Michigan Football: Wolverines trying to flip 2021 corner from Notre Dame

Michigan football really wants to add another cornerback in the 2021 recruiting class and is now trying to flip a Notre Dame commitment.

The Michigan football program has put together a really strong recruiting class in 2021, however, one position where the Wolverines would like to add numbers is at cornerback.

As of right now, Michigan’s only commitment at corner is from Ja’Den McBurrows, a three-star recruit out of Florida. The Wolverines have been recruiting top-100 corner Ceyair Wright out of California, but without visits, that’s probably a long shot.

So now Michigan is turning its focus to another cornerback, one currently committed to Notre Dame in Philip Riley.

Riley is 6-foot, 190 pounds and is out of Florida. He’s ranked 281st overall in the 2021 class and 21st among cornerbacks and he confirmed to the Michigan Insider ($) that the Wolverines have been making a push for him.

Riley committed to Notre Dame in May and seems pretty solid. So even though it’s good to see the Wolverines expanding the board and doing what they can, this doesn’t seem like a good bet in terms of adding someone to the 2021 class.

U-M also offered three-star corner Kamari Lassiter last month in another sign of Michigan trying to add to its options at corner. Lassiter, who is from Alabama, has a crystal ball for Auburn.

Michigan football trying to flip another 2021 CB

If you follow Michigan football recruiting closely, you will know that Riley isn’t the only cornerback on the board committed somewhere else.

Another recruit Michigan is trying to flip is Florida State commitment, Omarion Cooper, a four-star cornerback who ranks 276th in the 247 composite rankings.

Michigan offered Cooper this spring and he seemed to have interest in the Wolverines but then pulled the trigger on a commitment to Florida State not long after in June.

Yet, that hasn’t stopped the coaching staff from recruiting him and with few options at corner, Cooper has remained a key recruiting target. Here’s what Isaiah Hole of Wolverines Wire wrote about Michigan’s pursuit:

"“I spoke briefly to Cooper who confirmed that Michigan is throwing everything it has to work to get him to flip — and he’s seemingly receptive. “They are still recruiting me hard,” Cooper told me. Hopefully I’ll get more on that soon.”"

It felt like Michigan might have a shot with Cooper when he was first offered and if visits open up, that could really open the door. But it’s hard to say when that will be.

For now, the biggest takeaway is something we already knew: Michigan wants another cornerback in 2021. The problem is finding the right kid ready to commit.