Michigan Football: Wolverines pushing for two fast-rising Ohio recruits

You can’t just focus on the four and five-star prospects and Michigan football is making a strong push with two Ohio recruits who have been under the radar.

It’s not a big secret that Michigan football used to get some of its best players from the state of Ohio. Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson, the Wolverines’ two Heisman winners were each from Ohio and it’s always been a recruiting battleground.

If you look back at the 2020 recruiting class, Michigan football didn’t sign a single kid from Ohio. Now, before you start saying this is a terrible trend, Jim Harbaugh did sign six from the Buckeye state in 2019.

But still, it’s worrisome that Michigan could not have a single Ohio recruit in a class. However, in 2021, that likely won’t be the case as the Wolverines are pushing with a few Ohio targets.

One of the most well known is four-star running back Corey Kiner. He’s a top-10 running back in 2021 and hasn’t gotten much interest from the Buckeyes, who have already signed two top-five guys at that position.

Kiner would be a great fit at Michigan and there’s a good chance that could come to pass. Yet, he’s not the only recruit from Ohio who could be joining the Wolverines.

On Saturday, Steve Lorenz of The Michigan Insider placed a crystal ball ($), projecting three-star wide receiver Markus Allen, out of Clayton, Ohio to the Wolverines.

Allen isn’t a highly-rated recruit right now and according to the 247 sports specific rankings, he is ranked 149th among wideouts and is the 29th-best prospect in his home state. But rankings don’t always tell the story.

Watching his highlights, the 6-foot-2 wide receiver is incredibly smooth. He’s a tremendous route runner and has sneaky quickness, as well as really good ball skills, which led him to 15 touchdown receptions last season. He averaged over 100 yards per game and more than 20 yards per reception, meaning he could be the big, deep threat U-M is seeking in this class.

And Michigan isn’t alone in its pursuit of Allen, who has 30 scholarship offers and is being recruited heavily by Michigan State, Pitt, Wisconsin and Purdue. Yet, here’s what Allen told Lorenz about his recruitment ($):

"“The mentality that the coaches have and the relationship I have made. My class and this past class that’s going to Michigan is something special.”"

If Allen does end up committing to Michigan football, he might not be the only player from Northmont High to do so. Rod Moore, a three-star safety, also from Clayton, Ohio, is another player the Wolverines want, recently extending him an offer. Here’s what Moore said to Brice Marich about his offer from safeties coach Bob Shoop ($):

"“My reaction was shocked and excited because that is a big one. Great Education, great athletics, and plus a great coaching staff and on top of that I have a former team that goes there in Gabe Newburg. I was really grateful for that offer. It meant something.”"

Moore was supposed to go a visit to Michigan, actually with Allen, but obviously can’t right now due to COVID-19. Moore is another three-star and is ranked as the 79th safety in 2021, as well as the No. 43 recruit in the state of Ohio.

Like Allen, Moore has been receiving a lot of interest and in the last week, in addition, to getting an offer from Michigan football, he was offered by Kentucky, Indiana and Iowa. He also has an offer from Notre Dame and if you watch his highlights, you will see why.

The 5-foot-11 safety runs a 4.41 in the 40 according to his video and last season, he notched four interceptions. He’s fast, tough against the run and just seems to have a nose for the ball.

Moore covers ground well against the run and the pass and he looks like a guy that is poised to take a big leap in the rankings before it’s all said and done.