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Posted on Fri, Apr 29, 2011 : 8:15 p.m.

Ohio linebacker Joe Bolden is Michigan football team's seventh commitment for 2012 class

By AnnArbor.com Staff

The third time was the charm for Ohio linebacker Joe Bolden and the Michigan football program.

Cincinnati.com reported that Bolden was making his third unofficial visit to Ann Arbor today when he verbally committed to play for coach Brady Hoke.

The website said Bolden was accompanied by several family members, including his father, Dan Bolden, and uncle, Tom Bolden. Dan Bolden is the athletic director at Colerain High School in Cincinnati and Tom Bolden is its football coach.

Joe Bolden is a 6-foot-3, 230-pound linebacker that chose Michigan over other favorites that included Kentucky, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Stanford and Penn State. He is the third linebacker in the recruiting class, joining Detroit Cass Tech's Royce Jenkins-Stone and Kaleb Ringer from Northmont High School in Clayton, Ohio.

Tom Bolden told Cincinnati.com that Joe liked Hoke and his staff, the Michigan facilities and its academic programs.

Ringer is No. 10 and Bolden No. 16 on Rivals.com's ranking of 2012 recruits from Ohio.

Comments

chiro19

Mon, May 2, 2011 : 1:50 p.m.

Michigan just picked up another ILB, the number 2 recruit James Ross. 2 or 3 of these guys will end up being 5 star recruits by next year. It is amazing the difference in recruiting from RR to Hoke. Its interesting looking at Scouts.com and seeing all of the top tier recruits interested in mich. versus last year and the year before you couldnt find a recruit interested in michigan until you got to the second page. Go Blue great job recruiting so far!

jneuy

Sun, May 1, 2011 : 4:34 a.m.

really hard to say they beat out Ohio St for Ringer or Bolden considering Ohio State didnt offer them.... not a big deal taking kids they dont want. If they steal Dunn the 5 start RB from Ohio St we can start talking.

Hokemania

Sun, May 1, 2011 : 7:27 a.m.

Where is Dunn a 5 star? Rivals says he's in the top 250 to watch next year. I'll take Rawls and Hayes from what I saw in highlights. Even though they are only 3 star recruits. It's so hard to judge high school talent after a certain point because all the really good players stand out over the competition in HS... It's how they are coached and progress playing against elite competition that separates them. Go BLUE!

Tru2Blu76

Sat, Apr 30, 2011 : 5 a.m.

I'm sure I'm not the only one to notice: once Hoke arrived, we've been seeing more and more signs that first rate defensive high schoolers believe that Michigan's defense is coming back. It'll take two years - but there no longer is any doubt that Michigan's defense will be making a big turn around vs the past three seasons.

1st Down

Sat, Apr 30, 2011 : 4:20 a.m.

Good players on the lines and up the middle = winning the Big Ten & Beyond. Smurf slot WRs are ornaments, but that is all. Hoke is it. This is Michigan. Go Blue.

OldBittyBates

Sat, Apr 30, 2011 : 1:46 a.m.

I believe Joe Bolden can make a big difference for the Wolverines on defense (and we all know they need help to fix the holes). It is so good that neither Michigan State or that team from Ohio got him. Brady Hoke is moving fast to make things better for Michigan fans. Go Blue!