Glasgow Has the Tackles, Grades, Hair -- and Respect of Coaches, Teammates
7/26/2019 12:00:00 PM | Football, Features
By Steve Kornacki
CHICAGO -- Jordan Glasgow catches your attention in three different ways.
On the football field, he's the most impactful player the University of Michigan has on punts and kickoffs, according to head coach Jim Harbaugh, who called Glasgow "by far our best special teams player."
In the classroom, Glasgow also is a heavy hitter in the Ross School of Business. He's a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award winner, earning the designation that requires at least a 3.7 grade-point average.
And in the longest hair category, Glasgow -- who hasn't cut his curly brown locks in over four years -- replaces Chase Winovich, a third–round draft pick of the New England Patriots, as the team leader.
"I started growing my hair out in June 2015," said Glasgow. "That's the last time I cut my hair."
He generally wears it long in games, but has it up in a man bun off the field.
"When it's all down," said Glasgow, "it looks atrocious. I don't take very good care of it. So, I don't put it down very often in public. In terms of what it means to me, there's nothing really symbolic. It's more about getting out of a school where you had to get a haircut and have it very short. So, when people graduate, they grow their hair out. It's like, 'I'm done with that part, all the rules.' And I just kept growing it."
Glasgow attended Marmion Academy in Aurora, Illinois, an all-boys Roman Catholic school owned and operated by Benedictine monks.
"It was a joke that went too far," Glasgow said with a chuckle, "and now it's a little late to turn back. So, I'm just kind of going with it. I've had it this long and want to finish my college career with it. I might has well have it long while I can, and before I'm restricted by things I can't control."
Hudson (left) and Glasgow attempting a punt block against Nebraska
Khaleke Hudson, whom Glasgow backs up at the viper position and also teams up with on punt units, said Glasgow has more than wild hair in common with Winovich.
"Jordan Glasgow is one of the hardest workers, man," said Hudson. "He's one of the hardest-working teammates I've ever had. He's relentless. I put him and Chase Winovich in the same category. He does it every day in practice, giving his all, working on his technique and being a force on special teams. We work hard to get the blocked punts.
"He's a good player, a good leader and someone to look up to."
It's been an interesting journey for Glasgow who -- just like his brothers, Graham and Ryan, who are in the NFL -- came to the Wolverines as a walk-on, earned a scholarship and improved every season. He began as a redshirt freshman posting a team-high 12 special teams tackles and recovering a fumble, was named Wolverines Special Teams Player of the Year as a sophomore, and made two starts as a junior with a career-high 28 tackles.
"Early on," said Glasgow, "it was difficult. I got to play on special teams my second year and was on the defensive scout team that year and the next one, too. So, it was a little different path than a normal scholarship guy. Then, last year, I got some reps on defense.
"But I wouldn't change anything that's happened to me over the course of my Michigan football career because I feel like it's made me a better player."
What's been his best day at Michigan?
"The night after we win -- there's no better feeling than that," said Glasgow. "I enjoy when I do well in school, but nothing compares to winning a game, away or home -- but probably at home because then I can go back to my house.
"Game days are the most memorable, and the best days that I've had here."
He started twice last season because Hudson was penalized for targeting in the previous games, necessitating that he sit out the first halves of those games. Glasgow responded by making a career-high six tackles (four solos) in a win at Northwestern and had a 14-yard sack in a victory at home over Nebraska in those starts.
"I was able to come in while Khaleke was halted because of his roughing-the-passer calls," said Glasgow. "But I was very happy with myself that I was able to come in and contribute to the team. The defense didn't really skip a beat. But we did get beat in the first half of the Northwestern game, and that made me feel pretty bad. But we got it together (and won, 20-17).
"It had really been four years since I'd played (defense) in a game. I played football. I played special teams, but not on offense or defense, and I felt I was able to make a difference. Mentally and emotionally, I had gone such a long time without being able to contribute in the way I want to contribute."
Glasgow (6-foot-1, 230 pounds) later matched his career high with six tackles against Rutgers and also earned his sixth career special teams player of the game award against the Scarlett Knights.
"I started out as a safety," he said, "and I moved the viper -- the hybrid safety-linebacker position -- and now I'm playing viper again as well as competing for reps at Will linebacker."
His constant improvement has resulted in more playing time and opportunities.
"I played a little bit of Will in our bowl game last year," said Glasgow. "Going forward, playing Will, I've improved a lot mentally in understanding our defense and what I'm going to see at Will. I was used to seeing the game from the outside as a viper and wasn't used to playing in the 'A' and 'B' gaps (behind the middle of the line).
"So, I had to study a lot of film and gain a new perspective. And I gained some weight and got stronger -- all the things physically you need to improve upon."
Glasgow knows he will stay on the punt and punt-return units, but said the full extent of his special teams play will depend upon the amount of defensive reps he gets.
Assistant coach Chris Partridge coached Glasgow defensively his first two years and is the special teams coach.
"Coach Partridge is a player's coach," said Glasgow. "He's a good guy and it's difficult not to like him. And he's obviously a great coach."
Glasgow puts in long hours at Schembechler Hall followed by long hours of study.
"The titles and awards that come with that are something my parents care more about than I do," said Glasgow, also a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. "They are much more proud of that than I am. But it's nice to be noticed or appreciated for the efforts you put in in all facets of your life, academically and athletically. I'm just hoping that makes me more valuable of a person, looking to my next step in football or life."
Brother Graham is an offensive linemen with the Detroit Lions, while Ryan is a defensive lineman with the Cincinnati Bengals. There was a time when pro football careers seemed long-shots for them, but both made it. Graham was a third-round pick and Ryan went in the fourth.
Might Jordan follow them to the pros?
"We'll see," he said. "That's my goal. It's been my goal for a while, and a lot depends on this year, and what I'm able to do, and hopefully everything goes well."
Even a long stay in pro football finds players moving onto other careers in their early 30s.
"When I'm done playing," said Jordan, "I'm hoping to do something in real estate -- either residential or commercial. I have connections in both and I'm just looking for something to be as challenging as football was.
"Once you get in the ultra-competitive mindset (of football), it's difficult to ever want to come out of it."
Hudson's comparing Glasgow to Winovich in how he plays football shows just how driven Jordan is on the field.
"My biggest drive is just wanting everyone to succeed," said Glasgow. "I don't want to be part of failure; I want to be part of our success. Not wanting to mess up or be part of failure is what motivates me to try my hardest. If I can make a play that allows us to succeed, then I feel that's very important.
"I'm very excited for this upcoming year."
Count on him to keep turning heads.
