Michigan Football: Elite 2021 recruits express interest in Wolverines

Michigan football is turning its focus on recruiting to the 2021 class and earlier this week, a pair of elite recruits said they wanted to visit Ann Arbor.

When it comes to Michigan football‘s 2020 recruiting class, there is still work to be done. However, with 22 commitments already, some of the focus is starting to shift to 2021.

In fact, Michigan football is already off to a really good start with its 2021 recruiting class as the Wolverines already have commitments from two top-120 recruits. The first to commit was Giovanni El-Hadi, a talented left tackle prospect that ranks 120th overall.

The second player, of course, was five-star quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who is the second-best player at his position and the No. 12 prospect overall in the 2021 class. With that kind of start, the Wolverines have to feel good about where things are headed.

Yet, the Wolverines are generating interest among another pair of elite recruits in 2021, including one of the top athletes in the class, Sage Ryan.

Ryan is one of the top players from the state of Louisiana and is ranked 36th nationally in 2021. The 5-foot-11 athlete who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.45 is the No. 3 athlete and ranked no. 2 in his home state.

As you would expect, LSU seems to be the favorite for the versatile four-star, however, when Michigan football offered him back in May, it seemed to make an impact. Here’s what Ryan told The Michigan Insider ($):

"“One of their coaches called my head coach and they said I had an offer, I was shocked. I couldn’t imagine getting an offer from Michigan. It’s an honor. I was thinking when I found out about the Michigan offer, ‘Come again? I appreciate that offer so much and it’s a dream come true for me. I remember watching Michigan on TV and imagining myself on the field.”"

Ryan is dynamic and his scouting report on 247 sports even compares his to former Wolverines star Jabrill Peppers, who was a two-way standout at UM and a Heisman finalist. He is also related to former New England Patriot and LSU running back Kevin Faulk.

All of his crystal balls projections are currently with the Tigers, however, he indicated that he was going to take an official visit to Ann Arbor, so Michigan at least has a chance.

The same could be said for Deion Colzie. The 6-foot-4 wide receiver who is ranked 12th at his position and 67th overall out of Athens, Georgia, hasn’t received an offer from Michigan football but he expressed his interest to Brice Marich of the Michigan Insider ($):

“It would be huge,” Colzie said. “They produce a lot of NFL talent and they are consistently top ten every year.”

Marich also noted that if offered, Colzie would also take a visit to Michigan. He also expressed interest in the academics at the university, as well as the success of the football program. He has a list of marquee offers including Alabama, Georgia, Florida and others but an offer from the Wolverines could be a difference-maker in his recruitment.

Overall, it’s just a sign that 2021 recruiting is heating up and with the Michigan football BBQ this weekend, it’s about to pick up even more.