Michigan reached out to 2021 four-star RB Corey Kiner ‘right at 12 o’clock’ once dead period ended

When the clock struck midnight on Sunday, Sept. 1, the college football recruiting dead period finally ended. Coaches around the country were finally able to reach out to recruits again, and one of the first players Michigan reached out to was 2021 four-star running back Corey Kiner.

The 5-foot-10, 205-pounder from Cincinnati, Ohio has been one of the main targets for the Wolverines in his class. He received the offer from Michigan back in January and has visited multiple times since then, the most recent being for the BBQ at the Big House in July.

Kiner spoke with Maize n Brew about his recent contact with the Wolverines once the dead period ended.

“I talked to coach Jim Harbaugh on Sunday, and I talked to coach Jay Harbaugh (on Tuesday). (Jim Harbaugh) actually texted me at 12 o’clock on the dot on Sept. 1, so I thought that was pretty cool,” Kiner told Maize n Brew. “But coach Jay Harbaugh and I talk all the time. I ask him questions about what I can do better, and he gives me things to help improve my game.”

It’s obvious Kiner’s relationship with the younger Harbaugh has already developed into a student/teacher kind of connection, which bodes well for the Maize and Blue. What doesn’t bode well, however, is the competition for Kiner’s services from the team he grew up rooting for — the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Speaking of Ohio State, Kiner is visiting there this Saturday for the game against Cincinnati. He doesn’t have any other visits scheduled up to this point, but hopes to get to other schools later in the season.

When it comes to that visit to Columbus this Saturday, Kiner admits he is really just looking to see “a good football game” since he is already familiar with the Buckeyes’ coaching staff and players.

You would think the Wolverines would be playing catch up with Kiner since he grew up watching and rooting for Ohio State, but that is far from the truth.

“(All my offers) are the same right now,” he said. “I like them all the same, I don’t have any favorites. Ohio State is Ohio State and Michigan is Michigan. They are some of the top schools. Like I said, I don’t have any favorites right now. I like them all the same right now.”

For now, Kiner plans on taking the recruiting process slow. He is waiting for more offers to trickle in so he can learn about every school before making a final decision.

“When I get offered by more schools, I hope to (visit) there, too. I want to know as much as I can about every school before I make a decision,” he said. “I don’t wanna leave any stones unturned.”

Competition is brewing for the University of Michigan when it comes to Kiner’s recruitment. But there are several factors that are going to keep the Wolverines in it until the end.

“With Michigan, I just like the family atmosphere, the coaching staff, the players, I just like everything I see with the weight room, the strength and conditioning staff, academics, everything,” he said. “That is one place I could really see myself.”

With schools like Michigan, Ohio State and more in the mix, Kiner still reiterates his decision is not coming anytime soon.

“I don’t know where I’m going to go, I don’t know what school I like the most right now, they are all the same and my opinion won’t change for a while,” he said. “I just gotta keep learning more about each school.”

Kiner is the No. 7 player in Ohio, No. 10 running back and No. 185 overall player in the 2021 class, per 247Sports’ composite.

Check out highlights from his junior year below.