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Five-star tight end Chris Clark picked UCLA over Michigan on Wednesday.

(Melanie Maxwell | MLive.com)

ANN ARBOR -- While Michigan got a surprise earlier Wednesday when four-star running back Karan Higdon flipped from Iowa to Michigan, the Wolverines took a hit when Chris Clark went west.

Clark, a five-star tight end from Avon, Connecticut (and a former Michigan commit), picked UCLA over Michigan during a live signing day broadcast on ESPNU.

"I felt at home on my visit at UCLA," Clark said. "I have an unbelievable relationship with all the coaches, especially coach Mora, he's almost become like a second dad to me over the past few weeks."

Clark originally committed to Michigan over the summer, but backed out of his pledge the day the program fired Brady Hoke on Dec. 2.

However, the minute Jim Harbaugh was hired on Dec. 30, Clark's interest was re-engaged -- as Harbaugh called him later in the day and made him a priority.

Clark took an official visit to Michigan on Jan. 15, and pared his recruitment down to the Wolverines and UCLA before ultimately picking the Bruins.

"It's (a) fairly significant (loss for Michigan)," ESPN's Tom Luginbill said. "There was a class or two (at Stanford) where (Harbaugh) signed like five or six tight ends, that's a position of need at Michigan and how they're employing their scheme, the tight end is a pivotal component.

"That's surprising a little bit."

As of 8:45 a.m. Wednesday, Michigan had letters of intent in hand from eight prospects: Early enrollees Brian Cole and Alex Malzone, four-star safety Tyree Kinnel, four-star offensive lineman Grant Newsome, three-star offensive lineman Jon Runyan Jr., two-star offensive lineman Nolan Ulizio, three-star receiver Grant Perry and kicker Andrew David.

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