Michigan Football: Top target in 2022 gets unfavorable crystal ball

Michigan football has already gotten some bad news on the recruiting front this week and it continued with a Kaleb Brown crystal ball to Ohio State. 

With the news of Maurice Linguist leaving Michigan football for Buffalo, Wolverines fans have already been in a bit of a panic.

In his short time on staff, Linguist lived up to his billing of being an ace recruiter, helping to land five-star cornerback Will Johnson and another four-star cornerback in Kody Jones.

Michigan is working on finding his replacement and might be closing in on making it official. That will help with recruiting in the secondary, but at wide receiver, there is also some work to do.

Kaleb Brown, a recruit with multiple crystal ball picks to U-M, received a prediction Monday from Steve Wiltfong of 247 sports to Ohio State.

What it means for Michigan’s chances

Brown has a total of four crystal ball predictions but the first three all have him choosing Michigan football. Yet, all of those were put in prior to the 2020 season and a lot has changed since then.

Not only did the Wolverines really struggle last season, but there have also been questions of instability dogging Harbaugh and company ever since, even with a new contract.

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

And while Ohio State has always been a threat with Brown, the question seemed to be whether there was going to be enough room for him in their class at wideout.

Now, Wiltfong seems confident and is projecting Brown, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound receiver who ranks 63rd overall in the 247 sports composite rankings, to Ohio State.

Like Tyler Morris, another four-star receiver who did commit to Michigan football recently, Brown has a long history with U-M quarterback J.J. McCarthy. They have been 7-on-7 teammates before.

Brown also really seemed to click with offensive coordinator Josh Gattis, which is what led to the early crystal ball picks to Michigan.

The third-ranked player from the state of Illinois, where Michigan has done really well over the years, hasn’t announced his official visits yet but the Wolverines are sure to get one.

But if they are going to land Brown, there is some ground to be made up.