Michigan Football: Latest on Donovan Edwards, O-Line, Quintin Somerville

Michigan football should add a commitment Saturday from Quintin Somerville, plus more on Donovan Edwards and the latest on 2021 O-line recruits.

The Michigan football program is widely expected to add its 18th commitment to the 2021 recruiting class Saturday as four-star defensive end Quintin Somerville will be announcing his college decision.

According to Sam Webb of The Michigan Insider ($), the announcement will come around 5 PM EST but there shouldn’t be much drama for the No. 150 player overall in the 2021 class via the 247 sports composite rankings and the No. 18 defensive end in 247’s own rankings.

Rivals, which has Somerville ranked 151st, has 10 projections in for the Arizona prospect to choose Michigan football and 247 sports has 11 projecting the same thing with a confidence of eight on a scale of 1-10.

So really, unless something shocking happens, Michigan football will add its ninth four-star recruit to the 2021 class and the 18th pledge overall.

Donovan Edwards stagnant

In terms of another top target, Donovan Edwards, there seems to be no indication that he will be committing anytime soon or changing his timeline. He has always said he wants to take visits and apparently, that’s still the case.

EJ Holland of Rivals ($) said he checked with his sources and that while Michigan football is talking to Edwards daily, nothing is really imminent. Edwards wants to take his visits and like Rocco Spindler, the Wolverines are just going to have to wait it out, which they seem just fine doing.

Holland also noted Michigan is still “making a push” for four-star running back Prophet Brown. The four-star athlete who is ranked 205th in the 247 composite, has seven crystal ball picks for Oklahoma and Holland’s pick is for the Sooners too.

U-M did send him a cool graphic this week and Brown seemed to respond well, yet there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of hope there. Tavierre Dunlap is another running back to watch and actually, with his size, speed and straight-line style, he’d be perfect alongside Edwards.

I always viewed Brown as a poor man’s Edwards, so to speak, a No. 2 option as a multi-purpose back if the Wolverines didn’t get Edwards. Both are talented, but I’d rather Edwards and Dunlap.

Michigan football is really high on Thomas Cole

Earlier this week, I examined offensive line recruiting and tried to bring some clarity to the numbers situation. Well, a recent interview by three-star offensive tackle Thomas Cole with 247 sports has helped with that.

Michigan football has been really making a push with Cole. Ed Warinner has spoken to him frequently and Brice Marich reported ($) Jim Harbaugh spoke to him last week too. But here’s what Cole told Marich that really caught my eye when he was asked about how many O-line U-M might take:

"“To be honest with you, what stood out the most is how there are basically five guys still on their board and they will take two of the five,” Cole said. “It was great company to be in and I was really proud of highly Michigan thinks of me.”"

Based on the players Michigan contacts the most, I’d say those five players are Garrett Dellinger, Spindler, Nolan Rucci, Drew Kendall and Cole. That’s pretty important. If what he says is true, if Kendall and Cole both committed, Michigan would be done with O-line recruits.

Now, I do think Michigan would make an exception for Rocco, especially because he and Kendall could both move to defense in a pinch. But still, it’s good to know how high the Wolverines are on Cole, a 6-foot-7, tackle who ranks 383rd in the 247 composite.