Michigan Football: Wolverines in good shape with key recruitments

Michigan football’s recruiting priorities have been narrowed down in recent days and here’s where things stand with each top recruit.

For Michigan football and its 2021 recruiting class, the numbers are starting to dwindle. The Wolverines have 21 recruits committed right now, meaning there are around 5-6 spots left.

But finding recruits to fill those could be tricky for the Wolverines, especially with the way the board is currently working against U-M.

Michigan football just missed on its top cornerback target left on the board, and that was Kamonte Grimes, who pledged to Nebraska. That comes on the heels of Rocco Spindler choosing Notre Dame, instead of U-M.

What it really means is that Michigan football will be narrowing things down even further to 5-6 priority targets. Drew Kendall (OG), George Rooks (DT), Rayshaun Benny (DT), Donovan Edwards (RB) and Daymon David (S) are all right there, along with Ceyair Wright, a top-100 corner out of California.

Yet, in his confidence board 2.0 ($) released Monday, EJ Holland of Rivals said he didn’t like the Wolverines chances with Wright.

"“Wright is a top of the board guy for Michigan at the cornerback position, but I don’t have any reason to believe U-M is a real player right now. Several schools are in a better spot. However, he’s really the only viable corner option on the board right now, and he could definitely move up this board. Expect Michigan to continue to push hard here.”"

Holland listed Wright under the “cold” section along with tight end Thomas Fidone who is making his decision soon and Nolan Rucci, another top target Michigan is behind with.

So if Holland believes Michigan has about the same chance of landing Wright, as Fidone and Rucci, that’s not a good sign for the Wolverines and a renewed push may not help.

The key thing with Wright has always been getting him to Ann Arbor. If visits open up and he visits Michigan, then the Wolverines will have a legit chance. Otherwise, it’s probably not happening.

Michigan football trending in right direction with Rooks, Kendall?

While Holland touched on all the top targets listed above, some new intel surfaced Monday about Oklahoma potentially prioritizing another safety outside of David, which could give Michigan an opening, in what could be a two-horse race between U-M and Boston College.

He also included both Benny and Edwards, in the warmer section, which is just below where he put Rooks and Kendall.

In terms of Edwards, Holland had this to say ($):

"“I really, really like where Michigan stands with Edwards, especially after seeing him in person over the weekend and talking to those close to the program. Edwards can see himself staying close to home and being a hometown hero.”"

Holland also noted that visits to Oklahoma or Georgia this fall, during a game setting could be a game-changer in this recruitment. The same could be said for Benny, but the longer the dead period goes, the more likely the Wolverines are to win each of these recruitments.

The most interesting things Holland had to say where in regards to Rooks and Kendall, two recruits who have widely been expected to make a decision this month.

Kendall has been talking about deciding in July/August for months now and he’s been trending with expert picks to Michigan since late April. Holland indicates some positive news ($), which he said he got over the weekend:

"“I was ready to put him (Kendall) in the burning category based on some information I gathered this weekend, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.”"

Boston College and Stanford still appear to be in the mix and with the Eagles, the hometown pull seems to be having an impact.

But Michigan is still Michigan and at the end of the day, I’d be really surprised, shocked even at this point, if Kendall didn’t commit in the next week or so.

Yet, if this drags into September, all that confidence goes out the window.

Another recruit expected to decide soon is Rooks. Holland said he had information that leads him to believe Michigan is the leader, however, he mentioned that Penn State is pushing hard.

Remember, Rooks took a dead-period visit without the coaching staff to both Michigan and Penn State, so it feels like a two-horse race. And Holland also said ($) the recruitment is unpredictable:

"“I’ve compared Rooks to Kamonte Grimes, who spurned Michigan and committed to Nebraska over the weekend, from a personality standpoint. He’s so quiet that any decision wouldn’t be shocking.”"

While there are some concerns with each recruit, the takeaway is that with Benny, Edwards, Rooks and Kendall, the Wolverines are considered the team to beat. And now that Oklahoma could be cooling on David, the same could be said there too.

That’s a good position to be in, but it doesn’t leave Michigan with much room for error, especially at running back and defensive tackle, where the Wolverines have zero commitments in 2021.