Latest on 2022 recruiting as Michigan Football hosts big visit weekend

It’s a big weekend of recruiting for Michigan football as the Wolverines are hosting a number of top targets, as well as hitting the road. Here’s the latest on 2022 and beyond. 

Michigan football‘s big recruiting week after the end of the dead period didn’t get off to a great start on Friday as Tulane defensive tackle Jeffrey Johnson, who was supposed to be in Ann Arbor this weekend, ended up not making the trip after committing to Oklahoma.

The Sooners were always the favorite for Johnson and Oklahoma must have knocked it out of the park with his visit. Michigan football has a need at defensive tackle but as I have said before, I don’t believe it’s as drastic as some others, especially if Mazi Smith is back.

Yet, the Wolverines have some other visitors that could be added to the 2022 recruiting class and one of those is running Andrew Paul.

Looking at 2022 targets visiting this weekend

Paul and Josh Conerly Jr. are two 2022 recruits that will be getting attention from the Michigan football staff. Conerly isn’t visiting but is expected to get an in-home visit from Jim Harbaugh, who is expected to be on the road recruiting this coming week.

Yet, Conerly has been a long-term target and while he would be a huge addition, his decision is still a few weeks away as he won’t make his announcement until National Signing Day.

Paul is ranked as the No. 1,211 recruit in the 2022 class but he has started to blow up recently and was also offered by Clemson and Auburn soon after the Wolverines.

Michigan football does have one running back commitment in the 2022 class in CJ Stokes. But the Wolverines have wanted to add another scholarship player and that’s probably more true now that Hassan Haskins has left for the NFL draft.

According to EJ Holland of The Wolverine, offensive lineman Xavier Chaplin will also visit Michigan football this weekend and he’s another 2022 target.

Chaplin is also ranked lower (1,221) but he’s 6-foot-6, 355 pounds, and is verbally committed to Virginia Tech but didn’t sign during the early period. Conerly is probably still the top take at the position but Chaplin could be a take too if the Wolveriners can flip his commitment.

Speaking of flips, Kevonte Henry, who is committed to Michigan, didn’t sign during the early period and is taking visits. He is expected to sign elsewhere, although U-M would love to keep him. Washington seems like the favorite thanks to Courtney Morgan joining the staff there.

In terms of other visitors, one of the biggest is Luke Montgomery, a 2023 offensive/defensive line prospect that is close to Mike Elston, the new defensive line coach. He was recruiting him to Notre Dame. Montgomery was already a priority for the U-M staff and adding Elston can only help. The Wolveriners are also hosting a number of others in 2023 and 2024.