Michigan Football: How likely are remaining 2021 targets to commit?

Michigan football has just three targets really left on the board for the 2021 recruiting class and here’s the percent chance each lands with U-M.

Obviously, the Wolverines don’t have a ton of targets on the board and with elite corner Ceyair Wright coming off the board to USC earlier this month, the 2021 recruiting class is basically about one position: defensive tackle.

I guess you could say defensive line because one target, George Rooks, could play defensive end or tackle, especially if Michigan football plays a 3-4 scheme under Mike Macdonald, the new defensive coordinator.

Yet, Rooks isn’t the only target left on the board, although Michigan started trending with crystal ball projections for him once again. It happened again over the summer.

But as we have learned with Rooks and others in this recruiting cycle, nothing is a sure thing until pen hits paper and here’s how likely it is that each target left commits and signs with U-M in the national signing period which starts next Wednesday.

George Rooks, 4-star DT — 75 percent chance

Rooks started trending with crystal ball projections to Michigan, but he’s also been predicted to go to Penn State and Boston College. It’s been a wild recruitment and all of those schools have felt like the leader at one time or another.

However, Rooks would be a great fit for Michigan regardless if the Wolverines are using a three or four-man front and he knows the school. His sister played hoops at Michigan and he’s visited before.

Yet, it’s hard to believe the crystal balls or even his commitment until he signs, he has just wavered so much. But U-M needs him and it seems like a late push will get him to Ann Arbor.

Rayshaun Benny, 4-star DT — 33 percent chance

With a new contract in place for Jim Harbaugh, it was thought that Benny would be an option for the Wolverines, however, the coaching search drug on and the new defensive staff has only been in place this past week.

Yet, defensive line coach Shaun Nua is still around and Michigan is still working on Benny and here’s the latest on his recruitment in a Podcast put out by Rivals Michigan expert EJ Holland.

Benny has been committed to Michigan State and he’s the key piece to the Spartans class. At the end of the day, I think he sticks, but recent hires like Ron Bellamy and guys like Donovan Edwards will make him think long and hard about it.

 Ikechukwu Iwunnah, 3-star DT — 20 percent chance

The Wolverines offered Iwunnah just a few days after he committed to Colorado, but it appears that the 6-foot-4 defensive lineman about of Garland, Texas is at least willing to listen to U-M.

He’s ranked outside the top 1,000 and like Rooks could possibly be a defensive end or a defensive tackle in the right scheme, but he’s athletic and he’s got upside.

You wonder if Michigan football would push to add both Rooks and Iwunnah. Certainly, they should after not signing a true defensive yet in 2021.

Michigan needs to hit the transfer portal too, but hopefully they are making a strong push for all three of these guys, because ideally, U-M would get two of out of the three.

At the same time, just getting one, especially a four-star recruit like Rooks would be huge.