Chatting With Jake Butt, Wolverine
Pickerington (OH) North TE Jake Butt visited Ann Arbor for the weekend to beat all other weekends, though he managed to resist making a commitment all the way until Sunday, thus becoming the seventh of the eight prospects to pledge over the weekend. I know, what a stick in the mud. I caught up with Jake last night to discuss his decision, the coaches, his bond with his future teammates, and more:
ACE: What made you decide that last weekend was the right time to commit?
JAKE: Oh, man. I've been trying to tell myself for the longest time that I was gonna wait, but I've been up to campus a few times, got to go there, see the campus, see the academic side, got to meet Shane Morris, saw Taco [Charlton] up there. It's the #14 university in the world and with all those commits I just wanted to go home, sleep on it, and just make sure I felt the same way the next morning that I did the night before. I woke up feeling so excited about the experience that I just had to hop on board with those guys.
ACE: Did it make a difference at all seeing six other guys commit during the same weekend?
JAKE: Of course. I think there's already eight guys committed in the [ESPN] top 150 in the nation. It's something crazy. You want to be a part of that. Earlier today we were on ESPNU's Recruiting Nation show; what recruit wouldn't want to be a part of that?
ACE: What else set Michigan apart from the other schools you were looking at?
JAKE: Academics and playing time. They're the #14 university in the world and also they're really low on tight ends right now, because they don't really use them that much in the offense they're running, but once Shane comes in and Denard leaves they're going to a more pro-style offense and they're going to need tight ends. There's really only the two that they have right now, then Khalid Hill and me coming in for our class, so if I keep working I expect to get significant playing time.
ACE: Did you talk to the coaches more on your visit about your role in the offense?
JAKE: Yeah. They've got two different tight ends, a 'Y' back and a 'U' back. A 'Y' back is a guy that's more on the line and a 'U' back is a guy that's off the line. As of right now they said I'm the only guy that can play both. They've got Khalid, who's going to be more of a 'U' back, they've got another guy [Devin Funchess] who's more of a 'U' back, and a guy [A.J. Williams] who's a 'Y' back; there no true fit, really, for both, and they said I'm that guy right now for them, and that's huge that I can play either/or.
ACE: You talked about being up there and being able to meet Shane and being up there with Taco, from the same hometown. How much of a factor is it that it looks like you guys as a group are already so tight?
JAKE: That's a huge factor. You want that with any type of team. Shane's a great guy, he's been recruiting all these guys and I expect him to land at least a couple more for us too. It's huge being able to know that your future teammates, you're already getting to start to build a relationship with them. Me and Khalid, we both being tight ends, I'm sure there's a little competition between us, but he's a real cool guy. Of course Shane is going to be my quarterback some day, so getting to know him is big too.
ACE: Now you have to turn around next season and play Central, Taco's squad. What's it going to be like playing against a future teammate?
JAKE: It's going to be a great experience. Taco's a great player, so getting up there and getting to size each other up, he's going to be playing D-end at Michigan, hopefully the coaches are able to come down and watch us a little bit. It should be a battle. His team's got us the last two years, though we had them this year, but next year I'm telling you we will pull that one out.
ACE: I'm sure you guys won't be talking smack or anything like that...
JAKE: Oh, you know we will, we will, though.
ACE: What set the coaching staff apart from the other coaches you came across during the recruiting process?
JAKE: They just got their stuff together, it's unbelievable. The attention that they manage to give you one-on-one during the whole entire visit, it's just unbelievable how they can do that. Spending a whole day, not only with Coach Ferrigno, but Coach Borges and Coach Hoke, too—I had about an hour-and-a-half meeting with each of them. Some of it's about football, some of it's about life, just getting to know me, getting to know my parents. They're all just great people. The way Coach Hoke coaches is the way anyone would want to be coached.
ACE: How is that specifically?
JAKE: I use the story... during the Ohio State-Michigan game—we actually asked them about this up there—when the punter muffed the snap and he came off to the sideline we saw [Coach Hoke] put his arm around the punter and he said something to him. Me and my dad didn't know what he said, but he actually told the punter, he said, "Now how many snaps have you taken in your career?" And [Will Hagerup] said, "I'd guess about 5,000." He's like, "And how many have you muffed?" The punter said, "None." And he said, "Have you ever been to Vegas?" The punter looked at him all weird and said, "No." "Well, in Vegas, it's all about probability, and I like my chances in a 1-in-5,000 chance. You've got 5,000 more snaps before you muff another punt." Some coaches would be really jawing at him or really angry at him for muffing it, but he just picked him up a little bit; [Hoke] said knew we were going to need him later in the game punting for us again. That attitude, you just have to respect it.
ACE: What about Coach Borges and Coach Ferrigno, what set those guys apart?
