Clark: UM and UCLA are "neck and neck..." "I don't think anyone is leading right now."
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."
January 19th, 2015 at 9:23 AM ^
Am I the only one to think that Clark commits on his visit to UCLA? He has us neck and neck with UCLA and he hasn't even visited the West Coast yet. Wait until he see's the beautiful weather and girls. Did I mention the beautiful girls? I hate that I think like that but once he gets there and hangs with Rosen I think we lose him. Will move on though...
January 19th, 2015 at 10:29 AM ^
January 19th, 2015 at 11:05 AM ^
I hope so. I would love if you were right TB12. With that being said guys like Mike Weber, Smith and Iman Marshall are a higher need right now. Jimmy will have no problem recruiting TE's down the road. Butt, Bunting and Williams will be good enough...for this year.
January 19th, 2015 at 9:24 AM ^
But I'd always rather be the one GETTING the visit if he's neck and neck and we haven't even had our shot at him.
The Harbaugh in-home makes me feel a lot better.
I feel a Signing Day decision. I better take off work now.
January 19th, 2015 at 9:34 AM ^
He's ours ..... no question. A free trip to cali ... never been there before. I can't blaim him.
January 19th, 2015 at 9:35 AM ^
I hate to say it ladies and gentlemen, but once he gets off that plane in southern Cali, our hopes are out the window.
Beautiful women and weather. For a 18yo kid, that is the dream. Not to mention, UCLA has become a formidable team under Mora.
Dont let this get us down though.... we still have......... HARBAUGH.
January 19th, 2015 at 10:05 AM ^
But he is 19. So he has much better judgement than a 18 year old. ;)
January 19th, 2015 at 11:10 AM ^
Touché sir.... Touché
January 19th, 2015 at 9:35 AM ^
January 19th, 2015 at 10:35 AM ^
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January 19th, 2015 at 9:39 AM ^
January 19th, 2015 at 9:40 AM ^
January 19th, 2015 at 9:42 AM ^
When you have a coach who's developed TE's and uses TEs the way Harbaugh does and, as someone pointed out, Jim Mora has not and we're still "neck to neck".
I'd be very happy to get Clark but I'd be even happier if we got a talented DE, Iman Marshall and yes Mike Weber.
Above all, I'm excited to see what this coaching staff is going to get ouf of their players.
January 19th, 2015 at 9:43 AM ^
How can he say no to this?
January 19th, 2015 at 9:57 AM ^
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January 19th, 2015 at 10:05 AM ^
January 19th, 2015 at 10:35 AM ^
I see "I poop Excellence" instead of just the word "Exellence"
That's just wrong.
January 19th, 2015 at 9:59 AM ^
I'm hoping we land at least one of these top recruits, if not, two. I think Chris Clark has/had a legit interest in Michigan. Seeing the pictures of him smiling and laughing--you can tell he felt comfotable & was truly enjoying himself---you can't fake that. As for UCLA, we're neck and neck with them because of all of the California/Hollywood ideals people have built up in their heads before ever visiting. As much as I hate to say it, he would be crazy NOT to go out to LA to see what it's about. If I was making a choice like that at 18, you bet your bottom dollar I would go too. All expense trip to a very expensive place as a senior in HS when you come from a cold climate? YES PLEASE.
JH is playing it smart. I am really happy to hear he scheduled a home visit right after to chip away at the afterglow and get down to the nitty gritty of reality. JH knows the allure of Cali...especially for a kid who has to stay bundled up 6 months out of the year.
January 19th, 2015 at 10:05 AM ^
January 19th, 2015 at 10:13 AM ^
January 19th, 2015 at 10:18 AM ^
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January 19th, 2015 at 12:21 PM ^
No need to know him personally. Just follow the history of his recruitments, commitments and decommitments. It doesn't mean he won't one day be a great player and wonderful adult, but up to this point his actions have spoken quite loudly.
January 19th, 2015 at 10:16 AM ^
My daughter is a UCLA coed. But yes, it’s a problem if Clark likes the ladies.
It will be in the low 80s next weekend in LA so there will be a lot of shorts and tank tops on Bruin Walk. They’ve even got a web site devoted to hotties on Bruin Walk fergodsakes - http://spottedonbruinwalk.com/
The Acosta Athletic Complex is right there, so I imagine the shades will be wide open for visiting athletes. On the other hand, if Clark can tear himself way from all that, he’ll probably notice that their athletic facilities are quite inferior to Michigan’s. And their stadium (the Rose Bowl) is an hour away.
January 19th, 2015 at 10:40 AM ^
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January 19th, 2015 at 6:08 PM ^
January 19th, 2015 at 11:31 AM ^
but it would be weird hanging out with girls who keep their heads tilted at a 45 degree angle. Getting busy would give you a painful crick in the neck.
January 19th, 2015 at 10:35 AM ^
If it makes anyone feel any better, Michigan has an equivalent of spottedonbruinwalk.com....
It's a twitter account called umich_crushes... FWIW
January 19th, 2015 at 10:47 AM ^
It's spread out a bit more than U of M and they are doing a ton of building. They have new dorms and yes the weather is not just great but the women are far more attractive than what Michigan gets, at least from what I can remember. But for a football player, do you want a stadium that actually is a short walk away from campus or a 35 min or so (depending on traffic) drive away? Do you want a school that is in an actual true college town because Westwood is not a college town. Ann Arbor blows Westwood away. The flip side is that there is a lot more to do in Los Angeles than Ann Arbor. The beach is ~15-20 mins away. Plus you can party at Diddy's Malibu pad with his son who is on the football team. Plus, how long is Mora going to be the coach? And UCLA has done well under Mora. We all hope Harbaugh can turn the program around but Michigan has been atrocious. There's a lot the young man will have to weigh in making a decision.
January 19th, 2015 at 11:16 AM ^
January 19th, 2015 at 11:17 AM ^
You only get 4 years at a real college town, you can live in any major city for the rest of your life. JMO.
January 19th, 2015 at 11:21 AM ^
The weather, the city, and the women definitely favor UCLA. UCLA has also had more success recently than we have. But Harbaugh is a force and you have to like our facilities and schemes for Clark. Hate he's going there next week, love that Harbauigh might get the last word.
January 19th, 2015 at 11:39 AM ^
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January 19th, 2015 at 1:09 PM ^
January 19th, 2015 at 1:10 PM ^
January 19th, 2015 at 1:28 PM ^
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January 19th, 2015 at 3:00 PM ^
Having grown up around Ann Arbor and lived just outside of Westwood for 4 years, if he's making the choice on location we may be screwed. No offense to Ann Arbor. Of course, Westwood is also expensive--dunno if I would have liked it as much as a college kid.
Hopefully he just wants to come to Michigan for the football.
January 19th, 2015 at 3:52 PM ^
Not gonna lie I loved Cali when I was his age. Now when I visit I can't wait to get out. California has gone seriously downhill. I wish all the Californians would stop moving to my state.