Clark: UM and UCLA are "neck and neck..." "I don't think anyone is leading right now."

Submitted by alum96 on

A lot of nice comments out of Clark regarding Michgan and his visit.  I had not realized he has never been to UCLA to visit so the fact they are "neck and neck" is a bit annoying in relation to a school he has now visited 3 times and was a former commit.  Of course it can just be posturing but it sounds like it's wide open from here between the 2 schools.  He visits UCLA later this month and then Harbaugh does an in home visit after.  I am sure Mora will go calling immediately after Harbaugh too.   Sunds like Clark connected well with young Harbaugh as well which is important considering that's his position.

Fun comment below - considering how hard Harbaugh has worked at previous jobs:

"It's crazy, he's really intense, and you really like that," Clark told MLive on Sunday. "He grew on me a lot. I didn't know what to think at first, I wasn't sure what he'd be like. But once I left, he really, really grew on me.  He's the best coach I think I've sat down with. I just think he's awesome."

And once he arrived, Harbaugh's message for him -- and the rest of the recruits on campus this past weekend -- was pretty clear.  "He said, taking this job, he can't fail," Clark said. "He said he can't fail, because he cares way too much about the city, about the University of Michigan and he's going to work harder at this job than anything he's ever done in his life.  He's committed into turning Michigan back into the best program in America, and I really think they'll get there. I've never met a coach who is that competitive and that intense."

 

Sounds like UM employed the same strategy Mattison did with defensive recruits - splicing their HS highlights into college and NFL tape to show them how they can be used.  I would assume this is getting pretty common across the college landscape (splicing HS tape into their college tape) but only so many staffs can show NFL tape and legitimately say "when I was in the NFL this is how I used X position."

From there, before attending Michigan's basketball win over Northwestern on Saturday night, Clark spent a great deal of time with Harbaugh and his offensive staff, notably new tight ends coach Jay Harbaugh.

Clark said he "really connected" with the younger Harbaugh, and added that the staff showed him multiple clips of how they used former Stanford tight ends Coby Fleener and Zac Ertz -- who are now both NFL players.  Harbaugh also showed him tape of the way his offense used tight ends with the San Francisco 49ers, and spliced in clips of his own personal film from his high school career.

"That was pretty cool, they also showed me stuff I've done in high school, and then showed me stuff they've done with their tight ends," Clark said. "There's a lot of similarities there, which was pretty cool.

 

Drumroll...

He says he won't take any other visits, and as of now, Michigan and UCLA are the two schools holding his interest.  Is there a favorite?

"Right now, it's neck and neck," Clark said. "I'm not really too sure what I'm going to do. The visit to UCLA is really important, I've never been on the west coast.  "So we'll see what it's like. I don't think anyone's leading right now."

OccaM

January 19th, 2015 at 7:22 AM ^

Good thing Harbaugh gets the last word in person with him with that in-home right after he's back from the Cali sunshine in Westwood. This seems like it's gonna come down to final impressions. 

 

alum96

January 19th, 2015 at 7:27 AM ^

Still 2 weeks to go, doesnt take much for Mora to catch a charter and travel to CT as well (easier flight for the good guys though).  I am sure Clark is now a major priority with him with the other #1A TE decommitting last week. 

We'll see what his priorities are - both good schools, and UCLA has the "girls and weather" aspect, but the track record of Harbaugh with TEs is pretty much unbeatable right now.  Clark is a wildcard type of personality.

csmhowitzer

January 19th, 2015 at 8:11 AM ^

This reminds me of a story about Bo. In the 70's he was recruting some kid in Detroit. He did his in home visit, and as he was walking out of the home the head coach of UCLA was walking up to the front porch. Now they just won the Rose Bowl. So this coach has his swagger on. New suit, new fur overcoat, new italian loafers, everything. Well Bo, before the UCLA coach could get inside, rushes back in and tells the kid this "This coach, he's a great coach. He's one of the best in the nation. UCLA is a fine program. They just won the Rose Bowl, too, but this man isn't smart enough to know that you can't wear shoes like that in the middle of January, in Michigan!" During the UCLA coach's visit, the whole time the family and the recruit stared at his shoes, and Bo ended up getting the kid.

 

dothepose

January 19th, 2015 at 7:30 AM ^

He's hooked...he just wants a trip to LA and then he'll commit to us the next day. Did he say when he is announcing? Do we have to go through one of those hat ceremonies with him?

