Michigan Football: Former 2021 DT target reopens recruitment

A former Michigan football target in the class of 2021 at defensive tackle could be an option after getting let out of his NLI at Tennessee. 

One position that most observers have said is a need for Michigan football, both now and in the future, is at defensive tackle.

Michigan football needs to add some more big bodies — the 300-pound types and one possible candidate that suddenly re-emerged is former Tennessee football commitment KaTron Evans.

Evans is 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, which is exactly the kind of player Michigan could use in the front seven. He’s also a legitimate four-star prospect and is ranked as the No. 196 prospect overall in the 2021 class and the No. 17 ranked player at defensive tackle.

Obviously, it’s pretty rare for four-star recruits to be available this late in a class, although the top-ranked prospect overall still hasn’t committed, but just like Xavier Worthy did last week, Evans asked Tennessee for a release from his national letter of intent and the Vols agreed.

Could Michigan football make a push?

It’s not totally out of the realm of possibility. The Wolverines offered Evans back in 2021 and defensive tackle has been a focus for the program, despite adding three signees at the position late in the 2021 recruiting class.

More from GBMWolverine

• 3 things to watch for Michigan football vs. Rutgers
• Michigan football vs. Rutgers: Prediction, Odds, Spread and Over/Under for College Football Week 4
• Michigan Wolverines news: Jim Harbaugh wants J.J. McCarthy ‘gunslinging’, plus a drop in recruiting rankings
• Grades, game balls for Michigan football vs. Bowling Green
• Michigan Wolverines news: Jake Moody is money in the NFL, plus more

It’s been a spot that the team has been hoping to add some talent in the transfer portal. Unfortunately, talented defensive tackles who are 300 pounds don’t last long in the portal, so adding a player like that might be wishful thinking.

Evans is out of St. Frances Academy in Baltimore and that’s a program that has connections to the Wolverines. Back in the 2020 recruiting class, Michigan football actually had three commitments from St. Frances, including running back Blake Corum.

While Michigan wasn’t listed as one of the teams interested in Evans according to 247 sports which includes Florida, USC, Arizona State, and Jackson State, that doesn’t mean the Wolverines won’t throw their hat in the ring.

However, there will likely need to be more attrition. Michigan is right at 85 scholarships, so I’d expect to see more departures in the portal and it might not be a bad thing, especially if fans are hoping for another addition at defensive tackle.