Michigan Football: Tavierre Dunlap is becoming legit RB option for 2021
Michigan football has been focused hard on Donovan Edwards at running back for 2021 but Tavierre Dunlap would be a great fit too.
Over the weekend and Memorial Day, Michigan football got two new commitments on the recruiting trail as four-star linebackers Jaydon Hood and Junior Colson made verbal pledges.
Colson was the first to commit on Sunday, then Hood, followed up by announcing his commitment to the Wolverines Monday and just like that, with 15 total commitments, Michigan is ranked sixth in the 247 sports’ team rankings for 2021.
On top of five-star quarterback J.J. McCarthy, the Wolverines have commitments from six other four-star recruits and they aren’t finished yet. While Michigan still has some key targets on defense, offensive line and running back, one name that’s starting to emerge as a top target is running back Tavierre Dunlap out of Texas.
The Wolverines offered Dunlap a few weeks back on May 6. He’s only a three-star according to the 247 composite rankings, which have him ranked as the No. 394 overall player and the 26th-ranked running back. And recently, Steve Lorenz of The Michigan Insider ($) noted Dunlap was becoming a key target at running back.
How Dunlap could fit with Michigan football
Obviously, four-star and top-50 prospect Donovan Edwards is the Wolverines top priority at the position but Dunlap could be a great compliment to Edwards, if Michigan ends up taking two running backs in 2021.
Edwards is much more versatile. He’s a dynamic receiver and a slasher. Dunlap is a power guy with speed. He averaged more than 10 yards per rushing attempt last season and racked up 2,790 yards and 37 touchdowns in high school the past two years.
It seemed like Michigan wanted to pair Edwards with Corey Kiner, another physical runner from the state of Ohio, yet he committed to LSU. The Wolverines are also pursuing four-star running back Prophet Brown from California, but he’s also more of a receiving, all-purpose back.
To me, Brown is the backup option if Edwards goes somewhere else. Brown has similar skills and is still just scratching the surface of what he can be. Dunlap is very much the same and even alongside someone like Blake Corum in the future, the 6-foot runner from Texas just seems like a really good fit.
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In addition to Michigan, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Mississippi State and TCU have all offered in the past month. Dunlap has no crystal ball projections at this time but with the running back board dwindling, expect U-M to make a strong push.