Michigan Football: Wolverines make top 6 for 4-star TE in 2021

Michigan football is working hard to add a tight end or two to its 2021 class and one four-star, Jack Pugh, put U-M among his top six Wednesday.

Despite the fact that Michigan football and the rest of nation are in a recruiting dead period, with no visits or in-person contact until April 15, the Wolverines are still doing plenty of work and Wednesday, they found out they made the top list of another key target.

This time, it was four-star tight end Jack Pugh out of Ohio. On Wednesday, Pugh released his top six contenders and Michigan football made the list, along with Wisconsin, Indiana, Cincinnati, Michigan State and Penn State.

Right now, Pugh is ranked 315th overall in the 2021 class according to the 247 sports composite rankings. He is listed as the No. 13 tight end. However, in the 247 sports own specific rankings, Pugh is listed much higher. At tight end, he’s ranked No. 6 in the country, as well as the sixth-best player in the state of Ohio and No. 151 overall.

The 6-foot-5, 235-pounder has all the tools you’d want in a tight end. He can play in-line and is a decent blocker, but he also has some elite pass-catching tools. He doesn’t have tremendous speed, at least from watching his highlights, but he’s a guy you can move around and he knows how to use his frame to go up and get the football.

Allen Trieu of 247 sports put together the scouting profile for Pugh and it projects him as a guy with NFL potential. Here is an except of the scouting report:

"Natural pass-catcher away from his body. Runs well and runs tough after the catch. Shows physicality both as an offensive and defensive player. Can go up and get the ball in traffic but that is something we would want to see a player of his size do more of. Can be a complete tight end because he is willing to block but also runs routes and catches the ball like a wide receiver. Should be highly productive in college and have a great shot to play in the pros."

The fact that Michigan football made the top six is promising, considering the Wolverines just offered Pugh back on March 7th. Here’s what the tight end had to say about the offer:

“Jack loved it. Coach Harbaugh spent a considerable amount of time talking with us which was nice,” Pugh’s father said to The Michigan Insider ($). “We got the tour of the facilities, the stadium and talked with the academic people. Michigan (also) utilized their tight ends a lot. They put guys in the NFL and their kinesiology major is one of the best in the country.”

Wisconsin leads the way right now with both of Pugh’s crystal ball predictions and the Badgers have probably put in the most leg work, with Pugh taking multiple visits there. Alabama and Ohio State are also trying to get in the mix. Ohio State hosted him for an unofficial visit a few days before the Wolverines, but haven’t extended an offer.