Michigan’s football program put a bow on its 2023 recruiting class on Wednesday.
On Thursday, it added a key addition to its 2024 class.
Harper Woods four-star athlete Jacob Oden made his college decision Thursday night in an announcement on 247Sports’ YouTube channel, choosing Michigan over other finalists Michigan State, Penn State, Iowa and Tennessee.
“My relationship with Coach Clink (Michigan defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale) and just the opportunities they provide for me on and off the field,” Oden said during his announcement. “Getting a Michigan degree would be big for me. With a Michigan degree, I can get anywhere in life what that.”
The No. 160 overall prospect nationally and No. 5 in the state, per the 247Sports Composite rankings, becomes the highest-ranked verbal pledge in the Wolverines’ six-player 2024 class. The 6-foot-1, 188-pounder is listed as an athlete by 247Sports but likely will in the defensive backfield for Michigan.
Oden, the son of former Michigan walk-on and current Harper Woods coach Rod Oden, is one of the most highly-coveted prospects in the 2024 class, boasting 37 reported offers before his senior season even begins. Michigan offered the talented two-way high school standout in June 2021 and welcomed him on an unofficial visit last month.
The Spartans were the 247Sports Crystal Ball leader to land Oden last year before the Wolverines were able to gain ground.
“They had to battle for him a little bit,” 247Sports recruiting analyst Allen Trieu said of Michigan. “Tennessee did a really good job recruiting him. Penn State had him to campus a couple of times. Iowa is a program that has a relationship with his dad. They have recruited several of his players throughout the years. Then Michigan State was a crystal ball leader at one point.
“This was not a layup for Michigan. They recruited him hard down the stretch.”
While only 10 of Michigan’s 24 signees in the 2023 class were rated as four-star, five of its six this cycle have four-star designation.
(Highlights embedded with permission from Hudl)
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