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The recruiting dead period is officially over, and Michigan took advantage, hosting a litany of 2021 and 2022 targets in Ann Arbor, working towards wooing multiple prospects towards the possibility of becoming a Wolverine.
Among the top names on campus on Sunday included 2021 Chicago (IL) Marist three-star offensive tackle Pat Coogan, a player the maize and blue offered on Jan. 23, but have been in hot pursuit of since OL coach Ed Warinner extended him the scholarship opportunity.
Since there was little time between his offer date and the start of the recruiting dead period in February, Coogan had to wait a little over a month to make the trek to campus, but he did so at the first possible opportunity.
And Michigan did not disappoint.
“It was an awesome day, really. I really enjoyed myself,” Coogan told WolverinesWire. “My parents really enjoyed it as well. Just to sit down with Coach Warinner and some of his personnel, it was really awesome. We broke down some film with him. To see how he coaches a little bit was really cool.
“To see Coach Harbaugh – he gave a little spiel to everyone, so that was super cool as well. Just to get on campus and meet everyone. It was just awesome.”
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On the trip, Coogan spent most of his time with Warinner, who spent 30 minutes getting to know him and his family over lunch.
He can feel that Michigan is particularly making him a priority, which is why he picked Ann Arbor as his first visit — though admittedly, aside from Michigan — Stanford, Duke, Ohio State and Illinois are all in hot pursuit as well.
But he feels the particular excitement about his game from Warinner, which is why he chose to come visit Schembechler Hall first.
“I would say because Coach Warinner offered me in early January, and right off the bat he really wanted to get me to campus,” Coogan said. “Even went, the day he offered me, he came to my school. He really wanted me to get to campus and have me check it out for myself. So, right off the bat, I wanted to get down there. With it being close to home, I knew it was a pretty easy trip. And having the tradition of great football there, I knew I really wanted to check it out.”
Academics are quite high up on Coogan’s priorities list, if it wasn’t obvious from the bulk of schools chasing after him. He isn’t set on his eventual major yet, but he’s looking at either a performance dietary (nutrition) field or sports marketing at the next level.
But, what else is he looking for?
What he states is quite familiar to Michigan fans who follow recruiting — he’s looking for a place that feels like home.
“Definitely just a great relationship with everyone that’s a part of that program, a part of that university,” Coogan said. “Obviously a great academic degree like what was previously stated. But just a great relationship with the coaches, other players, the professors, the athletic trainers – all the personnel that go into playing a role into my career. The comfortability level I feel in the university and having that place be my second home and a home away from home is clearly what I’m looking for. Great football, competitive football to succeed and strive to win championships.”
Coogan grew up a Notre Dame fan, but now that he’s in the thick of his recruitment, he says that the Fighting Irish aren’t necessarily the favorites, should they get involved.
For now, he’s going to enjoy the process, but expects to make a decision before his senior season — if all goes to plan, of course.
“I would say I’m shooting for a decision to be made in the summer,” Coogan said. “I’d say that would be a good timetable to put that for myself. But I’m obviously not gonna force anything. I’m gonna let everything play out by itself. I’m not gonna force anything. But I think before my senior season would be a good projection.”
Coogan is rated by the 247Sports Composite as the 436th-best prospect in the 2021 class and the 14th-rated player in the state of Illinois.