Michigan Football: Latest on a pair of 5-star targets for Wolverines

Here’s the latest on Michigan football’s efforts with a five-star cornerback in 2023 and a five-star DT in the 2024 class as the recruiting BBQ approaches. 

The recruiting dead period has ended and that means that Michigan football is getting ready for its annual recruiting BBQ, which will take place this weekend.

So far, the list of recruits set to be in attendance is pretty impressive as a number of 2023 and 2024 targets will be on campus.

One of those is five-star defensive tackle, Justin Scott. He’s a 2024 recruit but he’s a top-tier target already out of Chicago. He’s 6-foot-5, 310 pounds and Wisconsin is the early leader according to the On3 prediction machine, although Notre Dame is right there too.

According to EJ Holland of The Wolverine, Scott’s first trip to Ann Arbor will be this weekend as he will be in Ann Arbor for the BBQ. He’ll visit Notre Dame and this will hopefully be the first of multiple visits by the No. 12 overall recruit in the 2024 class.

The Badgers currently have a 48-percent chance to win his commitment according to the On3 prediction machine but it’s still very early in the process.

Another 5-star recruit talks about Michigan football interest

While Scott seems like a long way from making a decision, another Michigan football recruit, this one in the 2023 class, Javien Toviano seems to be closing in on making an announcement.

Toviano’s recruitment has been really interesting to follow as the Wolverines have come on strong over the course of the summer and got the five-star prospect in for an official visit.

Toviano is ranked 34th overall according to the On3 consensus rankings and is listed as a safety but Michigan wants him at corner. He’s out of Arlington, Texas which has always made him feel like a really tough pull especially since Texas A&M and Texas are the top contenders.

The Aggies leading according to the On3 prediction machine with a 23-percent chance to win his commitment but Texas is at just 20 and Michigan is right there at 18.

I’ve been pessimistic about the Wolverines’ chances here, but Toviano spoke to Holland this week and was flashing the “M”. Plus, he’s a maybe for the BBQ and if Michigan football is able to get him on campus this weekend, they would be absolutely huge.

Holland called Michigan a “Major player” in Toviano’s recruitment and the five-star DB said in the same interview that, “Michigan is a place I can see myself playing at.”

What that means to me is that the Wolverines have a legitimate shot to win this recruiting battle, a chance that was better than I expected.

Now, they have to close, and again, keep an eye on Toviano this weekend,