Michigan Football: A new priority is emerging at cornerback in 2023

Michigan football still doesn’t have a commitment at the cornerback position yet in the 2023 class and that needs to change soon. 

One position where Michigan football really needs to add some commitments in the 2023 recruiting class is cornerback.

It’s hard to believe that we are approaching August and the Wolverines don’t have any defensive backs committed yet in the 2023 class. Steve Clinkscale is a great recruiter and he’s had Michigan football in the mix with plenty of prospects, there just haven’t been any commitments.

Javien Toviano is a five-star that has an interest in Michigan but it seems like he will wind up staying in Texas. It’s hard to see the Wolverines winning that recruitment. The same could probably be said for Makari Vickers, even though U-M is in the top three for the top-100 safety.

Jyaire Hill also started trending towards Illinois after Michigan football seemed to be the favorite. But there could still be time to turn it around and the Wolverines could start expanding their board.

One name to watch at cornerback though is out of Providence Day in Charlotte. A number of Providence day players, including Jaydn Davis, visited earlier this summer and Davis is expected to be on campus for the Michigan recruiting BBQ along with wide receivers Jordan Shipp and Channing Goodwin.

Goodwin’s father played for Michigan football and all three players, including Davis, have ties to the Wolverines because of that.

While the other three recruits are in the 2024 class, Michigan has started being more aggressive in its pursuit of Chris Peal, a 2023 cornerback from Providence Day.

Peal’s recruitment is wide open

Peal was a heavy Georgia lean at one time and the On3 prediction machine gives the Bulldogs a 98-percent chance to get his commitment. Yet, the 6-foot-1, 198-pounder cornerback still hasn’t pledged while Georgia has landed a trio of other 2023 cornerbacks.

The Bulldogs could be out of room and if UGA isn’t pushing as hard for the No. 198 overall prospect according to the On3 consensus rankings, the Wolverines should try to take advantage.

EJ Holland reported (subscription required) that Michigan was going to host Peal for an official visit in the fall and was hoping to get him on campus for the recruiting BBQ.

Yet, another On3 report states that Peal will be visiting North Carolina State the same weekend, which isn’t a great sign for the Wolverines.

It will be interesting to see how hard Georgia pushes for a commitment or if it decides to at all, but North Carolina State should be taken seriously. The four-star cornerback took just one official visit this fall and has taken two other unofficial trips to see the Wolfpack.

Michigan doesn’t have any visits yet and that’s why the BBQ would be so important. The visit to NC State says June 29, so maybe the Wolverines can get him in that weekend too, but if not, it gives me less confidence.

The connections with Jonathan Goodwin help but multiple visits would also make you feel better about the Wolverines’ chances of a commitment they desperately need.