Why On3: An Opportunity For Unmatched Michigan Recruiting Coverage

When I initially began exploring options to leave the Texas market, Michigan was high on the list of schools I wanted to cover. The history of the program, the rabid fanbase and the high-profile recruitments made U-M an extremely attractive beat.

I was almost part of the Michigan market back in 2016, but things fell through for reasons out of my control. This time around, there were no openings available covering Michigan, so I had to settle for Notre Dame.

Following a few excruciating months on that miserable beat, a job in the Michigan market opened up, and I immediately jumped on it. It took all of 24 hours for me to flip to covering Michigan. It’s always where I wanted to be.

But I also knew I had a lot of work ahead of me.

The Wolverine has been an iconic brand long before I started my career as a recruiting reporter. However, it has been more of a go-to outlet for team coverage. Recruiting content was antiquated and stale before my arrival, while the market was dominated elsewhere.

Fast forward two years, and we’ve really flipped the switch. Our recruiting content led the Rivals network on a daily basis over the last several months, and our subscriber base grew exponentially. There has been no doubt that the dynamics of this market have changed drastically.

But I’m far from satisfied. It took me almost six years to get the Texas 247 site where I wanted it to be. At the time of my departure, I felt comfortable leaving because there was nothing else I could have accomplished there.

My job at The Wolverine is just getting started. As our numbers grew and content changed, we had an opportunity to join Shannon Terry and Bobby Burton here at On3 — two people that were instrumental in my growth as a recruiting reporter.

While my end with them at 247 wasn’t exactly ideal, we’ve come together again to make The Wolverine better than its ever been, especially on the recruiting front. On3 has an innovative platform with top-notch technology that will give our recruiting content maximum exposure.

The reason Michigan is the best beat I’ve been on is because of the fans on The Fort message board. With new and improved boards, our community can continue to flourish. The Fort is about family, and it’s my goal to make your experience as great as you’ve made mine.

On top of all of that, On3 has provided us with more capital, which means I’ll no longer be a one-man band. Along with national analysts that actually go out on the road and bring value to the site, there will be another full-time recruiting reporter on The Wolverine starting Nov. 2.

I will share details on that day but just know that this move was made with the best interest of The Wolverine readers in mind. My phenomenal teammates and I are, after all, committed to making The Wolverine great for many years to come.