Competitive Delonte Hollowell looking forward to being part of the Michigan football program
DETROIT - When Delonte Hollowell received a scholarship offer from the Michigan football program last September, his first call went to his brother, Charles.
“I was like, ‘For real?’” Charles Hollowell said. “He said, ‘What should I do?’ And I was like, ‘You should go ahead and take it.’ That’s one of his dream schools. So as soon as he got the chance to, he went and took it.”
Hollowell became Michigan’s second verbal commitment in January, joining fellow defensive back Greg Brown.
Last week, at the Sound Mind, Sound Body football camp at Wayne State, Hollowell said there never was any doubt where he’d play his college football.
“The coaching staff was great, but that’s not the reason I committed to Michigan,” he said. “They have good academic programs. The football team’s great. I have former players that I play with up there and I would love to have the chance to play with them again. I love the coaches, I love everybody there.”
A 5-foot-8, 165-pound cornerback, Hollowell will be the latest in a long line of Detroit Cass Tech products to sign with Michigan next February.
Hollowell played with current Wolverines Will Campbell, Teric Jones and Thomas Gordon as a sophomore and still works out occasionally with them. Fellow verbal commit Shawn Conway went to Cass Tech as a freshman. And Hollowell said he’s already started recruiting sophomore defensive back Terry Richardson.
Hollowell, Conway and Richardson all attended the SMSB camp, where Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez was a guest speaker.
During his presentation, Rodriguez told the story of deciding which of two unnamed prospects to offer last year.
“I said, 'I want to take him,'” Rodriguez said. “The coaches said, 'Why do you want him?' I said, 'I was at the Sound Mind, Sound Body camp and I watched the one-on-ones and that guy was trying to get in the front of the line and that guy was trying to hide in the back.' I want the guy that wants to take every rep against every guy, who’s not afraid to compete.
“So we took that guy, and I’m glad we did because he’s going to be a great player.”
Hollowell was at the SMSB camp last year, and those who know him say that sounds like him.
Rodriguez can’t talk about recruits publicly, but Hollowell, even with a scholarship wrapped up, attended both the SMSB and Michigan football camps last week, and went to the Nike camp in May.
“I love to compete,” Hollowell said. “There’s always time to compete and get better. There’s other cats out there that will work me and I can work them.”
Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
Comments
gatling64
Thu, Jun 24, 2010 : 1:25 p.m.
Robbie Webb I have been following his career on Scout and he is THE premier DB in Michigan.When he wa signed I was not impressed,but he just keeps sticking like glue to the best recievers in the midwest.He loves to go agains the best and attends every camp he can, even though he already has nothing to prove.His back pedal is as good as his front run, has a great hip swivel,and runs the W pattern better than any one in the midwest.His only nemisis is Arnett but he takes him on every chance he can.
Robbie Webb
Thu, Jun 24, 2010 : 1:09 p.m.
gobluemark, what's your problem? This kid has a 4 star ranking and the #15 cornerback according to rivals, so obviously he's doing something great. He will put on weight and grow. Stop complaining.
gatling64
Thu, Jun 24, 2010 : 10:39 a.m.
3ANDOUT When are you people going to realize that "HARBS ain't comin'here.He burned his bridges when he badmouthed UM aboutthe entrance requirements,when it was same requirements that got him into UM in the first place.He always wanted to go to Stanford, loved John Elway, but was rejected because of his grades.If we did n't have different standards for football players it is doubtfull that he ever would have gotten in here.So forget him: he is dead meat around here.
gobluemark
Thu, Jun 24, 2010 : 9:58 a.m.
5' 8" 165 lb corner? Another great get for the "coach".
wvtroll
Thu, Jun 24, 2010 : 6:53 a.m.
Michigan didn't mind taking RR from WVU just before WVU's bowl game and leaving the coaching to an underling. I don't think UM would mind firing RR just before a bowl game either, if it comes to that. Of course, if it comes to that, RR will probably have already picked his next job and prepped himself for leaving. A quote from the Charleston Gazette (12/7/2006) concerning Alabama offers: "Like I've said all along, I plan on finishing my career here. I've said that time and time again, and I mean it. That's what I want to do," Rodriguez said. A quote from the Charleston Gazette (12/18/2007): "Last month, Rodriguez laughed when asked if he were being considered by the University of Michigan. As recently as two weeks ago, he assured fans that he was not in the running for another job, that he knew of. "Sorry, but you all are stuck with me here," he said." The thing that bothers me about RR leaving WVU is the way he did it. I hope UM has a good season this year, but again, I've got to warn you about RR's ability to keep a straight face while telling you what you want to hear. And again, I'm not even a WVU fan. Rooting for a team is NOT the same thing as liking the coach of that team. Now before I get bashed, remember these were RR's own words, not mine in the above quotes.
GoblueinNE_PA
Wed, Jun 23, 2010 : 3:05 p.m.
Nice story about this kid. I hope he grows about 4 inches though.
3 And Out
Wed, Jun 23, 2010 : 2:51 p.m.
The problem is if Michigan and RR go 6-6 this reg season, which would include 1 of those wins over another D-II (FCS) team... then they will probably get invited to some fleabag bowl and the RR slaps will be all over themselves about improvement... but it would make it a bit harder for Brandon to can RR only because he'd most likely have to wait until after the bowl game, which would hurt recruiting, unless he could can RR in December, hire Harbs and let Calvin Magee coach the bowl game...it will be interesting to see how it plays out, IMO it will be moot though because they will end up 5-7.
Terry Star21
Wed, Jun 23, 2010 : 1:27 p.m.
Rodriguez...'I want the guy...that's not afraid to compete'. This is why Michigan Football was so successful in the fall of 2010 and beyond, RichRod got to pick his best, for his style of football - and it paid off...big time. There is talk about a Rodriguez Hall, and the planning commission is working on that right now...looks like maybe 2020-2021 most say. 2011.....Michigan - 38.......Nebraska - wished they never joined.