What Michigan football recruits, commits are saying after bad loss to Wisconsin

Everybody saw what happened at Camp Randall on Saturday afternoon. The fans saw it. National media members saw it. Michigan football commits and recruits saw it.

Some groups took it better than others — most notably, the players already committed to Michigan, and the players being recruited by Michigan.

“(The game was) crazy, it’s just some mental things I think but for the most part everyone has bad games,” said 2021 in-state four-star linebacker Jamari Buddin. “But people are gonna try and knock them for it, but the bounce back is gonna be crazy. Just believe.”

Buddin had probably the most optimistic response of any of the recruits Maize n Brew spoke with after the game. And he does make a good point — every team can’t play lights out in every game. Even Clemson, despite being undefeated this year, has not looked as great as you would have imagined.

“Wisconsin played really good and their defense seemed to click, but Michigan did fine,” said 2021 four-star linebacker Yanni Karlaftis.

This is definitely the most lukewarm response I was given. But considering Karlaftis is about as open as any of the recruits Michigan is going after in the 2021 class, I think this is a warranted response — even though Michigan did not play “fine” in the slightest.

“Tough loss I think it was a good wake up call,” said 2021 four-star defensive lineman Quintin Somerville.

Somerville is the highest ranked recruit who commented on Michigan’s bad game, but he makes a good point. This game could be what turns everything around for the Wolverines. Another optimistic point of view from a top guy on Michigan’s board.

“Tough loss. Lot’s of mental mistakes. They are a lot of a better team than that. I know they’ll come back stronger,” said 2021 four-star defensive lineman Aaron Armitage.

Armitage is another top target for Michigan in 2021, and Armitage has told us about his love for the University of Michigan in the past. He has another optimistic point of view, despite admitting it was tough and the team showed mental errors, which everyone could see.

It is also especially good to see Michigan’s highest ranked commitment in the 2020 class still firmly on board in four-star wide receiver A.J. Henning.

Michigan’s second highest ranked player, in-state four-star defensive end Braiden McGregor, also isn’t looking anywhere else.

And just for good measure...

One bad loss certainly won’t get kids to jump ship. But if losses like last weekend continue to pile up and no improvements are made, don’t be surprised to see some of Michigan’s currently committed players look elsewhere.

At the end of the day, kids go to schools where they think they can win and get coached up enough to find success in the NFL. The Wolverines have sent a bunch of guys to the NFL, but they haven’t done a lot of winning — at least relevant winning.

And the game last weekend sure would have been a relevant win.