JAKE: Ferrigno is just a real calm guy, but he's a great guy at the same time. I got to meet his family and everything. Just the way he talks about me, he talks so highly about his program; they're also like a family. All the coaches and recruits are giving each other hugs and everything, so it just brings you closer to them. I spent about an hour-and-a-half talking with Ferrigno, and we talked about my film, he's just a real honest guy, and the same thing with Borges, too.
ACE: I'm sure it was probably a little tough not to just commit on the spot with all the other recruits committing there.
JAKE: Oh, yeah. (laughs) It was pretty tough.
ACE: If you had to boil down why you chose Michigan into a few words, what would they be?
JAKE: I'd say the better question is, why would you not choose Michigan?
February 24th, 2012 at 11:23 AM ^
Not to make fun of Jake at all, but "They're the #14 university in the world and they're really low on tight ends" made me laugh.
February 24th, 2012 at 11:30 AM ^
February 24th, 2012 at 11:35 AM ^
Just the juxtaposition. Not laugh cynically or anything. I just found one thing immediately following the other to be humorous.
February 24th, 2012 at 12:19 PM ^
I like his attention to detail, and obviously this young man is reading mgoblog
February 24th, 2012 at 12:30 PM ^
After U-M get a few more TE's on board, we may make it into the top ten of best universities in the world.
February 24th, 2012 at 12:35 PM ^
Yeah, take that shit, Cambridge. How many Top 150 recruits do you have verbals from so far, at any position?
February 24th, 2012 at 1:59 PM ^
Username + comment = WIN!!
February 24th, 2012 at 2:46 PM ^
I'm just reclaiming this slur from Sparty, repurposing it and representing for all of the Michigan fans who, for whatever reason, went to school somewhere else. Personally, I still aspire to a Michigan degree someday. In the meantime, I have a functional education and have to take abuse from both Michigan students and grads and Michigan haters. I won't go so far as to paraphrase Lennon ("WalMartWolverine is the ****** of the world") but it can kinda suck.
February 24th, 2012 at 2:48 PM ^
And I'm always happy for, and a little envious of, guys like Jake who leverage their athletic talent into admission to a "world class" (hate that dated phrase) university. That's winning the fucking lottery, imo.
February 24th, 2012 at 5:22 PM ^
...I'm glad you're a fan. And I admit to shopping at Walmart on occasion. I will occasionally even admit that there are one or two other institutions of higher learning that have value.
February 24th, 2012 at 2:02 PM ^
The got a top notch single scull from Liverpool and the number one ranked coxswain from Devonshire.
To retaliate, Oxford is putting up a chart in their boathouse comparing the degrees offered at each school. Oxford has more Exploring majors than Cambridge who has athletes spread between Business, Economics, Medicine, and History.
February 24th, 2012 at 12:30 PM ^
juxtaposition? I dont attend UM, I need a definition!
February 24th, 2012 at 1:27 PM ^
If only you had access to the internet, you could just type that word into an online dictionary and have the answer.
February 24th, 2012 at 1:42 PM ^
or words like that couldnt be used...
February 24th, 2012 at 1:49 PM ^
or words like that couldnt be used...
Words like what? Beyond a third grade vocabulary level?
If you're implying that it's such a strange and unusual word that people shouldn't use it on this message board, you're embarrassing yourself.
February 24th, 2012 at 1:09 PM ^
It's true, schools with great academics typically don't have very many tight ends walking around campus...
February 24th, 2012 at 11:23 AM ^
Sorry to write this everyone -
BUT I AM FUCKING EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF MICHIGAN FOOTBALL!!!!!
February 24th, 2012 at 11:35 AM ^
WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS TREMENDOUS?!?!?!?!1!?1? ME TOO!!!
February 24th, 2012 at 11:25 AM ^
Love that last line... "Why would you not choose Michigan?" Spoken like a true Michigan man.
February 24th, 2012 at 11:34 AM ^
Yeah reading that gave me chills. Weird, I know.
February 24th, 2012 at 11:39 AM ^
"I'd say the better question is, why would you not choose Michigan?"
Damn straight.
February 24th, 2012 at 12:18 PM ^
I want to know if Ace tried to answer the question...
February 24th, 2012 at 12:20 PM ^
I'm not really allowed to do that, unfortunately. Trust me, I had a hard time staying in ethical journalist mode after that answer.
February 24th, 2012 at 12:50 PM ^
breaking the journalist mode with a, "Damn skippy, Mofo!"
February 24th, 2012 at 11:25 AM ^
Can I get an Amen?
February 24th, 2012 at 1:07 PM ^
February 24th, 2012 at 11:26 AM ^
- Is Jake Butt reading all those world university ranking threads on MGoBlog? lol...
