New crystal balls that are good and bad for Michigan Football

Michigan football added its first commitment from the recruiting BBQ on Monday and picked up another crystal ball for another visitor on Tuesday.

The 2023 recruiting class has definitely tested the patience of Michigan football fans, at least most of us.

There have been plenty of folks saying they aren’t worried and that signing day was months away and all the common refrains you read on the message boards.

But as it turns out, that analysis was spot on. Michigan football has started to overcome the NIL holdup, in part because of better messaging, and the Wolverines have been on a roll since the start of July picking up five four-star commitments in 2023 including 4-star OT Evan Link on Monday.

Outside of Michigan football becoming the firm leader for five-star QB Jadyn Davis after his trip over the weekend, the other big news was an offer to three-star tight end Zack Marshall, which has now led to a crystal ball projection from Steve Wiltfong of 247 sports.

Marshall is ranked 684th overall in the 247 sports composite rankings but there’s a lot to like about the pass-catching specialist who is listed at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds. As a junior, according to 247 sports, he caught 44 passes for 1,012 yards and nine touchdowns.

That’s big-time production for a tight end and he would be a great fit for what the Wolverines want to do at the position.

Arizona has been a top contender for Marshall, along with Utah the BBQ seemed to put Michigan football in the lead. We’ll see if he takes an official visit during a gameday this fall but there’s no doubt that the U-M offer put the Wolverines in the pole position.

4-star DL Kayden McDonald projected to Clemson

We talked about defensive line recruiting the other day and with one top target trending in the wrong direction, there was still hope with another, 4-star Kayden McDonald.

McDonald is out of Georgia and is ranked 290th overall in 2023 according to the 247 sports composite rankings and the Wolverines were considered the leader until the past couple of days.

Clemson has received a crystal ball projection from Wiltfong and the Tigers have also surged in front via the On3 prediction machine.

It’s another blow and defensive line recruiting is becoming a bit of a concern but there could still be time to turn things around with McDonald, who was expected to be at the BBQ but didn’t make it.

Makari Vickers also received another projection to Oklahoma which isn’t surprising.