There was never much doubt that Aidan Hutchinson would be a Wolverine. The top recruit in the state of Michigan in 2018, he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father, Chris Hutchinson, one of the greatest defensive lineman in program history.
"Michigan was always No. 1 for me," Hutchinson said Tuesday on the Rich Eisen Show. "My parents went there, my sisters both graduated from there."
Still, Hutchinson took some obligatory recruiting trips to other schools in the area, like Michigan State and Ohio State. "Unfortunately" so, he said.
"I visited Ohio State and Michigan State," he said. "It hurt my soul a little bit to do that. I can say that now in hindsight."
Hurt his immune system, too.
"The funny thing is, when I visited Michigan State, I came back and I got so sick," he said. "I lost like 20 pounds in the summer because of that visit. That just goes to show that Michigan State is poison for the soul, I think."
The Spartans did get the last laugh against Hutchinson and the Wolverines this season with a 37-33 victory in East Lansing. But for Michigan, the loss may have been for the best. Hutchinson believes it vaulted them to where they are now, Big Ten champs preparing to face Georgia in the College Football Playoff.
"Looking back at it, if we hadn't lost that game, I don't know if I'd be here today a Big Ten champion," he said. "We were up 30-14, we should've won the game, but we lost that game ourselves. It was something that I think motivated our guys so much and we realized, if we lose another game we don't have a chance. We're going to be out of the playoffs, we're going to be out of the Big Ten championship. That was an eye-opener and kind of a reality check for our team and something that really pushed us to that next level."
Hutchinson, especially. He was an unstoppable force over the next four games, starting with Michigan's comeback win at Penn State and cresting with its demolition of Iowa in the Big Ten championship. By the end of his rampage, which was highlighted by three sacks against Ohio State, Hutchinson was a Heisman Finalist, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and the winner of the Lombardi Trophy as the top lineman or linebacker in the country.
And the favorite to go first overall in next year's NFL Draft, where he might just be called back home to play for the Lions.
Michigan's success this year has been a surprise to the country. They're the first team to make the College Football Playoff after being unranked to start the season. "Out of all of Coach Harbaugh's years," Hutchinson said, "this was the least likely for us to do what we've done." Individually, he credits a lot of his growth to first-year defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.
"Coach Macdonald, I mean, I feel like that defense is made for me to just produce," Hutchinson said. "He gives me a lot of freedom in that defense to just be a ballplayer and make plays. I think that's part of the reason why I've been so productive this season, is his scheme and his defense. He's really just unleashing the best."
With a little help from the Spartans.
