- Four-star recruit Matt Ludwig was released from his letter-of-intent with Michigan after the firing of head coach Sherrone Moore.
- Moore was fired after the university found ‘credible evidence’ of an inappropriate relationship with a staff member and was later arrested.
- Ludwig, a tight end from Montana, had planned to enroll early at Michigan in January.
- Ludwig’s high school coach said the recruit and his family were ‘devastated’ and ‘shocked’ by the news.
“Our principal just bought him a cap and gown and just did (the ceremony) real quick in the hallway,’’ Stanton told USA TODAY Sports. “Then about 20 minutes later (Ludwig’s) phone was blowing up.’’
A tight end, Ludwig got blindsided. Suddenly was digesting the shocking news: Sherrone Moore had been abruptly fired as Michigan’s head football coach.
The school released a statement saying it had found ‘credible evidence’ Moore engaged in an ‘inappropriate relationship with a staff member.’ Later in the day, Moore was arrested as police investigated an alleged assault.
Ludwig, who planned to enroll at Michigan in January to get an early start, instead requested he be released from his letter of intent and the university has complied, according to Stanton.
Stanton said he thinks Ludwig already had emerged as a leader among Michigan’s signees.
‘Just the bond he had with all those guys was pretty special,’ Stanton said, “and I think he did a good job of helping get some other people there.’
Now it remains unclear who, like Ludwig, will leave that group behind.
Stanton said he visited Ludwig at the family’s home Wednesday and ‘he was just really devastated, shocked, all the emotions with the news that he received. Right now he’s in the stage of processing everything.’
Ludwig’s father, Matt Ludwig Sr., on Dec. 11 told USA TODAY Sports by text message, ‘Currently exploring all options, not ready to release any statements at this time.’
The younger Matt Ludwig did not have his direct messages open on his X account Thursday and could not be reached for comment by USA TODAY Sports.
During the recruiting process, Stanton said, the Ludwigs got to know Moore, who was completing his second year as Michigan head coach.
‘They got to know him really well and they trusted him,’’ Stanton said. “So that’s just hard right now for them to go through this.’
Matt Ludwig was part of a 27-signee recruiting class ranked 11th by 247 Sports and 12th by Rivals. The profile photo on Ludwig’s X account shows him wearing a black cowboy hat and flexing his biceps. He is 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds and had a grade point average of 3.87, according to information on his X account.
