Michigan Football: Recruiting Pipeline to Detroit Cass Tech Alive and Well

Since the school opened in 1907, Cass Tech has regularly sent gifted high school students to the University of Michigan.

In recent years the relationship has become even better. In 1997, Cass Tech named former Michigan running back Thomas Wilcher as head football coach.

The building of a brand new school and the subsequent construction of it's first on-site football stadium helped the relationship even more.

After all, Cass was used to have to play its home games at Hammerberg Field, some seven miles away.

Those of us who attended the games had to take two city busses to get to the field.  What's worse, daily football practice was conducted on a 45-yard sliver of land.

Regardless of the school's shortcomings, Cass Tech players like Tom Seabron, Curtis Greer and Harlan Huckleby all started for Michigan in the 1970s, then went on to the National Football League.

Greer was an All-American defensive end in 1979, and Huckleby is currently 13th on Michigan's all-time rushing list with 2,624 yards.

Before Wilcher took the head job in 1997, he helped steer running back Clarence Williams to the Wolverines in 1995 while he was a Cass Tech assistant.

Williams gained 1,986 yards in his four seasons as a Wolverine, finishing with 276 yards on 59 carries during the 1997 national championship season.  

His best season was 1996, where he gained 837 yards while sharing rushing duties with Chris Howard.

Since Wilcher became head coach, he's sent 25 players to Division I programs, the most of any high school program in Michigan.

Since the new school opened and the football field was built, Cass Tech has played some very good football.

The Technicians won the Public School League title in 2010 and just recently captured the Michigan Division I Championship with an impressive 49-13 victory over perennial power Detroit/Novi Catholic Central.

Joining the Wolverines next fall from that state title team is middle linebacker Royce-Jenkins Stone and cornerback Terry Richardson.

Already on the Michigan roster is defensive tackle Will Campbell, starting free safety Thomas Gordon and cornerback Delonte Holloway.

Michigan also has a close eye on freshman quarterback Jayru Campbell, who completed 13 of 20 passes for 240 and five touchdowns.

If Brady Hoke has his way, the 14-year-old may become the youngest commit in Michigan football history.