Loyola’s Brooks Bahr couldn’t wait any longer, commits to Michigan

Brooks Bahr couldn’t wait anymore.

The Loyola defensive lineman planned on making his college decision over the summer before his senior season, but after he visited Michigan on the weekend of March 11, Bahr knew he didn’t want to wait any longer.

Bahr announced his commitment to the Wolverines the following Tuesday on March 15.

“I’m really excited,” Bahr said. “I left the visit 100% wanting to be a Wolverine, got along with the coaching staff really well and I’m excited how they see me fitting in into their defense. I love the school and everything that it has to offer.”

The 6-foot-6, 275-pound defensive lineman had 16 scholarship offers before his commitment, including from Power-5 schools like Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Northwestern. Rivals ranks Bahr as a three-star prospect, the ninth-best in Illinois, while 247Sports Composite also ranks him as a three-star prospect, ninth-best in the state.

Bahr earned All-CCL/ESCC Blue honors for his junior season where he finished with 54 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks and a forced fumble.

The Rambler had enjoyed his recruiting process and liked learning about different schools on his visits, but when he went to Ann Arbor, it had everything he looked for.

Bahr wants to study marketing and sports management and was impressed with Michigan’s programs. He also enjoyed watching the ways coaches worked with players during a practice he watched.

Once it felt right after his second visit to the school, Bahr knew he didn’t want to waste any of the other coaches’ time.

“It’s Michigan,” Bahr said. “They play in the Big House and they always have 110,000 people there. So it’s crazy to think about that, how big of a rich tradition they have.”

New Michigan defensive line coach Mike Elston was a big reason why Bahr felt comfortable in committing to Michigan earlier than he expected. Bahr had worked with Elston at camp when he was a coach at Notre Dame and liked what the coach brought out of him during their brief time together.

“He played a huge role in my recruitment,” Bahr said. “He’s a tremendous recruiter, he’s a great guy, great coach and produced a lot of talent.”

Although Loyola coach John Holecek wasn’t heavily involved in Bahr’s recruitment, he could tell how excited his player was for what Michigan could offer him. With such a strong base to work from, Holecek knows there’s still a lot of growth for Bahr to go through but he’s confident his lineman can continue to develop over the summer and in his senior season.

“Right now, he’s still a baby at 6-foot-6, 275 pounds,” Holecek said. “You look at him and there’s a lot of room to grow and mature. You’re looking at a 6-foot-6, 300-plus guy with long arms and good athletic ability, that’s a powerful human being.”

Bahr has started to look ahead at what his schedule might be at his new school and is excited for the opportunity, but he knows his hard work can’t stop now. He’ll be playing against some of the best players in the nation, which motivates Bahr to get bigger, stronger and faster over the offseason.

But until he gets to Ann Arbor, Bahr is excited to realize his dreams of playing for what he considers to be a perfect fit.

“It’s always been my dream to play football at the highest level,” Bahr said. “Now that it’s coming true it’s amazing, it’s surreal.”