Rayshaun Benny will decide soon, Michigan Football should benefit

Michigan football could get a commitment from Rayshaun Benny sooner than expected as he is moving up his decision timeline.

The 2021 recruiting cycle hasn’t gone as expected and with visits still off until at least January, one of Michigan football‘s top targets could be making a decision sooner than expected.

Rayshuan Benny, a four-star defensive tackle out of Oak Park, Michigan, talked with Sam Webb of the Michigan Insider and after saying he wanted to take official visits first, which indicated possibly even January or February, Benny sounds ready to make a call in the next few weeks.

Here’s what he told Webb:

"“I’m almost 100% sure (a decision is coming in that window). We’re just trying to see how soon we can get it done and how we’re going to set it up.”"

Benny said he would be releasing a top four Satuday, which Michigan, as the crystal ball leader will obviously make. Penn State, Michigan State, Kentucky, Arkansas, Arizona State, Tennessee, and LSU are the other schools in his top 8, so we will see who makes the cut.

I’d expect Michigan State to possibly make the top four along with Penn State. But if a decision comes in the next few weeks, can any of these teams overtake Michigan football?

Can Michigan add Benny’s commitment?

Right now, Benny has five crystal ball projections to the Wolverines with an average confidence level of six out of 10. And honestly, an earlier decision should only raise confidence.

Benny has been to Michigan and he’s familiar with the coaching staff. He knows Michigan State and Penn State really well too, but those programs have been behind and Michigan was the first to really recruit him as a defensive lineman.

Yet, it sounds like there will be an opportunity over the next few weeks to programs to sway Benny. Here’s what he told Webb about his thought process:

"“(The order of the lust) can change because I’ve got schools that I always wanted to go to. Maybe I’ve got family down there, or maybe it’s just somewhere I always watched when I was younger. If they (were) to come in a hard and recruit me (in the last few weeks), then yeah, they could fall in line.”"

Michigan obviously has been recruiting Benny as hard as anyone and it’s been that case for a while now. The Wolverines desperately need a defensive tackle in this class and Benny is the top target.

Things now appear to be 50/50 with George Rooks, another top-200 defensive lineman such as Benny, but he’s one of the top players in the state and he’s a must-land for the Wolverines.