Getting To Know Mo Linguist, Part 1: What Makes Him An Ace Recruiter?

Michigan Wolverines football head coach Jim Harbaugh made an outstanding hire this offseason when he brought in Maurice "Mo" Linguist to serve as his new co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach.

Linguist has quickly built up a reputation as an elite recruiter in his young career (he's only 36 years old), with U-M already seeing the fruits of his labor pay off on the 2022 recruiting trail.

The Dallas native has heavy ties to the state of Texas, having been born and raised there before spending his collegiate days at Baylor and then making coaching stops at Texas A&M (2018-19) and the Dallas Cowboys (2020).

"Ace recruiter," "one of the best in the business" and "elite on the recruiting trail" are a few of the phrases that have been linked to his name since Harbaugh hired him. But why is he viewed as one of the best recruiters in the game, and what can the Wolverines expect to see from him during his time in Ann Arbor?

To answer these questions, we spoke with six people closely tied to Linguist, including prominent trainers and high school coaches in the state of Texas, parents of past recruits, former colleagues in the coaching ranks and more.

The panel includes:

• LaShonda Cromer (the mother of former Minnesota wideout Rashod Bateman, who Linguist recruited to Minnesota)

• Adam Harvey (the former position coach Cibolo [Tex.] Steele five-star cornerback Jaylon Jones, who Linguist recruited to Texas A&M)

• Mickey Matthews (the former head coach at James Madison University, where Linguist worked from 2009-11)

• Justin Owens (the founder of 'Coach O Recruiting' in Dallas, which helps recruits gain exposure)

• Lou Tepper (the former defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Buffalo University, where he worked alongside Linguist from 2012-13).

• Rischad Whitfield (a prominent trainer of high schoolers, college athletes and NFL players in the Houston area)

RELATED: Michigan Wolverines Football Podcast: Balas & Skene, Feb. 10

RELATED: Todd McShay Projects Kwity Paye, Jalen Mayfield As First-Round Draft Picks

*Cromer is the mother of former Minnesota receiver Rashod Bateman, with Linguist having served as Bateman's primary recruiter to the Gophers.

What was it like interacting with Linguist during your son's recruitment?

“He was the best. He was real eager to invest in Rashod and was the type of person who had a listening ear. Coach Linguist always called to check in on Rashod and check in on the family.

"He was trustworthy and always communicated with us. Even now, we still stay in touch after the fact and that means a lot. It was a family atmosphere whenever he was around, and he was supporting and trustworthy as if he were a family member.

"Rashod and Coach Linguist had a great relationship with one another. What I liked about him is that he built relationships with not only his players, but also his players’ families.

"It made Rashod's decision to go to Minnesota very easy, thanks to Coach Linguist. It also made me comfortable as a parent to allow my child to go there.”

How do you think he'll do during his time at Michigan?

“He’ll be a great asset to Michigan. The way he connects with kids and acts as a trustworthy man will help him go very far.”