- And the legend of Coach Hoke, the anti-Kelly, grows. Or maybe Kelly is the anti-Hoke?
- Love his last response. Priceless!
February 24th, 2012 at 11:26 AM ^
Love the Hagerup story. Hoke uber alles.
February 24th, 2012 at 11:26 AM ^
What a well-spoken, thoughtful man! I love the environment that Hoke and staff and the players are creating. This can't be faked, and it's why I'm so optimistic about this team.
February 24th, 2012 at 11:27 AM ^
February 24th, 2012 at 1:15 PM ^
Why would you not want to play for this man?
/s
February 24th, 2012 at 11:27 AM ^
Wow, great story about Hoke and Hagerup. Excited to have Jake on the team, as well, can't have enough 6-6 tight ends right now.
February 24th, 2012 at 12:00 PM ^
Agree. I love love LOVE that quote. Good leadership. Pick a kid up when he's down, keep a kid motivated when he's getting too high. Don't let your own emotion get in the way of being a leader. Hoke all of the points.
February 24th, 2012 at 11:29 AM ^
has one coach ever gotten so much positive attention from one play? how many times have the recruits, media, etc brought up how they really respected hoke and how he handled the situation after that incident? it seems like ive heard that repeated countless times.
now, compare that with brian kelly.....
February 24th, 2012 at 11:29 AM ^
Yet another comment by a recruit about the way Hoke handled the muffed punt during the OSU game. The other was from Darboh I believe. It's great how Hoke just seems to handle literally everything the right way, even the small things. I can't believe that at one point I was mad that he was hired.
February 24th, 2012 at 11:34 AM ^
The kids they seem to be bringing in all know how to answer questions. I sure hope that this is a clear sign of the type of caracter these kids have.
February 24th, 2012 at 11:34 AM ^
This is one of the best interviews i have read. The answers are very articulate and smart. I cant wait for him to wear the winged helmet.
February 24th, 2012 at 1:59 PM ^
You can also say that about the other committs too. Hoke is building something special.
February 24th, 2012 at 11:35 AM ^
My inner 12-year old (or, in a word, me) really wants to see MGoPress come out with a "Jake Charlton" t-shirt. He sounds like a great kid, though. I'm all-in for the culture that Brady Hoke is trying to build around our football program.
February 24th, 2012 at 12:13 PM ^
This is too clever to be noticed by most people, though.
February 24th, 2012 at 1:26 PM ^
That is what makes it the perfect shirt for Michigan fans, we are the only one who understand it! Do you really think anyone who isn't a Michigan fan understands that "Taco Pants" t-shirt? I like the idea, this shirt has my vote.
February 24th, 2012 at 11:36 AM ^
Smart, strong character sounds like he'll do quite well playing for the #14 University in the world.
February 24th, 2012 at 11:36 AM ^
To hear what Coach Hoke said to Hagerup after he muffed the punt. Classiest way to help a poor kid get his confidence back, and shows what kind of character we have coaching at Michigan. I am confident that he is going to keep doing a great job, and bring out the best leaders to Ann Arbor. Go Blue!
February 24th, 2012 at 11:56 AM ^
I use the story... during the Ohio State-Michigan game...Who is this "Ohio State" he's talking about? Wasn't Jake the one who grew up a Buckeye fan? I guess we can give him a bit of time to adjust.
February 24th, 2012 at 12:25 PM ^
He is being politically correct, after all he still has to walk among the mouth breathers down there for another year or so. He dont need any of them cooler shitters to shit in his dads fuel tank or worse.....
February 24th, 2012 at 12:07 PM ^
Something that keeps coming back to me was something that Coach Hoke said at a postgame press conference in the middle of the season, I'm not sure after which game, but when asked what he liked most about the team, he said "I like how they like each other". If that was present during a blend of Carr/RR/Hoke recruits, I think the camaraderie that is building between these high school guys well over a year before they even hit campus is a key factor in that special something we all feel brewing. This is both due to the atmosphere established by Hoke and staff, as well as recruiting high character, team first kids.
February 24th, 2012 at 1:18 PM ^
Given how much importance the seniors on a team mean to Michigan, starting with the attention Bo put on them, can you just IMAGINE what the 2013 recruits are going to be like as seniors? Wow....
February 24th, 2012 at 12:26 PM ^
I am the man in the black shirt, nestled in the bosom of this football program
February 24th, 2012 at 1:41 PM ^
I'd rather be the other football player.
February 24th, 2012 at 12:15 PM ^
As a REGISTERED INTERTUBEZ COMMENTER, I am highly qualified to critique everything I read. That said:
Ace, you are killing it these days. Your interviews read so much more naturally with conversational follow up questions and such. Did you just find your Zen?
At any rate, thanks! I love getting to know the football players as human beings. It makes the games so much more meaningful.
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