Decision Primer: Four-star OL Avery Gach ready to make call
Four-star Birmingham (Mich.) Groves offensive lineman Avery Gach is slated to announce a verbal commitment at his high school at 3:15 p.m. EST. The in-stater has a final four of Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Michigan State.
Entering the late spring at 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds, Gach is listed as the No. 249 overall prospect and No. 19 interior offensive lineman in the country, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four primary recruiting media services. He’s also the No. 2 recruit in Michigan.
The Wolverine takes a look at where Michigan currently stands for Gach.
Why It Will Be Michigan
Michigan heads into the commitment ceremony with a 94.4% chance to land Gach on the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM), with five expert predictions entering picks in favor of the reigning national champions. The Wolverines began trending for Gach this past November when he appeared at The Big House for the win over Ohio State. That game was his third return of the fall to Ann Arbor. Following the February dead period, Gach and his family returned to campus three more times to take in spring camp practice and the April 20 intrasquad scrimmage. Michigan is the only offered school where Gach visits have hit the double-digit mark. Offensive line coach Grant Newsome and head coach Sherorne Moore have made Gach a top priority this cycle. Familiarity, comfort, and playing for a program that’s won the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation’s best collegiate offensive line, twice in the last three seasons has heightened Gach’s interest in U-M.
Why It Won’t Be Michigan
Gach publicly released a cut of his offer sheet in late April, which featured all Midwest teams. With Ohio State, its coaching staff was high on stealing a prospect at a position Michigan values tremendously away from its backyard. Gach was last in Columbus for practice earlier in the spring. One of his good friends on the recruiting trail is OSU offensive tackle commit Carter Lowe. Down the road on I-96, Gach is a Michigan State legacy. His total number of visits to East Lansing (7), including a pair of returns this offseason, almost mirrors his visits to Ann Arbor (10). After hosting Gach in March of last year, Wisconsin welcomed him back to Madison for a game-day visit in November. It’s evident that Gach wants to remain in Big Ten country for college and has grown accustomed to not only Michigan, but every other contender.
In His Own Words
“(The Michigan staff) really want to coach me. They think that I could have a very big role to help this class. It starts out front, so I could be the guy up front.”
Prediction
The spring visits to Michigan gave Gach complete confidence in Newsome as a developer, mentor, and teacher. The junior had a close bond with Moore prior to the latter being elevated as head coach, and when Newsome was given the nod to command the offensive line, the assistant worked diligently to obtain a strong relationship with Gach. Learning under two coaches who were former offensive linemen at the collegiate level, and Moore also being a former offensive lineman coach, has significantly stood out for Gach. Newsome and Moore value Gach’s versatility, finishing ability, and mean streak. Connections to the Wolverines are also peer-related, as Gach has rapports with the rostered offensive linemen, such as early enrollees Blake Frazier and Jake Guarnera. Also, Gach once described new strength and conditioning coach Justin Tress as a “mini” Ben Herbert. Academics have been an essential factor throughout Gach’s recruitment, and the resources available in Ann Arbor continue to impress the family. The effort issued to be a favorite for Gach predicts the Wolverines to experience the fruits of their labor, and in the hours leading up to the commitment ceremony, they’re in the driver’s seat.
