Michigan football early enrollee freshman Corey Malone-Hatcher was forced to retire due to medical issues, but could still work with the program.
Corey Malone-Hatcher had a bright future as an early enrollee defensive end for Jim Harbaugh and Michigan football. He was a four-star prospect out of Saint Joseph, Mich., and helped bring in some fellow commits in the 2017 class.
After enrolling in January, he looked to get a leg up on the rest of the incoming freshmen, but a lingering Achilles injury had been bothering him. Although he had a bright future as a player, he was forced to retire after consulting with the training staff.
"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is gods will for you in Christ Jesus" ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18 pic.twitter.com/CUqafWgvgI
— . (@CMH2017) July 4, 2017
Despite announcing his retirement as a player, Malone-Hatcher hinted at a possible future role with Michigan that would make fans ecstatic.
https://twitter.com/CMH2017/status/882354795822108672
This may be just an idea right now, it’s probably been brought up with Harbaugh. While it may not seem like a prominent role with the program, Malone-Hatcher proved to be a heck of a recruiter even as a player. He helped bring in some recruits in the 2017 class with him even though he was an elite prospect himself.
Could this notion be doable? Absolutely. Many former players who don’t play football at the next level either stay with their respective programs or head to a different school to take over graduate assistant roles. Malone-Hatcher could get that process started early since he will be a retired football player attending school as a student.
You can bet Harbaugh wants to keep him aboard in some capacity. Losing a top recruit like that due to a career-ending injury is tough, but there are still ways to utilize him.
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Michigan can still benefit from Malone-Hatcher’s involvement with the program.