Michigan Football: 15 targets on 2022 defensive wish list

Michigan football is turning its attention to the 2022 recruiting class and here are 15 defenders who should be on the wish list.

There’s no question that Michigan football is putting together a really solid recruiting class in 2021 and it’s an effort that’s gone well particularly in the past two months.

Before the dead period in March, Michigan football had just two commitments for its 2021 class and it had zero on defense. Since then, 17 players have committed to the Wolverines, including 10 on the defensive side of the ball.

It took a little while, but the Wolverines eventually started landing the kind of blue-chip talent they are accustomed to on defense led by Junior Colson, who is 116th overall according to the 247 composite rankings and the third-ranked player overall in Michigan’s class.

Days after Colson committed, another four-star linebacker Jaydon Hood did as well. The prospect that reminds many of former Michigan football standout Devin Bush Jr., is No. 297 overall, which is 14 spots higher than Bush was in high school. Quintin Somerville, the latest commitment on defense, is No. 150 in the composite, while four-star defensive end Kechaun Bennett is No. 331.

Rod Moore and Tyler McLaurin, are also ranked in the top 500 and are high-ranking three-star prospects who should be solid contributors as well, and even going beyond that, there are things to like about each commit in this defensive class.

All in all, it’s a pretty balanced group. Yet, the Wolverines haven’t landed an elite edge rusher or cornerback, which will be among the focuses looking ahead to 2022. And with that in mind, here are 15 guys on the defensive wish list for the 2022 class out of 167 offers total.