Michigan football: 4-star LB decommits from Wolverines amid coaching shake-up

The Michigan football program loses 4-star linebacker Tyler Martin’s commitment for 2022.

With wholesale changes happening to the Michigan football coaching staff, there was a price to pay regarding recruitment. Four-star linebacker Tyler Martin of Acton, Massachusetts announced on Thursday night he was de-committing from the Wolverines.

Martin’s primary connection to the University of Michigan was former defensive coordinator Don Brown, who was let go this offseason. Brown was replaced by former Baltimore Ravens linebackers coach Mike Macdonald who served on John Harbaugh’s staff, the older brother of Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh.

“My recruiting process began in eighth grade,” wrote Martin in a message posted on Twitter. “It’s been a long journey filled with ups and downs, but an experience that I wouldn’t trade for the world. What I’ve learned most is that the recruiting process mirrors life; it’s about values and relationships.”

“With changes to the defensive staff at Michigan, I believe it is important for me and only far to Michigan to reopen my recruitment and continue to build relationships.”

“I want to be certain that I am making the best choice for myself and the future. I would like to thank the Michigan coaches, family and community for their support and I will build a relationship with their new staff. I look forward to rekindling old relationships and forging new ones. I will be doing this with the support of my family and (Buckingham Browne & Nichols) coach (Mike) Wiley.”

https://twitter.com/tylermartin5bbn/status/1354945538404319235

Michigan has to get its defense right to succeed next fall

Michigan is coming off one of its worst seasons in recent memory. Though it was a COVID-shortened campaign, the Wolverines were unable to win a single game in the Big House. A single game! So after Harbaugh got a multi-year extension, he sought out to revamp his underperforming defensive coaching staff, hiring Macdonald and Maurice Linguist this January.

While those two moves could make Michigan better in the long term, it pretty much severed the ties Martin had towards coming to the university. While there is a chance he could recommit to the Wolverines, he may end up playing closer to home or for another Power 5 school that is not Michigan. Either way, this is the type of consequence that comes from major coaching changes.

Look for Michigan’s 2022 recruiting class to have a different feel to it now with new coaches.

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