Michigan Football trying to flip intruiging OLB committed to Rutgers

Michigan football has been looking hard for pass rush help in the 2021 recruiting class and one new target is Rutgers commit Khayri Banton.

It’s not a big secret that Michigan football has been looking for pass rushers and big defensive lineman for its 2021 recruiting class.

The Wolverines don’t necessarily have a shortage when it comes to edge rushers, but there has been a lack of 300-pound run stuffers, so that’s been a priority, along with guys who can pressure the quarterback, which are always sought after.

Under Don Brown, Michigan football has used its linebackers and pass rushers in a number of different ways, which makes a prospect like four-star Khayri Banton very intriguing.

Banton is an outside linebacker from the state of New Jersey and right now, as of last month, he is committed to Rutgers. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound outside linebacker out of Newark, New Jersey, is listed as 289th overall prospect according to the 247 sports composite rankings. He’s the No. 23 outside linebacker in 2021 and the seventh-best player in his home state.

Banton chose Rutgers after a slew of other Power-5 offers. Miami, Syracuse, Purdue and Virginia Tech, as well as Boston College were among some of the teams to offer the four-star.

Michigan football showed some interest, but didn’t offer Banton, at least not until Wednesday according to Brian Dohn of 247 sports ($).

It’s an interesting development and seems a little late in the process but if you watch the kid’s highlights, you can see why the Wolverines are interested.

Banton is explosive attacking the quarterback and he is used to being moved around, which could make him an ideal fit within Brown’s defense. Think Josh Uche, who was Michigan football’s best pass rusher a year ago.

Banton plays some standing up, while he also plays more of a traditional defensive end role, with his hand in the dirt. At times, he lines up as a defensive tackle and rushes the passer from the interior. He also shows a nice burst and explosiveness, which makes him an effective blitzer. He also has plenty of length and is stout against the run too.

Dohn noted that he wasn’t sure if Banton would take a visit to Michigan, which would be a sign that the Wolverines are a real contender. We’ll see what happens, but considering what Banton could bring to the table, this is a recruitment to keep an eye on.