Austin Ausberry should be a top priority for Michigan Football

Austin Ausberry is one 2022 recruiting target that Michigan football needs to make a priority. 

Michigan football has not had much success recruiting in the state of Louisiana in its history. In fact, not many programs have.

LSU usually gets who it wants and in its home state and the others go to Alabama. Anthony Thomas, Ronald Bellamy, Carvin Johnson, and Drew Dileo are a few notable Louisiana natives to become Wolverines in the last 25 years.

Since Bellamy joined the Michigan football staff as the safeties coach, he has made an effort to extend the Wolverines recruiting efforts in the South, including in his home state. One player from Louisiana that the Wolverines may have a realistic chance to land in the 2022 cycle is four-star cornerback Austin Ausberry.

Bellamy extended an offer to Ausberry on July 30th and the Wolverines have quickly vaulted up his list. Ausberry called Michigan one of his dream schools and wants to take two trips (one official, one unofficial) to Michigan according to The Michigan Insider (subscription required).

The visits have not been planned yet, but Ausberry included Michigan football in his top six along with LSU, Auburn, Notre Dame, Alabama, and Florida.

What are Michigan’s chances?

Ausberry has received one crystal ball prediction to LSU and he is an LSU legacy. However, it usually takes multiple on-campus visits to land out-of-region prospects and Michigan appears to be in good shape in that regard with Ausberry wanting to take two.

Ausberry is comfortable playing on an island in man coverage and has good instincts and ball skills. At 6-foot-1, he has the prototypical length Michigan wants in its corners. He is also very physical in the run game.

That could lend itself to a move to safety. Michigan already has cornerbacks Will Johnson, Myles Pollard, and Kody Jones committed, however has yet to land a safety in its 2022 class.

Michigan football is deep at safety at the moment but Brad Hawkins will graduate after this season and Daxton Hill could leave early for the NFL.

While Austin is a solid prospect in his own prospect, his younger brother Jaiden is a five-star linebacker in the class of 2023.

The prospect of Michigan landing a five-star out of Louisiana is highly unlikely. However if Michigan lands Austin this cycle, it will have a leg up in its chances to land Jaiden in 2023.