Wolverine TV: 2024 Michigan LB Zach Ludwig talks November decision, coaching staff relationships

The Wolverine stopped by South Park (Pa.) High on Friday to meet with 2024 Michigan three-star linebacker commit Zach Ludwig for the first time since he dropped a verbal pledge back in late-November.

“It’s pretty crazy and it’s a dream come true for me, personally,” Ludwig told The Wolverine. “I’ve always been a big fan of Michigan so it’s pretty awesome.”

Ludwig, whose fall decision went under the radar for over two months before public acknowledgement, was personally offered by head coach Jim Harbaugh in-season and made an unofficial visit to Ann Arbor the week of preparations for the Ohio State game. It was following the win in Columbus when Harbaugh accepted Ludwig’s commitment with open arms.

“It was awesome to get up there and be with the coaches and (future) teammates,” Ludwig said. “Watching them practice and the mentality that they bring to the game.”

Ludwig is the nephew of Michigan strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert and was the fourth 2024 prospect to enter the fold with the Wolverines.

“(Herbert and I) have a good relationship,” Ludwig said. “Me and my uncle are very close. Being able to work under him at the next level is awesome for me.”

Watch the full Q&A with Ludwig below.

At 6-2, 205 pounds, Ludwig is ranked as the No. 843 overall recruit in the country, No. 86 linebacker nationally and No. 25 rising junior in the state of Pennsylvania, according to the On3 Consensus. 

Ludwig has an On3 NIL Valuation of $22K with nearly 700 followers followers across Twitter and Instagram. The On3 NIL Valuation is an index that looks to set the standard market value for both high school and college-level athletes. The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.

Rounding out the seven commits in Michigan’s 2024 recruiting class are On300 Harper Woods (Mich.) High defensive back Jacob Oden, On300 Nashville (Tenn.) Ensworth linebacker Mason Curtis, On300 Bellevue (Wash.) High tight end Hogan Hansen, consensus four-star Avon (Ohio) High interior offensive lineman Luke Hamilton, three-star Cincinnati (Ohio) St. Xavier defensive lineman Ted Hammond and three-star Wallingford (Conn.) Choate Rosemary Hall defensive lineman Manuel Beigel.

The class is currently ranked No. 12 nationally in the On3 Consensus Rankings and No. 3 in the Big Ten behind Ohio State and Michigan State.