Michigan has been very successful in recent years recruiting tight ends, and that success continued Tuesday with the No. 6 commitment of the 2014 class.
Tight end Ian Bunting (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central) gave his pledge to the Wolverines only a few days after visiting Ann Arbor, Mich. He is the first tight end commitment for Michigan in the 2014 class and will give Michigan another weapon in the passing game once he joins the team.
"It felt like home, and where I fit. My parents were on the visit with me and they loved it, too," he said. "I just had a great time and it was a family feel. The coaches' wives and kids were all there. I felt that brotherhood, and that's one of the most important things to me in this game."
Bunting said he knew on the second day of his visit that Michigan was the place for him because of that bond he felt.
How he will be used at Michigan was another reason he chose the Wolverines. The success Michigan has shown so far with tight end Devin Funchess gave Bunting a look at what he could be doing soon in the Big House on game days. While he is excited to get on the field for Michigan he still plans on putting in work off the field to make his future team better.
"I plan on recruiting for Michigan, absolutely," he said. "Parrker Westphal is someone I know likes Michigan. He was there on the visit with me and I'm sure there will be other guys that come up, too. I want to help make us better in any way I can."
He also felt a bond with some of Michigan's commitments, despite living in different places. The commits played a part in his recruitment and ultimately helped lead him to Michigan.
"Wilton Speight helped me a lot. I asked him about what he liked and why he chose Michigan," he said. "He gave me some advice, and made me feel comfortable. I'm looking forward to getting back up there and meeting some of the other guys and talking with them, too."
At 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds, Bunting can be used in various ways at the college level and should become a matchup nightmare for defenses. He chose the Wolverines over offers from Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon and USC, among others.
Ranked as the No. 114 overall prospect, Bunting continues a trend as all six Michigan's commitments for 2014 are within the ESPN 150. All six are four-star prospects.