Michigan football has three options on the quarterback board right now for 2022 and here’s a look at where the Wolverines stand with each.
As we move into the summer, Michigan football still doesn’t have a quarterback committed in the 2022 class, which should be a top priority for the Wolverines.
With the trend of losing quarterbacks to the transfer portal, depth at the position is important, and adding a top arm in 2022 is key, even with five-star J.J. McCarthy poised to take the reins.
Having a five-star quarterback in the previous class can make recruiting the position a little more difficult, but it hasn’t hurt the elite programs such as Ohio State, which lands a top-100 QB in just about every class, like clockwork.
Unfortunately, Michigan isn’t even in the mix for a top-100 level quarterback in this class, despite some strong interest early from a few different recruits.
Now, U-M is down to Nate Johnson, Conner Harrell, and Justyn Martin. Those are the three names to know among 2022 quarterbacks for Michigan and here’s a look at where they stand with each.
Conner Harrell
There has been a lot of buzz about Michigan trying to flip Martin from Cal, however, fans shouldn’t forget about Conner Harrell, a three-star recruit out of Alabama.
Harrell was offered by Michigan on May 23rd and he’s supposed to take an unofficial visit to Ann Arbor. He recently was at a camp in Alabama and threw for the Auburn staff in the hopes of getting an offer according to 247 sports.
Northwestern, Tennessee, Michigan, North Carolina, and Vanderbilt have all offered and are listed as “Warm” on his 247 sports recruiting profile. He’s ranked 648th overall in the 2022 class but he’s got a solid arm and would be an interesting dual-threat commitment.
His visit to Ann Arbor will be telling. So will Auburn’s assessment of the Alabaster, Alabama product because if the Tigers enter the mix with an offer, that could make Harrell a tough pull.
Justyn Martin
Martin might be the target that Michigan football fans want the most since he’s the highest-ranked QB recruit left on the Wovlerines’ board. However, it’s not going to be easy.
Martin does seem to be very open to other schools, even though he is committed to Cal as he has taken visits to Ole Miss and Michigan State. Martin is going to take a visit to Ann Arbor which is key but he’s already getting crystal balled to Ole Miss.
Visits can always change the dynamic of a recruitment and that’s what Michigan has to hope for with Martin when he gets on campus.
He’s 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, and throws the ball really well. He seems to be gaining even more traction on the recruiting trail with his recent performance and he would be a perfect addition to U-M’s 2022 class.
Yet, winning his commitment will be much easier said than done.
Nate Johnson
It wasn’t long ago that Johnson seemed like the top target for Michigan. Yet, the offers to Harrell and Martin may have changed that thinking.
But the Wolverines don’t want to get too cute and miss on Johnson too. He’s an incredible athlete and has proven that on the track. He’s got Xavier Worthy speed. He’s also fresh off a really solid performance at the Elite 11 regional in California, which has opened some eyes. Here’s what 247 sports’ Greg Biggins said about his performance:
"“He had the highest rating in the camp with a 108 score, highlighted by a 4.56-40, 4.12 shuttle, and a 37″ vertical. He’s one of the state’s top sprinters and has clocked a sub 10.5-100m but is more than just an athlete. He had one of the strongest arms in the camp and threw one of the tightest balls. Mechanically, he has improved from the last time we saw him live with a quicker, more consistent release. He just visited Utah and heads to Michigan this weekend.”"
Johnson just visited Utah and has other Pac-12 offers. The Wolverines, in my opinion, should push for Johnson as their 2022 quarterback.
I love Martin and he’s a more polished passer at this point. But Johnson has some real upside as a thrower and just a pure athlete. So take him and see where things fall before it’s too late.