Michael's family situation was something less than ideal. His mother, Brenda Vick, was 16 when she became pregnant with him. His father, Michael Boddie, was just a year older. Already the parents of a girl, Christina, they did not marry for another five years—at which point two more children, Marcus and Courtney, had arrived.

The youngster also learned a lot from Aaron Brooks, a cousin four years his senior, and the current starting quarterback for the Saints. Michael followed Brooks wherever he went, including the Hampton Roads Boys and Girls Club

Michael entered Warwick High School in the fall of 1994

Michael narrowed his choices down to Syracuse and Virginia Tech. Felt Virginia Tech was a better fit.

Atlanta Falcons in return for an assortment of picks and they announced Michael as the #1 pick