[jwplayer sIc1iJKg-XNcErKyb]
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — One of the players that Michigan is in hot pursuit of in the 2021 class is in-state wide receiver Andrel Anthony Jr.
[lawrence-related id=21148]
The East Lansing (MI) three-star has seen his recruitment blow up since WolverinesWire last spoke with him in July 2019, as he’s accrued offers from high profile programs such as Notre Dame, Penn State and Wisconsin.
It’s been somewhat surprising to him to suddenly be generating so much attention, especially since that’s carried over into his real life.
“First off, it’s pretty awesome, it’s a blessing, because not many people go through this, and for me, getting to go through this with my family is awesome,” Anthony told WolverinesWire. “It’s very exciting, and it can be stressful sometimes. But, in the end, it all pays off.
“It’s pretty cool, and it’s kind of funny, too, because crowds (at my basketball games) will chant ‘over-rated’ and stuff like that towards me for football. And this happened yesterday. We were winning by 5 yesterday, and the crowd started chanting ‘over-rated’ when I had the ball, and I went and dunked it, and they were quiet after that! So it was funny!”
[lawrence-related id=9205]
Speaking of basketball, football isn’t the only priority for Anthony at the next level.
While he’s been garnering the most attention on the gridiron, he’s starting to get interest from schools about playing on the hardwood as well.
“I’m definitely considering playing basketball in college as well, because I’ve been playing basketball for awhile – as long as football,” Anthony said. “I love both sports. It’s been a long ride.
“I’ve got an offer from Bethune-Cookman. I’ve talked to Toledo a lot. They want me to visit there for basketball and they’ve already offered me for football. I talk to Central a little bit, Miami of Ohio and Duquesne a lot.”
While he’s not sure if that’s his priority or not at this juncture, playing basketball in college, he is for sure getting a ton of attention from the football side.
It’s no surprise that Michigan is recruiting him hard, but so are some others, he notes. “Notre Dame, Purdue – Michigan State was, but I haven’t heard from them since the coach changed – West Virginia, Minnesota, Cincinnati and Penn State – and Wisconsin the past month.”
While some schools are putting on the full-court press — he names MSU (when Dantonio was at the helm), Wisconsin and Purdue as the primary culprits on that front — Michigan has been attacking on all sides.
He’s not just hearing from coaches, but also the recent signees and 2021 commits. From A.J. Henning to Andre Seldon to J.J. McCarthy and Giovanni El-Hadi, all he’s heard are good things about the Wolverines and what they’re building.
But. where he’s really been impressed is how relentless the coaching staff has been at working to lure him to Ann Arbor, beyond the three unofficial visits he’s made in past year.
“They’ve been coming pretty hard, the whole staff,” Anthony said. “They’ve been really supportive. Even like in basketball and football season, like they came to my basketball game. Coach Moore, Gattis and Coach Harbaugh came. And it’s pretty cool, because for them to be sitting in the crowd like normal people at my basketball game is different. But that’s a great experience to have.
“Coach Gattis was talking to me about how many receivers they have on scholarship if I was to go there my freshman year, things like that. Basically, him and Coach Roundtree are saying I could be an immediate factor. That’s something to look forward to.
“Coach Moore, he’s been recruiting me hard. He texted me about every five days – like, ‘My man, we need to get you down here! We need to be the school for you.’ He’s pretty cool as well.”
Playing early is assuredly one of the factors he’s considering, Anthony said, so the prospect of that certainly appeals to him.
For now, Anthony will continue about his process and building bonds. But Michigan is clearly in good shape as far as his recruitment is concerned.