Michigan Football: Reading Rayshaun Benny tea leaves, O-line update

Michigan football may be in the pole position for Rayshaun Benny. More on that and 2021 offensive line recruits.

If you named the most important recruitments right now for the Michigan football program in 2021, Rayshaun Benny‘s would rank right up there. In fact, behind Donovan Edwards, he might be the most important target left on the board.

Benny, who Michigan football is recruiting as a defensive tackle, would fill a huge need on the defensive line and at 6-foot-5, 275 pounds, he would add some much-needed size, something the Wolverines lacked in the 2020 class and have so far in 2021. No defensive tackles are currently committed and the one most likely too, George Rooks, could be an end or DT at U-M.

So really, at the defensive tackle position, Benny is really the last big-time player left, at least for Michigan. He’s ranked 189th in the 247 composite rankings and 86th according to Rivals.

And the staff is recruiting Benny exactly the way they should be — as if he’s a huge priority. Benny recently said that Michigan football is recruiting him harder than any other program.

Some of the other contenders have been Arkansas, Kentucky, Ohio State, Iowa, Penn State and LSU. But Michigan has been the constant and Sam Webb of The Michigan Insider ($), posted this quote from Benny Saturday on Ohio State and what appears to be a cooling off by OSU:

"“They’re recruiting me for offense, but I haven’t been in contact with them in like a week or two,” Benny said of the Buckeyes. “It was like once their players got back the contact stopped for me.”"

Ohio State was the one program you really thought could make things interesting. He does plan to take visits and may visit some SEC schools, yet he’s familiar with Michigan and right now, it seems like the Wolverines are on the right track.

Michigan still pushing for Nolan Rucci

While the Wolverines struck out on Garrett Dellinger this week, as he committed to LSU, U-M is still going hard after another highly-touted offensive tackle and that’s Nolan Rucci.

Rucci is a five-star prospect according to the 247 sports composite rankings and is ranked 15th overall in 2021 and fourth among tackles. The Pennslyvania product has gotten heavy interest from just about everyone and has crystal balls projecting him to Penn State, Clemson and Wisconsin, where his brother plays.

EJ Holland of Rivals ($) reported the Wolverines are still in the mix. Obviously, they are behind others in the race. But if they can convince Rucci to take a visit and delay his decision until the fall, it’s the best and only chance they have. If he decides soon, it will be one of the three schools listed.

However, like with Dellinger, Michigan’s board is essentially set at tackle. The Wolverines are hoping to add Rocco Spindler and Drew Kendall, but outside of that, Rucci and Dellinger are basically it, so why not keep swinging for the fences? There’s nothing to lose at this point.