Michigan Football: How recruiting skill positions is going in 2023

Tight End

The 2022 cycle was an outlier for the Wolverines compared to how recent cycles have gone at the tight end position. In the 2020 and 2021 classes, Michigan landed Matthew Hibner (2020) and Louis Hansen (2021) early on, but could not land another blue-chipper to join and ended up one with tight end in each class. In 2022, the Wolverines landed Marlin Klein early but were also able to add four-star Colston Loveland as well.

Like Hansen, 2023 four-star Andrew Rappleyea is a four-star that plays his high school ball in Massachussetts. He had coveted a Michigan offer and the Wolverines came through with an offer on Christmas Eve. Rappleyea immediately set up a visit to campus and gave his commitment on Saturday. He stands 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds. Rappleyea is a willing blocker and has a lot of potential as an inline TE. However, he is also a good athlete and capable of being flexed out wide. As a junior, he caught 21 passes for 475 yards and four touchdowns.

Though Michigan took two tight ends in 2022, I would expect it to take two in 2023 as well, especially considering how much Jim Harbaugh loves to utilize the position. Michigan currently sits in excellent position for Detroit Cass Tech three-star tight end Khamari Anderson.

He is the younger brother of Michigan center Raheem Anderson. Khamari recently named a top three of Michigan, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh. Given the family ties and the other schools in the mix, it is easy to see Michigan as the clear frontrunner to land his services.