After landing two international commitments this week, Michigan football might not be done and we look at who could be next.
Michigan football got more good news on the recruiting trail this weekend as the Wolverines snagged commitments from a pair of international defenders.
The first came on Friday from Aymeric Koumba, a 6-foot-4, edge rusher from France who is part of the 2023 class. It was followed by the commitment of 6-foot-5, 282-pound defensive tackle Manuel Beigel out of Germany.
While these prospects haven’t played football in the United States, they have been working with Brandon Collier and come from the same program that brought Julius Welschof to Michigan.
Mike Elston has a strong relationship with Collier and that leads you to believe that Michigan football could be adding more international prospects.
And for his part, Collier tweeted after Beigel’s pledge that it might not be the last from one of his players to the Wolverines this week.
I don't mind hearing this 👀 https://t.co/92ZebDOkxc
— GBM Wolverine (@GBM_Wolverine) July 16, 2022
Potential international commitments in 2023 and 2024
Michigan football has taken a pair of defensive linemen from Collier and it looks like the Wolverines could have a strong interest in more defenders.
The Wolverines have offered another Collier recruit in 2024 linebacker Justin Okoronkwo. He’s 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, and also has an offer from Penn State. This tweet talks about him playing at safety for the German national team.
@Okoronkw1Justin is Linebacker with Offers from Michigan & Penn State, but is so athletically gifted he plays Saftey for the German National Team. Every Power 5 in the USA should be after this kid. 6'2 210lb Linebacker who ran a 4.49 at @MSU_Football camp. @BCollierPPI pic.twitter.com/Wy6GiRWY3W
— Coach Josh Alaeze (@JoshAlaeze) July 16, 2022
He would most likely play linebacker in college and that’s the position listed on his 247 sports composite rankings. Okoronkwo also ran a 4.47 in the 40 at Michigan State so just as the other international commitments landed by U-M this week, he’s got all the physical talent.
But there’s another linebacker to keep an eye on and his name is Kofi Taylor-Barrocks, a prospect out of England who caught the eye of EJ Holland of The Wolverine over the weekend.
Taylor-Barrocks took an unofficial visit to Michigan but hasn’t received an offer yet. He’s 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, and does have offers from Michigan State, Colorado, West Virginia, and Ole Miss, among others.
According to Holland (subscription required), the coaching staff has remained in contact and he is reporting that if Michigan offered, there’s a good chance it would land his commitment.
Both players could be candidates to commit to Michigan football and with Collier saying another pledge could be coming this week, it’s definitely something to monitor.