Breaking down Joel Starlings decommitment from Michigan Football

Michigan football lost one of its 2023 commitments on Sunday as Joel Starlings re-opened his recruitment. Here’s what it means for the Wolverines. 

Assistant coaches and support staff mean a hell of a lot in recruiting and the decommitment of Joel Starlings from Michigan football in 2023 is just another example of that.

Starlings committed to the Wolverines back in December and the four-star defensive lineman was a solid get for the Wolverines with him ranked in the top 300 of the 247 sports composite rankings.

However, Shaun Nua was the primary recruiter in the recruitment of Starlings, and when Nua announced he was leaving Michigan football for USC, that changed things for Starlings according to Brian Dohn of 247 sports.

Starlings is out of the DMV — Richmond, Virginia, and is 6-foot-5, 310 pounds and listed as the No. 215 prospect overall in the 247 sports composite rankings for 2023.

How much decommitment stings for Michigan football

The four-star recruit visited during the Ohio State game and developed a rapport with Nua but also liked the defense of Mike Macdonald. However, there were some rumblings about his commitment, even days after it happened, so this development isn’t shocking.

It’s also not shocking because we have already seen movement from support staff — Courtney Morgan — have an impact on recruiting.

Morgan left for the University of Washington and after serving as the director of personnel for Michigan football, he’s working hard on getting Kevonte Henry and Josh Conerly Jr. to UW.

Conerly is from the Seattle area, so there is a local pull but the Huskies are a threat to win both of those recruitments, and Morgan, at least with Henry, is the biggest reason why.

While it was a bummer to see Starlings leave the 2023 recruiting class, with the hire of Mike Elston from Notre Dame as the Wolverines defensive line coach, Michigan should be just fine and in addition to elite d-lineman Luke Montgomery, the Wolverines also impressed top-100 defensive lineman John Walker who also visited Ann Arbor this weekend.

Elston’s hire also impressed in-state defensive end Jalen Thompson, who is already one of Michigan football’s top targets for 2023.

With Elston on staff and if Jim Harbaugh signs his new contract soon, putting off the NFL interest for good, Michigan should be just fine in terms of its 2023 recruiting class, which despite the loss of Starlings, is off to a really good start.