In late October, there have been however mere rumblings that Michigan soccer was making a late push to lure Bryce Underwood away from LSU. It was message board fodder, rumors that had greater than a touch of reality. However only a few knew what was occurring between the Wolverines and the No. 1 recruit within the nation — who occurred to play highschool ball simply 20 minutes down the highway.
Even fewer knew that the maize and blue would have an advocate inside the Belleville program in brief order.
Former Michigan soccer staffer Connor Stalions has turn into one thing of a family title in faculty soccer after changing into a day by day topic within the sport in 2023. In 2024, Stalions was teaching at Detroit (Mich.) Mumford, first as a defensive coordinator earlier than he discovered himself in the end serving because the performing head coach. As soon as Mumford’s season was completed, he received a name, and earlier than he knew it, he was set to function the Belleville (Mich.) offensive coordinator for the playoffs.
That meant that Stalions was about to be in shut proximity to Underwood in addition to his additionally extremely gifted teammate, security Elijah Dotson.
Underwood was dedicated to LSU and Dotson to Pitt, however on Nov. 20, Dotson flipped to the Wolverines and Underwood adopted go well with the subsequent day. To these within the nationwide media, the Dotson information was considerably anticipated. The Underwood information was not.
Having coached each for 3 weeks, Stalions shared his ideas solely with WolverinesWire, remarking first on Underwood and what makes him such a particular participant.
Bryce Underwood
“Anybody can watch Bryce’s spotlight tape and see the expertise, however that is simply the tip of the iceberg. Do not let his bodily traits idiot you,” Stalions informed WolverinesWire. “Bryce is a reassuring instance of how laborious work and full dedication to perfecting one’s craft separates the great from the good.
“First man there, final man to depart. Wins each dash in follow. Treats each single rep like his life will depend on it. When he isn’t on the sector or understanding, he is learning the sport. By no means glad. At all times in search of methods to enhance. At all times getting additional work in. He did not get to the place he’s by chance. He is ALL about soccer. He is solely 17, so he has loads of room to proceed to develop, however Bryce already conducts himself like knowledgeable. And each child who seems as much as him wants to grasp that his work ethic is what received him to the place he’s. You may obtain what you need to if you happen to relentlessly put within the work.”
Elijah Dotson
Although Dotson has been considerably overshadowed by Underwood by way of media protection, Stalions has insisted that he’s a powerhouse participant in his personal proper.
Projecting him as a possible multi-year starter, Stalions says that the protection (who additionally performed large receiver at Belleville) has a variety of distinctive qualities that may endear him to the Michigan teaching employees and fan base, alike.
“The identical can all be stated for Elijah,” Stalions stated, noting the aforementioned feedback about Underwood. “Elijah pops off on movie, flying across the discipline on each side of the ball, and he likes to hit. He is tremendous versatile in protection, however you actually need him within the run match, too. And he is actually sensible. Proper after the season ended and he determined to decide to Michigan, he instantly shifted his focus to studying Michigan’s protection. That is the kind of man he’s. Final focus. I am trying ahead to seeing E-Dot’s affect on protection and particular groups. Do not be shocked if you happen to see him discover his means on the sector forward of schedule.”
Stalions will not go as far as to say he had an affect in getting each of Michigan soccer’s future stars to Ann Arbor. And whereas he did not have a ton of time with them general, as their coach with the Tigers, he realized so much — not solely in regards to the gamers on the sector however who each Underwood and Dotson are as younger males.
By means of the method, Stalions received to know each the Dotson and Underwood households, and he may see the values instilled in each. Nonetheless an avid fan of Michigan, whereas he wasn’t overtly recruiting the duo to Ann Arbor, he is greater than thrilled to see each set to put on maize and blue — an event marked by each signing with the Wolverines on early signing day on Wednesday.
“Elijah and Bryce are each large younger males who come from nice households,” Stalions stated. “They’re each direct reflections of their fathers, whom I’ve gotten to know effectively. Relating to their recruitment, Elijah and Bryce actually could not go incorrect with any determination they made. We did not speak an excessive amount of about recruiting — we had been dialed in on soccer itself. However I am certain they’d troublesome selections, as does everybody who goes via the method. I used to be solely with them for 3 weeks this season, and I may inform after one follow that they’d each succeed no matter the place they performed faculty soccer. In fact, it would not take a rocket scientist to determine I am ecstatic to see each of them go to Michigan. However what’s even cooler for me is that I used to be trying ahead to see them play faculty ball no matter the place it was — now I am going to solely should drive proper down the highway to see them play.”
This text initially appeared on Wolverines Wire: EXCLUSIVE: Connor Stalions breaks down what makes Bryce Underwood and Elijah Dotson so particular