M-Dog

January 19th, 2015 at 10:36 AM ^

It's great for a vacation.  It does not feel very college-y though.

I from the Northeast, and I could have gone to UCLA or Michigan.  I chose Michigan, weather and all.  It's not automatic that UCLA is always going to win the overall comparison, especially if the kid is not from SoCal. 

BlueMichigan

January 19th, 2015 at 1:35 PM ^

but they have In and Out Burgers which are better ...I live in So. Cal and the weather is nice and UCLA is a great school but does not have the college feel like Ann Arbor plus you have a long treck to your home field at the Rose Bowl and the crowd support is lame compared to the the Big House...only a few games actually sell out.

CoachBP6

January 19th, 2015 at 7:30 AM ^

I selfishly want him to see what comes of him and bunting in 12 personnel. The biggest mis-matches on the football field are the dominant big TE and WR's. Harbaugh is creating a monster.

LSAClassOf2000

January 19th, 2015 at 7:40 AM ^

I have to say that this is a staff where I do no doubt they could put together one hell of a "this could be you someday" reel to show potential recruits, highlighting how they plan to use various positions on offense / defense, depending on who we're talking about. I could definitely see that working for us...a lot. I like the prospect too. 

blueball97

January 19th, 2015 at 7:45 AM ^

Seriously, if you are a tight end and have seen the success of Harbaugh's Stanford TE, how tough is the decision really? Even if he sits for a year behind Butt it seems like a no brainer.




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alum96

January 19th, 2015 at 7:56 AM ^

Clark is 6'6 (6'5) 250 lbs.  He is not sitting behind anyone - he would immediately be a guy vying for significant playing time.  I'd expect he, Butt and Hill to be your 3 main guys.  AJ Williams at this point is a glorified guard trying to play TE and Heitzman was a little used backup.

If anything he would push Bunting out to the WR competition role (assuming Bunting has not put on 20 lbs this offseason) as he is more of a flex TE whereas Butt and Clark are the do everything types.  Khalid Hill is also a big boy around 250.  Bunting arrived in his 220s for comparison - a lot like Funchess size; Bunting supposedly has great hands and our WR is wide open after Darboh. 

Jim runs 2 TE sets as well so lots of playing time to be had.

AnklePick

January 19th, 2015 at 8:08 AM ^

How many two tight end jumbo sets do you think we'll see. I bet Williams becomes a much better blocker with the help of Drevno, his maturity and stregnth will pay off with our manball aproach. I, personally, like having a jumbo TE to use like this, I just wish we actually passed to him once in a while, who would stop him on a hook or curl, noooooobody. I'd like to see multiplr roles for him this year.

DrMantisToboggan

January 19th, 2015 at 7:57 AM ^

The frequency with which Harbaugh is want to deploy 2 TE's (of he has them) makes it so that Clark wouldn't actually be sitting a ton. Unless he can't beat out Bunting who last I checked was 6'11 and 145 pounds, I actually think Clark would be a day one 1b tight end here. Being the same size as a 2 year starter B1G TE is crazy

alum96

January 19th, 2015 at 8:04 AM ^

Due to his size I checked his age and I wonder if he was held back a year - he is already 19.5 years old.  Will be 20 years old as a true freshman when he arrives.  That's like Mitch McGary range when he arrived.

DrMantisToboggan

January 19th, 2015 at 9:01 AM ^

That's Wilton Speight old. Speight redshirted a year in HS when he broke his collarbone so I'm wondering if CT doesn't have similar high school athletic rules. He doesn't have the offer sheet and notoriety (or lack there of) of a kid who missed a year with a big injury, so I'm guessing he was held back young or started late

StephenRKass

January 19th, 2015 at 7:51 AM ^

Having big, fast tight ends has really changed the game. They create mismatches all over the field. I think someone like Clark is particularly helpful against spread style teams. The size difference more than negates the speed disparity, particularly if you have a QB who is good at distributing the ball to a number of receivers.

AmayzNblue

January 19th, 2015 at 7:58 AM ^

Hasn't yet visited UCLA and they're still "neck and neck?" I hope this is just posturing as the author suggests, because one visit to the west coast and he will likely commit on the spot. If he is just wanting a free ride to see a west coast campus before getting down to business then we might be fine.

ak47

January 19th, 2015 at 9:50 AM ^

Yeah neck and neck with a school he hasn't visited and that school is UCLA.  He is going to be comparing UCLA in January to Michigan in Janury.  I'm going to be shocked if we get him.