Michigan Football: Another set back with O-line recruiting in 2023

Numerous experts projected 2023 offensive line recruit Paul Mubenga to Michigan football but now he’s trending away for the Wolverines. 

Following his official visit and a number of expert projections, Paul Mubenga seemed like a good bet to commit to Michigan football in July or sometime this summer.

The three-star offensive lineman visited during June and there was talk of him coming for the recruiting BBQ. That would have given Michigan a chance to wrap up his recruitment, but suddenly, things have shifted and it looks like the Wolverines are going to miss out on Mubenga.

Mubenga started trending with expert projections to LSU and EJ Holland of The Wolverine put in a pick for the Tigers last night, which isn’t a good sign for Michigan football.

According to the On3.com prediction machine, LSU now has an 80-percent chance to land Mubenga, who is from Georgia and is ranked No. 612 overall in the On3 consensus rankings. He’s 6-foot-3, 275 pounds and despite being ranked as a three-star recruit, his offer list looks like that of a four-star and this is a disappointing development.

Following the commitment of four-star Amir Herring last week, Michigan football seemed to be building some positive momentum and there was hope that Mubenga would be added to the commitment list soon too, which would have been an underrated add, and now that seems unlikely unless the Wolverines can flip this recruitment on its head again.

The crystal ball projections now favor LSU too. It seems like all that is left is that announcement but things changed quickly before and maybe it could happen again. The Wolverines also lost out on the commitment of Logan Howard, who went to Oklahoma.

O-line recruiting has work to do

Some of these misses have caused Michigan football to extend a number of offers recently to offensive line recruits but the Wolverines are also trying to gain more traction with top-100 offensive tackle Monroe Freeling.

Michigan made the top seven for Freeling earlier this month and he hasn’t visited the campus yet. Clemson and Notre Dame are the leaders but if Michigan could get him in for an unofficial visit and then possibly an official visit in the fall, it might have a chance. That’s the path though.

Brice Marich of The Michigan Insider reported it’s a possibility (subscription required) but that’s far from reassuring, it’s just something to monitor.

Whatever happens, Michigan has just one O-line commitment right now and no real solid prospects for another (at least right now), so there is work to do.