Michigan Football: DT recruiting in a rough spot for Wolverines

Things haven’t gone all that well on the recruiting trail for Michigan football lately but it’s been especially bad at defensive tackle.

Right now, the Michigan football program is just trying to tread water on the recruiting trail as the early signing period rapidly approaches.

While much of the 2021 recruiting class looks like it will stick with Michigan football and head coach Jim Harbaugh, assuming he remains the head coach, there’s no doubt the class isn’t nearly as strong as we expected it to be this summer.

If the Wolverines are able to get a commitment from four-star running back Donovan Edwards and keep Xavier Worthy on signing day (he’s deciding between U-M and Alabama) that will be a huge help. But one guy not coming on signing day or anytime is defensive tackle George Rooks.

Just like Rayshaun Benny, another four-star defensive tackle/defensive lineman, Michigan football was the crystal ball leader for, Rooks won’t wind up at U-M as he is fully trending to Boston College with expert picks from 247 sports and Rivals. He’s over 80 percent to BC from both.

Rooks may not sign this week with Boston College, just as Benny may not sign with Michigan State, however, neither is going to wind up at Michigan and that leaves the Wolverines scrambling for defensive tackles in the 2021 class.

Dominick Giudice, a three-star defensive lineman that committed to the Wolverines back in the spring could be a defensive tackle, but there isn’t that 300-pounder that U-M really needs, which means the Wolverines will need to work on DT in the later singing period and explore the transfer market.

Michigan also misses on top 2022 DT target

However, Rooks trending in the wrong direction isn’t the only negative news on the defensive tackle front as a top target in the 2022 class, Derrick Shepard, committed to Cincinnati.

Shepard is 6-foot-3, 295 pounds and the Dayton, Ohio product seemed like a potential get for the Wolverines, as a position of need in an area they need to recruit better.

But the 22nd-ranked DT in the 2022 class according to the 247 sports composite rankings, as well as the 10th-ranked player in Ohio in 2022 chose the Bearcats over the Wolverines and others.

Obviously, Cincinnati is on a roll right now and with all the uncertainty at Michigan, it’s not a huge surprise that despite being a favorite at one time, the Wolverines fell out of the mix.

And just to sum up: Michigan lost Benny to Michigan State, now Rooks to Boston College (it appears) and Shepard to Cincinnati. Not good for defensive tackle recruiting.