Heitzman Enjoys Michigan Visit

The Buckeye State prospect took in his official visit to Michigan over the weekend. GoBlueWolverine caught up with him to talk about his visit, why he flipped his commitment and his childhood favorite. **Update**

Keith Heitzman, the 6-foot-3, 222-pound defensive end from Hilliard-Davidson (OH), flipped his original commitment from Vanderbilt to Michigan after Brady Hoke was hired as the Wolverines new head coach. This past weekend he made the trip to Ann Arbor to take his official visit with the Maize and Blue.

“It went real well,” Heitzman said of his official. “It started off getting to know the coaches and all of that, and we ate a lot. We hung out with the players a lot.”

Heitzman got to spend time with several of the players, including his player host for the weekend.

“It was Michael Schofield. It was pretty fun. We hung out with the other recruits and hosts so it wasn’t like I was just with him. It was fun. We saw a lot of the other guys dorms and houses and stuff. It was pretty cool.”

Being in Ann Arbor cemented the fact that flipping from the Commodores to the Wolverines was the correct choice for Heitzman.

“I went through a few coaching changes at Vanderbilt before I could even sign. They don’t have the tradition or football team that Michigan has. Michigan was just the better choice for me.”

Heitzman also spent time with the other prospects that had made their way to Ann Arbor to check out the Maize and Blue.

“The defensive tackle from Maryland (Darien Cooper) and there was a linebacker (Antonio Poole) and a tight end from Texas (Chris Barnett). Yeah, I was recruiting (laughing). They were from all around the US, so we had a lot of different personalities, but I had to do some recruiting.”

A staple of any visit is a plethora of time with the coaches, and Heitzman didn’t miss out on that.

“I spent a lot of time with each coach. It looks like they’ll be playing me at defensive end. They haven’t yet hired a secondary coach or a line coach. Both Coach Hoke and Coach Mattison were former defensive line coaches, so you know it’s going to be a lot of effort put forth on the d-line.”

Heitzman was joined on his visit by both of his parents who also came away impressed with what the Wolverines had to offer.

“Yeah, they liked it a lot. They were impressed with the facilities and the academics especially. Michigan pleased them really well.”

Heitzman, like several other prospects from Ohio that head to Michigan, had to change his allegiance pretty quickly, but it’s been no problem.

“I grew up an Ohio State fan, but I wasn't a die hard or anything, but I’m gladly hating them right now. It’s been mainly joking around. Everyone is pretty proud, and it’s just that it’s going to a big time school and things like that.”

For more on the Wolverines recruiting weekend and Keith Heitzman's trip to Ann Arbor (including one JUICY tidbit on the premium message board) click here.