Michigan Football: Trending up with a top target, down with another

Michigan football is trending towards a commitment with one top target in 2022 but things could be headed the wrong way with another. 

Now that Michigan football has entered a bye week, the focus can shift a little more towards the recruiting side of things.

The 6-0 start has certainly helped the Wolverines on the recruiting trail and while many are still focused on the 2022 class and rightfully so, this is really going to help in 2023 too.

I’ve said it before, but the 2022 class was always going to be challenging for Michigan football. All the questions surrounding Jim Harbaugh and his long-term future still lingered, despite the new contract extension.

Now, with all the success on both sides of the ball and the hire of Mike Macdonald, who kids are going to want to play for, but having the same staff in place, Michigan should be set up for a strong 2023 class.

The 2022 class is still ranked 16th in the composite rankings from 247 sports, even though it lost four-star Mario Eugenio last week.

Michigan is in a position to close with some top targets and one of those is three-star safety, Damani Dent.

Dent isn’t highly ranked right now and is in the 1,400s in the composite. But his recruitment has blown up. Oregon made the top three along with Pittsburgh and Michigan, and he recently visited Georgia although the Bulldogs didn’t offer.

The 6-foot, 175-pounder is making his announcement on Oct. 18 and has been trending to Michigan football with expert projections. Multiple crystal ball picks are now in for Dent and EJ Holland over at Rivals is also projecting him to be a Wolverine.

All the late interest from big-time programs make you think Dent is underrated and also that his commitment will take some work to keep if SEC teams keep calling.

But when the announcement comes next week, it’s expected to be Michigan.

Deone Walker talks Michigan

Michigan football has been viewed as the favorite for four-star defensive tackle Deone Walker, a prospect out of Detroit Cass Tech. However, things might have changed recently.

Walker is still being pursued hard by Kentucky and Alabama in the SEC, plus he was close to Eugenio and whether he got processed or something else happened, Walker seemed miffed. Here’s what he told SI in a recent interview.

"“Before today I was towards Michigan, I’d say,” he said. “I mess with Coach Clink (Steve Clinkscale), who came from Kentucky, I mess with Coach (Shaun) Nua and my family likes Coach Nua, Coach Clink, Coach Harbaugh, Coach (Ron) Bellamy. I thought it was a family environment. It’s not looking all that right, right now.”"

That was the day Eugenio decommitted. Those two have talked about playing together so we’ll see what happens. Michigan does have Kenneth Grant committed, as well as Mason Graham at defensive tackle but could definitely use another body.

The Wolverines are also the crystal ball leader for Joshua Josephs, an edge rusher, who could fill the spot of Eugenio.

Regardless, Walker once seemed like a slam dunk and now, the staff is going to have work to do for a guy that’s been a priority throughout the 2022 class.