In a different world, Ohio State running back Mike Weber would be lining up in the Michigan backfield on Saturday. A Detroit native, Weber grew up rooting for the Wolverines and committed to play for head coach Brady Hoke in August 2014.
But when rumors began to circulate Hoke would be fired following a disastrous 5-7 season, the four-star prospect reopened his recruitment two years ago on Tuesday. After an in-home visit from Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer, defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs and running backs coach Stan Drayton just two weeks later, Weber decided he wanted to be a Buckeye.
But the story doesn't end there.
Jim Harbaugh furiously tried to salvage Michigan's 2015 recruiting class when he was hired in late December and made Weber a priority. A renewed excitement surrounding the program, an impromptu meeting with Harbaugh at a diner in Detroit and a secret official visit to Ann Arbor made it clear Weber was on the fence about whether to sign with Ohio State or Michigan. But a late-night phone call with Drayton just hours ahead of National Signing Day convinced Weber to come to Columbus.
To add even more intrigue, Drayton left to take a job with the Chicago Bears just one day after Weber signed his binding national letter of intent. The move was heavily scrutinized, and the Buckeyes were accused of using sleight of hand to fend off the Wolverines.
If he wanted to flip back to Michigan at that point, Weber would have been forced to sit out a year as a transfer student or ask Ohio State to release him from his letter of intent. Neither happened, though, and what was once a messy situation eventually worked itself out.
Now, Weber becomes the latest piece in a rivalry that has always been about players who famously crossed the state line — though typically in a northern direction. He won't be the only Michigander, either, as safety Damon Webb, Weber's high school teammate, and left guard Michael Jordan will also start for the Buckeyes.
Webb had just finished his freshman season at Ohio State when Weber made his decision, and their relationship helped ease the transition.
Former Cass Tech and current Ohio State teammates, from right to left, Mike Weber, Josh Alabi and Damon Webb on a visit for the 2013 Wisconsin game.
“Having people here that I know of, that I can talk to, that relate to me is always good,” Weber said following Saturday's 17-16 win over Michigan State. "I used to talk to him when I was in high school about the program and what to expect and stuff like that. I felt like him and [defensive tackle] Josh Alabi being here, it was like a mind thing when it comes to that, and I'm glad I get to be with these guys again. It feels good to play with guys you grew up with and play against guys you grew up with."
Weber, who rushed for 111 yards on 14 carries against the Spartans, joined Robert Smith and Maurice Clarett as the only Ohio State freshmen to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. And while many thought he'd reach that mark at Michigan, Weber will instead play against several of his high school teammates on Saturday.
“Now it's really personal. A lot of people I played with — Jourdan Lewis, Delano Hill, Mike Onwenu, Lavert Hill — all those guys I played with in high school and won championships with are on the team,” Weber said. “It's going to be fun playing against all those guys, and I'm looking forward to it.”
