Michigan Football: Getting you set for a massive recruiting weekend

It’s been known for quite a while that the Washington game was going to be huge for Michigan football recruiting and with a bunch of elite visitors, we break it down. 

When it comes to recruiting, Michigan football needs one thing to start getting things headed in the right direction: Wins. That’s it.

Michigan football needs some success on the field which will lead to more long-term stability for Jim Harbaugh and the coaching staff. That in turn will yield better results on the recruiting trail.

Even last weekend’s win over Western Michigan impressed recruits such as Cole Dellinger who was in attendance or Semaj Morgan, who is also taking an official visit this weekend.

Michigan football is going a great job with both in-state recruits in 2023 in Morgan and Dellinger, but there are some big-time prospects headed to Ann Arbor this weekend.

We knew five-star offensive tackle Josh Conerly was coming, but so is Domani Jackson and EJ Holland of Rivals confirmed on Monday that five-star DT Walter Nolen will also be in Ann Arbor.

Holland also reported (subscription required) that four-star Kenneth Grant, another tip-top target for Michigan football at defensive tackle in 2022, will also be visiting along with Mark Nabou, Deone Walker, and Lander Barton.

Nolen might be the No. 1 target on the D-line, but Grant and Walker, a fellow defensive tackle, aren’t far behind. The Wolverines are prioritizing both but at this point, they’ve done what they can off the field. Now, it’s about what happens on the field.

Michigan football needs to win

Grant has an offer from Ohio State and while he really appears to like Michigan, he wants to see results on the field. Many others are in that same boat. A win over Washington would obviously be huge with Conerly, as the Huskies appear to be the top contender for his commitment.

Following an ugly loss at home to Montana, if the Wolverines can beat the Huskies in front of a packed Big House, it could be enough to get Conerly out of the Northwest. This is also his second visit to Ann Arbor which is also key for a kid who could be coming from Washington state.

And for as solid as Jackson has said he is to USC, he said recently he couldn’t count out Michigan and this will be his first official visit. His prior visit was a self-guided tour which isn’t nearly the same as experiencing a packed Big House.

If the Wolverines put together a big win, in front of a Maize out, it could at least give Jackson something to think about.

Michigan football has to give these elite recruits a reason to believe the program is headed back to where it was in the early Harbaugh years, with the potential to get even better.

It might be a tough sell, but it’s going to become a lot easier with a win Saturday night.