This spring, East Lake offensive lineman Mason Cole did not have to worry about the whirlwind courtship, the endless phone calls, the coaches' visits, the constant questions, the pressure.
In March, Cole, a rising senior, put an end to his recruitment by committing to the University of Michigan. Now, the biggest question he has to ponder regarding his college choice is whether to keep his No. 52 or change to another number when he wears maize and blue in the fall of 2014.
“It’s the best feeling in the world to have everything out of the way,” Cole said. “This is exactly what I wanted. I don’t have coaches calling me all the time anymore. They’ve pretty much stayed away knowing I’m a firm commitment. I don’t have to do anything except concentrate on playing football my senior year.”
Cole was an early coup for Michigan’s 2014 class, which is now ranked No. 1 by 247Sports after getting a commitment this past week from Jabrill Peppers, the second-best recruit in the nation.
Cole, a 6-foot-4, 285 pound left tackle, is one of seven four-star recruits the Wolverines have already landed.
And Cole is trying to persuade some of his high school teammates to join him.
“Now, I get to be the recruiter instead of being the one who is being recruited,” Cole said. “My top two targets are Artavis Scott and George Campbell.”
Scott, a rising senior, is a four-star recruit who is ranked among the top 10 receivers in the country. Campbell is a five-star prospect who is rated as the top receiver in the country in the Class of 2015 by 247.
Both receivers have already made unofficial visits to Michigan. Cole said they will most likely join him in July for the Big House BBQ.
As for the rest of the rest of the summer, Cole said there are no camps or combines scheduled. He said he plans to graduate in January and head to Ann Arbor after that.
“This is my last summer as a high school player, and I’m going to enjoy it,” Cole said. “I’ll just keep lifting and try to be a great senior leader and help our team take the next step and win a state championship.”