Helm lands offer No. 2
Chatham (Ill.) Glenwood tight end Daniel Helm picked up offer No. 2 this week, following another strong performance at a national camp. The four-star junior has held an offer from Illinois since the summer, and added Michigan on Tuesday.
"Coach Jeff Hecklinski, the wide receivers coach, came to the school [Monday] and he had talked to my coaches and left," Helm said. "Apparently he was talking with someone at the University who said, 'Why didn't you offer him?' So, he did and that was about it.
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Helm followed up on word of the offer by placing a call to Hecklinski to confirm and discuss Michigan Tuesday evening.
"When I was talking to him on the phone, the big thing he stressed was stability overall," Helm said. "He didn't really stress the football side, but he said Michigan is going to return to what they were, which was a smash mouth style of football with the tight ends. He felt the tight ends were really important."
As a junior, Helm caught 44 passes for 821 yards and 17 touchdowns, showing his proficiency as a receiver. Michigan told him they would use his receiving skills in both the tight end and slot positions.
Both of Helm's parents attended UCLA, but Helm noted he also has some family ties to the Michigan program.
"My grandpa is a big Michigan fan and I think he is originally from there. He has always been pushing Michigan," Helm said. "My mom almost went to Michigan. It was between Michigan and UCLA when she was choosing her schools, so it is a pretty well known school in my family.
"In the spring [Michigan] was talking about me and the whole family coming up sometime just to see what Michigan has. I have only heard good things about Coach [Brady] Hoke, so I am excited to learn more about the school and see what is going on."
Helm has had trouble scheduling junior day visits this winter because of his commitments to his high school basketball team. Illinois does have a junior day on Jan. 26 that he may be able to attend, however.
"I have a game that Friday night, but none on Saturday so I might be able to go to that," Helm said. "I have to talk to my parents about what they are planning on doing for that."
Interest from other schools continues to increase as well. Coaches from Vanderbilt and Tennessee have been by the school and interest from another Big Ten program has increased in recent days.
"Ohio State is interested right now," Helm said. "I talked to them over the phone on Sunday. He was pretty high on me."