Plymouth 2016 OC/OT Michael Jordan was offered by Michigan (Story)

Michael Jordan had a surprise ending to his University of Michigan summer camp this week. Following his fourth day at the camp, the 2016 Plymouth (MI) offensive tackle Jordan was called into head coach Brady Hoke’s office. In the office, alongside his father (also Michael), Jordan sat there in disbelief that his dream school was offering him a full-ride scholarship. Hoke was all smiles when he told Jordan that Michigan was offering him a scholarship.

“It happened in Coach Hoke’s office. He said my film was very impressive. I was really happy about it [the offer], both of us were. He said ‘you got the scholarship offer.’ That is what I remember,” Jordan (6-foot-6, 280-pounds) said.

“I was really surprised and shocked, but I didn’t show it. As soon as I got in the car to go home, I screamed ‘YES!’ It feels pretty good knowing that I can become a Division 1 athlete.”

The Michigan offer was Jordan’s first offer from any school.

At the camp, Jordan got to work with first-year offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier and veteran offensive line coach Darrell Funk. Nussmeier and Funk were constantly interacting with Jordan and giving him pointers on techniques.

“On the field, Coach Funk taught me about hands placement, he worked with me a lot about my technique,” Funk said. “He [Nussmeier] told me that I was doing really well at the camp.”

Jordan soaked up every bit of information he could at the camp. Before participating, he had an idea of the ‘Michigan Man’ mentality that Hoke preaches, but gained a complete understanding after living it for four days.

“All of the coaches always talked about character. That really sunk in my heart and I thought about my character and how it looks to everybody else. They also talked a lot about what it means to be a ‘Michigan Man.’ That really impressed me.”

Respect is a key ingredient to any relationship and the Jordan-Hoke one is no different. They each respect eachother and have one common pastime besides football.

“My dad told him [Hoke] that I was a wrestler. He smiled and told us that he was a wrestler too,” Jordan said. “I like Coach Hoke, he’s a solid guy that is going to tell it to me straight.”

Jordan spent some time at the camp with a few players of note. One was fellow 2016ite, Eric Swenson. Swenson (Downers Grove (Illinois) South), who is committed to Michigan, talked to Jordan about football.

“We [Swenson] talked about the camp. We talked a lot about different things that we could improve on,” Jordan said.
Another recruit that Jordan talked with was 2015 Michigan QB commit, Alex Malzone (Brother Rice).

“He [Malzone] came up to me in the parking lot and said ‘hi’ as I was getting into the car. He looked like he knew who I was.”
Brennen Beyer, current U-M player and 2011 Plymouth Grad also talked to Jordan at the camp.

“I went up to Brennen and said ‘Hi I’m from Plymouth also.’ It looked like that he appreciated me coming up and talking to him.”
Plymouth head coach Mike Sawchuck has always been a huge support for Jordan.

“Coach Sawchuck, he pushes me a lot and helps me always become a better player,” Jordan said.

Thus far, Michigan has only offered two other Michigander recruits in the 2016 class. Hoke and his staff seems to be targeting the top players in the country at every position. Jordan is honored to be one of the few offerees from the state of Michigan.
“It shows me that hard work really does pay off.”

Besides the Michigan week-long camp, Jordan participated in Michigan State’s camp on June 1 and the Michigan Elite Camp in February.

Get to know Michael

Besides football, the Canton resident Jordan participates in wrestling and track and field. In addition to sports, he is involved in the International Baccalaureate program at Plymouth-Canton Educational Park.

“International Baccalaureate like an extensive learning program on a certain subject, it’s like the S.T.E.M. program. I’m leaning on going into something in math,” Jordan said. “I like numbers.”

With a name like Michael Jordan, he draws comparisons to the NBA great on a regular basis.

“It’s difficult because everyone expects me to be great at basketball when I love football,” Jordan said.

In sixth grade, Jordan had a teacher that was a Michigan fan. With a little bit of watching the Wolverines that season, he was convinced that Michigan was his favorite team and went on to cheer for them every year since.

“My favorite college growing up was actually Michigan. I had a teacher in sixth grade that I really liked and he was a Michigan fan. I started paying attention to Michigan then because I liked that teacher.”

As an avid sports guy, Jordan spends a lot of time thinking about and playing the three sports at Plymouth as well as enjoying the company of his friends.

“I like hanging out with my friends besides sports, but I’m mostly a sports guy,” Jordan said.

Last season, Jordan started on Plymouth’s offensive line at right tackle as well as at defensive tackle. He plans to keep in touch with Michigan over the summer leading up to his junior season.