren't made with the reasoning "I'd seen all my friends doing it" but commiting definately was a good one.
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:56 AM ^
I am really looking forward to watching all these big nasty's down in the trenches over the next few years. MANBALL!!!!
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:57 AM ^
A high school kid that used the word "triumphant
" is impressive. I like this kid on and off the field!February 22nd, 2012 at 12:07 PM ^
I'll raise you an "exuberant."
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:28 PM ^
I'm all in with a Michigan...the Royal Flush word from OMG Shirtless Recruits.
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:57 AM ^
Umm, one word, TREMENDOUS!
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:04 PM ^
My favorite thing I've read in the last day from him is when he said that he and Bosch were AT alabama and talking about MICHIGAN. Take that saban.
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:13 PM ^
To the FAMILY
Avenged Sevenfold
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:14 PM ^
I really wanted to go see [other schools], but I came to realize that there was no other place where I fit in more than Michigan, and was probably just the cities that I wanted to see most out of those places, which is understandable because of the high-profile places that they were.
If it's any consolation, Logan, you're missing very, very little if you never set foot in Tuscaloosa, Gainesville, or Tallahassee. You'll get to see Los Angeles every winter for the Rose Bowl, and that's about as much time as anyone ever needs to spend in L.A. The only nice city on that list is Madison, and you'll get to visit there your junior or senior year. There: all better.
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:15 PM ^
I loved the three words he chose to sum up the weekend. I think those same three words summed up all of last season for me.
February 22nd, 2012 at 4:56 PM ^
Totally agree: Tremendous Tremendous Tremendous!!!
This is a great kid. How many kids can be so eloquent in three words or any number of words? As Hoke would say, I'm really feeling him. Can't wait to see him in the maize and blue!
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:25 PM ^
... was, "when I sat there thinking it really just came down to Michigan, Florida, Florida State, Alabama, Wisconsin, and USC. I just took all the places that I'd seen and thought about me waking up there, would I be happy, and the one I would be happiest in is in Ann Arbor, so that's when I decided to commit." That's a pretty good endorsement.
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:39 PM ^
A 300 pounder dunking has to get onto youtube. I really want to see him bring the thunder. MaGary isn't the only Michigan man shattering backboards.
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:00 PM ^
except I think he's probably closer to 400lb nowadays.
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:44 PM ^
But from the header is anyone else disappointed it wasn't a three way chat between Ace, LTT, and this guy?
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:55 PM ^
Man, this gets me fired up for the future. Love the drive, determination and maturity this guy displays in all of his interviews.
I have to remind myself that these are 16-17 year old kids who are taking on way more than I did at that age. It makes it all the more impressive.
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:02 PM ^
He is quickly becoming one of my favorite recruits in the class - not just from his background, which is obviously compelling - but he clearly has a maturity beyond his years and has his head in the right place
February 22nd, 2012 at 5:53 PM ^
wow 307 and that photo above looks like he could easily pack 30 more pounds of good weight on that frame and still be pretty chisled.
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