Michigan Football: How recruiting skill positions is going in 2023

Wide Receiver 

Michigan is working from a position of strength after landing a strong receiver haul in 2022 with four-stars Tyler Morris and Darrius Clemons and three-star Amorion Walker.  Michigan already has a commitment from West Bloomfield three-star Semaj Morgan, who is already one of my favorite prospects in the 2023 class.

The top target is five-star Jalen Brown out of Gulliver Prep in Miami. Brown runs a 10.66 in the 100M and he is one of the best vertical threats in the country. He was named a Second-Team Junior All-American by MaxPreps after he had over 1,000 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns.

Miami is a long away from Ann Arbor but elite South Florida wide receiver prospects like Amari Cooper, Calvin Ridley, Jerry Jeudy, Frank Ladson, and Marcus Rosemy have been leaving the state for years. Unlike those prospects, Brown does not have Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, or Ohio State among his top group at this time. Brown has a top group of Michigan, Miami, Texas A&M and Florida State.

New Miami head coach Mario Cristobal will try to make it more difficult for those elite prospects to leave South Florida. However, Michigan also has an “in” because Michigan legend Desmond Howard is one of his mentors. Howard volunteer coaches at Gulliver when he has time and he sees Brown as a special talent. Brown took an unofficial visit to Michigan for the Washington game and he had a great experience (subscription required).

Five-star athlete Nyckoles Harbor (Washington, DC/Archbishop Carroll HS)

I’m giving Harbor his own section because he is that special of an athlete. Harbor stands 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds and he runs a 10.38 in the 100M. Those measureables put Harbor in the conversation with Calvin Johnson from an athletic standpoint. As a Lions fan, that is not a comparsion I use lightly. Harbor has a long way to reach the heights of Calvin Johnson, as he is a raw prospect.

Harbor could play WR, TE, or EDGE at the next level and he looks up to Calvin Johnson, Kyle Pitts, and Von Miller. Harbor could be a terror as an edge rusher in Michigan’s 3-4 scheme. However, you should probably make sure someone with his traits touches the football. Michigan could figure it out later if Harbor commits.

Harbor took a unofficial visit to Michigan for its game against Rutgers and he is serious about academics, which will help Michigan’s chances. Harbor is also considering  Penn State, USC, South Carolina, NC State, Maryland, and Oklahoma. The Sooners have one crystal ball prediction for Harbor, but it was put in while Lincoln Riley was still in Norman. He is ranked as the No. 29 overall player and No. 3 athlete in the 2023 class.