Former Michigan TE Erick All speaks on time in Ann Arbor: 'Some of the best coaches that I've had'
Former Michigan Wolverines tight end and Iowa Hawkeye Erick All was present at the 2024 NFL Combine on Thursday and addressed his departure and the impact his former school had on him.
All transferred out after the 2022 season after missing most f the year with a back injury, then joining quarterback Cade McNamara at Iowa. There were some jabs thrown on the way out the door, but All shed light on the situation on Thursday.
“Wolverine nation, love you guys, but it’s time for me to move on,” All wrote in a tweet. I know some of you are wondering why I would leave, and the answer to that question is unexpected.
“Not everything/everyone are what they seem, and I learned that from my time here at Michigan. Sometimes you have to let go and do what’s best for you and your family. Love you guys. Go Blue.”
Over a year later, it was time for reflection for the former Michigan captain.
“It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life,” All said at the combine. “I was there for four years. I had a lot of brothers there. I loved all my coaches. It was just a tough decision and having to make that decision I felt like was the best decision to me.
“I felt like I was turning my back on my teammates, but they were all there for me. They’re my brothers. I still talk to a lot of them today. They had my back and made sure that I was doing good. I love Michigan for that; I love Michigan forever. I just ended up having to go.”
Despite the parting of ways after the 2022 season, All still loves Michigan and was rooting for them to win the College Football Playoff National Championship. He had three positon coaches in Ann Arbor in Sherrone Moore, Jay Harbaugh and Grant Newsome, and said each of them brought something different to the table.
“They pretty much taught me everything that a tight ends needs to know. Being a tight end, they taught me everything,” he said. “And honestly, my first tight end coach was Sherrone Moore. Second was Coach [Jay] Harbaugh. And then I had G-News [Grant Newsome].
“Coach Moore was the type of coach that was a perfectionist. You had to do everything perfect, everything how he coached you. Coach Jay Harbaugh was a teacher. He taught you all the little things; he taught you pretty much everything you need to know on the defensive side of the ball. … And G-News, a he was a great offensive lineman at Michigan. So he taught me everything with blocking and with footwork, pass pro. I felt like just having a different variety of coaches at Michigan helped me out a lot and having that propelled me to be the tight end I am now.”
All had 21 catches for 299 yards and three touchdowns at Iowa this season before a knee injury suffered in October. During his time at Michigan, he had 54 catches for 565 yards and two touchdowns.
