New Michigan recruit Kyle Kalis wants to clear the air about some things regarding comments he made to the media about his jump from Ohio State.
After committing to Michigan last week, ESPN quoted Kalis in say that “I believe the Michigan-Ohio border is open” for recruiting.
According to Kyle Meinke of AnnArbor.com, the five-star recruit from St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio, a hot-bed for OSU potential recruits, said Wednesday he is unhappy with the way he has been portrayed in the media.
“The only thing I’ll say about that border thing is that I never actually said it (that way), even though Michigan fans have been messaging me, saying it’s the greatest ESPN quote of all time,” Kalis texted AnnArbor.com.
ESPN quoted Kalis as saying: “I believe the Michigan-Ohio border is now open. I think you’re going to see eight or nine guys from the state of Ohio going over to Michigan this year.”
Kalis did say that the quote was accurate however the media was making sound as if he was trying to get back at Ohio State.
“I said that there used to be a sort of border between Ohio to Michigan and that for whatever reason you’re gonna see a handful of guys make that jump that they usually wouldn’t,” he said.
Kalis said that he’s come under tremendous scrutiny over his decision to de-commit from Ohio State and in turn commit to their arch rivals in Michigan. However Kalis says that he did what’s best for his future.
“The basic reaction (to my commitment) in Ohio has been, ‘Ah, how could you do this to your home state?! You betrayed your home state!!’” texted Kalis, whom Scout ranks the country’s sixth-best offensive tackle and the top overall player in Ohio. “It just makes me laugh because I’ve only been here for 2 1/2 years.
“About 95 percent of everyone has accepted (my decision). And of course my family is OK because they’re happy if I’m happy.”
Source: AnnArbor.com