The story has been out there for a while now … Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh picking up a group of recruits in a van personally at midnight during an official visit weekend.

For freshman defensive tackle Donovan Jeter, that was the moment he knew Michigan was for him. The former Notre Dame pledge had kept in contact with U-M and asked Coach Greg Mattison if there was still room weeks earlier – not long after he was a pledge.

“It was 12:00 in the morning when he took us back to our hotels. I committed that night, in the van,” Jeter recalled with a laugh. “I didn’t make it public until the next Monday. But I got in the van, said, ‘you know what coach — you’re my guy. I’m committing tonight.’

“He pulls the van over, jumps out and gives me a big hug.”

Being so tired, Jeter had forgotten he committed.

“The next morning he ran up to me and gave me big hug, said, ‘I’m glad to have you aboard.’ I thought, ‘Oh yeah, I committed!’ I had to go tell my parents.

“That says a lot about him. Not many coaches would go out at 12 in the morning to get recruits. That’s a plus as a coach and his character. That’s why I’m here.”

The early enrollee is still getting accustomed to being on his own, not having his parents there to do everything for him, but he’s getting used to it. He’s also adjusting to the weight room.

“Workouts are a lot more intense and harder. That’s what I’m here for,” he said. “That’s why I signed up with Michigan.

“Monday we did squats, and in high school we didn’t squat that much. The first day wasn’t heavy; it was how low we had to go. The next day I woke up and I could barely walk. Tuesdays are conditioning days. It was hard to run. I had to tough it out. I was very sore to say the least.”

Jeter said Mattison told him he would start out at strongside end, but if they want to move him inside he’s all for it.

“That’s fine with me. I’m not going to be a selfish prima donna,” he said. “Whatever is best for the team.”