Brady Norton reflects on Michigan commitment after being 'ghosted' by Ohio State

ANN ARBOR – The Michigan Wolverines are in the middle of reshaping their offensive line heading into the 2025 season. One of those pieces came in from Cal Poly in transfer Brady Norton, who has been getting work at left tackle during spring camp.

When he entered the portal, he was just hoping to get an offer from a group of five school. He did not expect a few blue blood programs jumping into the mix. Ohio State was one of them, making early contact with Norton before cooling off.

Then Michigan got involved. And on cue, the Buckeyes were suddenly once again interested. It did not matter, though, as Norton quickly committed to U-M.

 ”They called me in the hotel room of my visit here and to offer me,” Norton told the media on Tuesday afternoon. “They texted me before Michigan did, really. And then just kind of ghosted me out of the blue. And all of a sudden, when Michigan offered me, they wanted me now. So I kind of found that little odd.

“Then I just came here and I was like, yeah, f*** those guys. I don’t care.”

Norton, a California native, grew up a Notre Dame fan with his dad and did not have a lot of love in his heart for Michigan. Now, he’s finding himself integrated into the U-M vs. Ohio State rivalry.

 ”I wasn’t primarily a big fan of Michigan,” Norton said. “I grew up a Notre Dame fan with my dad. I grew up not liking Michigan. I’m not gonna lie. I definitely think they’re probably the most hated team in the nation, no doubt. Which is a good thing. It’s a great thing. I knew a good amount. I knew how insane the game was. No doubt.

 I took the [Ohio State] offer, obviously, but then once I kind of hung out on thinking about it and then just committed here, I didn’t say anything [to the Buckeyes staff]. Just posted my Michigan commitment, then don’t gotta talk to ’em ever again.

“I don’t have as much of the hatred and the rivalry in my blood as these guys who played for the program for many years. I’m assuming once that week comes, I’ll definitely start feeling it.”

He even admitted that as recently as the 2023 season, he was rooting against the Maize and Blue.

“I was honestly like UCLA and Notre Dame type of guy,” Norton said. “I would always root against Michigan, even in the 2023 National Championship. I didn’t know I was gonna be playing here at one point. I could tell from my boys they are not very liked, I’d say. But I think it’s a great thing. Michigan is very loved by someone or very hated by someone. There’s no one in between.”

Norton was considered one of the top linemen in the portal, but playing at an FCS school comes with criticisms and concerns from fans who think he may not be up for the task. He says he takes some of that to heart.

 ”I try my best not to read comments, but a couple of them slip through and I read them,” Norton said. “A guy from FCS, he isn’t gonna do nothing. He barely that good.’ I feel like I have a lot to prove coming from a guy who wasn’t rated that well, didn’t have a single full ride scholarship, and now here competing with the best. I definitely have a lot to prove.”

The flip switched as soon as he got the contact from Michigan, first from recruiting staffer Jack Dunaway to a conversation with offensive line coach Grant Newsome. There was not much of a pitch needed for a guy who wants to take his game to the next level.

 ”I looked at it like an opportunity at a blue blood program,” Norton said. “I’m not like, ‘oh, Michigan offered me, I hate them. I’m gonna throw that away.’ I was like, ‘Michigan offered me, whoa. Like I didn’t think they would call me. That’s what like really kind of blew my mind with that. No doubt. Like ’em little more now.”

“It wasn’t much of a pitch, man. They’re like, we’re Michigan. They don’t need to really pitch that much. Some schools say ‘Hey, we had a couple down years and now we’re growing up.’ Michigan’s like, ‘yeah, we had down here, but we’re Michigan.’ Like we’re gonna, we’re gonna pick that up. Don’t worry about that.

Guys work their asses off here and then we’re gonna be good. The only pitch they needed to say was their name. From then, I was hooked.”