I caught up with Randy Jackson, father of five-star 2022 Michigan defensive back target Domani Jackson. Here are some highlights from our interview.
On his overall view of Michigan in the recruiting process:
"Michigan is Michigan. They are always going to be a blue blood program. That's never going to change. It's just going to be a matter of us taking a look at it and figuring out what's going to be the best fit. And them actually solidifying and clarifying who the actual coaches are going to be."
On the Jim Harbaugh extension:
"I know Harbaugh got the extension, but I didn't even know who the new DC (Mike Macdonald) was until you told me, to be honest. Is the position coach (Michael Zordich) going to stay the same? Those are questions I have to get answered. Domani has a good relationship with Coach Zordich. We watched Coach Zordich at Cardinal Mooney (a Youngstown, Ohio high school — Randy is originally from the area) when his son played there. That was a relationship we had, so we'll just have to see."
On what Michigan's recruiting message has been throughout a time of uncertainty:
"The ability to actually come in and play right away, and the ability to play under the Michigan brand, which we all know is a big, national brand. That and the alumni and the education that Michigan provides."
On their visit to Michigan in the fall:
"The visit was good. It was a good chance for Domani to go up there and get a hands on, personal visit and get a feel for what Ann Arbor is without the unofficial visit. It was good for us to physically see it. It was my first time there. To finally get a chance to go there was a big thing for Domani and for me as well. Besides seeing it on TV, it was good for us to see it in person. It was our first visit without the university being involved. It was more personable and related to the kids getting to know each other. Before, we'd go on an unofficial visit, and it would just be about us. We wouldn't see other commits. That was a good thing for us to do."
On Jackson and Will Johnson potentially teaming up:
"I've texted with (Deon Johnson, father of Will) a couple of times. Can it happen? It can. Will it happen? That's yet to be seen. There would have to be a lot of things that happen to make that happen. But if they want to make it happen, in this day and age, anything is possible."
On his overall view of Michigan in the recruiting process:
"Michigan is Michigan. They are always going to be a blue blood program. That's never going to change. It's just going to be a matter of us taking a look at it and figuring out what's going to be the best fit. And them actually solidifying and clarifying who the actual coaches are going to be."
On the Jim Harbaugh extension:
"I know Harbaugh got the extension, but I didn't even know who the new DC (Mike Macdonald) was until you told me, to be honest. Is the position coach (Michael Zordich) going to stay the same? Those are questions I have to get answered. Domani has a good relationship with Coach Zordich. We watched Coach Zordich at Cardinal Mooney (a Youngstown, Ohio high school — Randy is originally from the area) when his son played there. That was a relationship we had, so we'll just have to see."
On what Michigan's recruiting message has been throughout a time of uncertainty:
"The ability to actually come in and play right away, and the ability to play under the Michigan brand, which we all know is a big, national brand. That and the alumni and the education that Michigan provides."
On their visit to Michigan in the fall:
"The visit was good. It was a good chance for Domani to go up there and get a hands on, personal visit and get a feel for what Ann Arbor is without the unofficial visit. It was good for us to physically see it. It was my first time there. To finally get a chance to go there was a big thing for Domani and for me as well. Besides seeing it on TV, it was good for us to see it in person. It was our first visit without the university being involved. It was more personable and related to the kids getting to know each other. Before, we'd go on an unofficial visit, and it would just be about us. We wouldn't see other commits. That was a good thing for us to do."
On Jackson and Will Johnson potentially teaming up:
"I've texted with (Deon Johnson, father of Will) a couple of times. Can it happen? It can. Will it happen? That's yet to be seen. There would have to be a lot of things that happen to make that happen. But if they want to make it happen, in this day and age, anything is possible."
