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Belleville (Mich.) 2021 four-star linebacker Jamari Buddin has seen his fair share of Michigan.
The 6-foot-2, 193-pound prospect has maintained a relationship with the coaching staff, knows what the game atmosphere feels like, understands the practice tendencies and has even picked up advice from players that surround the program.
For Buddin, the next step is learning more about Michigan’s academics and university as a whole.
Buddin said he is planning to take sometime in January.
“Probably sometime in the next week or two,” Buddin said. “I am looking to get closer to the school and other things that I will need besides football.”
Even though Buddin doesn’t have a leader in his recruitment, Michigan is one of the schools that he’s “really high on” right now. The others are Michigan State, Purdue, Penn State, Minnesota and Cincinnati.
What sets the Wolverines apart from his 12 other offers is Buddin’s relationship with the coaches and players. He has grown fond of tight ends coach Sherrone Moore.
“He is a cool guy, funny,” Buddin said, “and he’ll be honest with you and make you get a good understanding of things.”
Even though the Spartans, led by longtime coach Mark Dantonio, have recruited Belleville fairly well in recent history, Buddin believes he could help turn the pipeline back to Michigan.
Of course, leading the way in that pursuit is Belleville 2020 four-star cornerback Andre Seldon Jr., who has already signed to join the Wolverines.
Seldon often tells Buddin that Michigan is “the place to be” at the college level.
“My guy is the best defensive back,” Buddin said. “I talk to Andre a lot.”
Along with Seldon, Buddin has been in conversation with two 2021 Michigan commits in La Grange Park (Ill.) Nazareth Academy five-star quarterback J.J. McCarthy and Sterling Heights (Mich.) Stevenson four-star offensive tackle Giovanni El-Hadi.
Buddin hopes to make a college commitment by December 2020, giving him the option to get his national letter of intent submitted during the NCAA early signing period.
He is ranked No. 281 in the 2021 class, according to the 247Sports composite, along with being No. 21 at outside linebacker and No. 9 in his home state.
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