What a week and a half for Michigan football. Dominating Ohio State in Columbus and winning the Big Ten Championship. It was especially funny when there were a few Ohio State fans in Indy- they got booed very hard.
Michigan football is 13-0, which is the most wins in program history since they used to only play 12 total games. The Wolverines are 25-2 over the past two seasons, which is a testament to Jim Harbaugh.
A lot of people (myself included) have been shocked by the 2023 recruiting class. As of now, it’s decent, with a few big prospects remaining on the board, but it’s nothing like we expected one year ago.
A year ago, Michigan football got a commitment from top 100 LB Raylen Wilson. The Florida Linebacker chose the Wolverines over Georgia, and it looked like Michigan was finally going to receive the elite commits that top programs get every year.
Analysts were projecting a top 5 class for the Wolverines, and it looked very possible. Then Harbaugh flirted with the NFL for a loooooong time, Josh Gattis (boo) left for Miami, and Mike Macdonald left for the Ravens’ defensive coordinator job. Along with this, NIL became far more widespread, yet the Wolverines chose to watch from the sidelines.
These issues cost the Wolverines any chance they had with top recruits — relationships were shattered by the coaching questions, and other recruits simply chose to play for whoever paid them the most. As unfortunate as that is, it’s how college football operates now. If the Wolverines want top recruits, they need to be better with NIL.
Before the season, I said that if the Wolverines wanted elite recruiting success in the future, they needed to beat the Buckeyes again and show that it wasn’t a fluke. They did just that. Along with this, Jim Harbaugh immediately shut down any NFL rumors. Head coaching jobs that Wolverine assistants such as Sherrone Moore, Jesse Minter, and George Helow were in consideration for, have since been filled for the most part. While the coaching carousel is just beginning, the Wolverines have dodged some early bullets.
Knowing this, we must still acknowledge NIL. Michigan football is not handing out million-dollar checks to recruits, but they are improving — however slowly it is. New university president Santa Ono is a huge supporter of the athletic department and has supported NIL advancements. I think that following the conclusion of the football season, we could see some major positive changes announced; I’ve read that the locker rooms could be due for renovation.
Michigan football can’t get any worse at NIL, and the mass exodus of players from NIL schools (particularly Texas A&M) entering the transfer portal may hint at NIL, or specifically giving players millions of dollars to sign with a school, not being a good strategy.
The point is, the Wolverines should only be able to gain ground on these other schools. On the field, only one school has had more success over the past two seasons, and the Wolverines may get a chance to play them in the national championship. Everything is set up for a good time on the recruiting trail.
With that being said, let’s take a look at the 2024 class.
Latest on 5-star recruits in 2024
Michigan has been pursuing many top recruits for the 2024 cycle, none bigger than 5-star quarterback Jadyn Davis. While Davis isn’t the highest-rated recruit the Wolverines are after, he is hands down the most important.
Michigan missed out on a quarterback in the 2023 cycle and took two project quarterbacks in the 2022 cycle. They badly need a top quarterback that can take over once JJ McCarthy leaves — whether that’s after his junior year or his senior year.
Davis is expected to make a decision before the end of the calendar year, and all signs point to Michigan being the pick. Having a quarterback committed early is so important because they’re the best tool for building a class. Every top recruit wants to know that they’ve got an elite quarterback joining them.
Other 5 stars that Michigan is involved with early include KJ Bolden (S), Ryan Wingo (WR), Justin Scott (DL), Charles Lester III (CB), and Bryce West (CB).
This isn’t an exclusive list, as I’m sure the Wolverines are going to enter the races for multiple other top recruits. Out of these five, it appears Michigan football is in the best position for Wingo, Scott, and West.
West is an Ohio kid, but Steve Clinkscale has been putting in work in the state of Ohio, and back-to-back wins over the Buckeyes have to be a positive, along with the impact that freshman 5-star cornerback Will Johnson is having.
When recruits can see a similar prospect prospering at a school, it can really help. Michigan can pitch a chance to play early. Former 5-star Will Johnson is a star in just his freshman year. That’s something that’s very valuable to recruits.
Wingo was very impressed after the Ohio State game, and I think that slowed down the momentum that Tennessee had. If the Wolverines can keep showing that they can throw the ball with success, Wingo is a recruit that could join the Wolverines.
I’d like to note that I think the Wolverines are much more comfortable throwing the ball now, which should be a huge plus for wide receivers.
Justin Scott was also impressed after the Ohio State game. As a whole, I’m not sure how you can be a defensive lineman and not want to go to Michigan.
The Wolverines consistently do an excellent job of helping defensive lineman reach their max potential, allowing them to succeed in the NFL. Scott, a Chicago kid, seems like he wants to stay in the Midwest. I think he may be the most likely of the group to join Michigan. If the Wolverines can sell him on an NIL pitch, he may be the next great defensive recruit for the Wolverines.
Latest on 4-star targets in 2024
Michigan is also doing very well with four-star recruits. The #3 rated tight end in the country (according to 247 sports), Brady Prieskorn, resides in Michigan and is a heavy Michigan lean at the moment. If/when Davis commits, I think it’s very possible that Prieskorn shuts down his recruitment and follows Davis to the Wolverines.
0hio four stars Brian Robinson and Jordan Marshall are also being heavily recruited by the Wolverines. Robinson, an edge rusher, is also a heavy Michigan lean.
Marshall is a borderline top-100 recruit at the running back position. He’s exactly the kind of guy the Wolverines need, and it seems like a very winnable recruitment. The Wolverines have had elite levels of success at the running back position, which they should be able to sell Marshall on.
Other highly rated recruits that Michigan leads for or is very heavily in the running for include four-star safety Jacob Oden, four-star offensive lineman and legacy recruit Blake Frazier, and four-star wide receiver I’Marion Stewart.
I’d also like to note that the Wolverines are off to a good start in the 2024 class commitment-wise thus far. They have commitments from four-star linebacker (much needed) Mason Curtis, along with four-star offensive lineman Luke Hamilton. They also have a commitment from Manuel Beigel, a very intriguing German prospect with lots of potential.
I expect the Wolverines to go after lots of elite recruits this cycle, and if they can get a solid NIL pitch, this class should finish top 5-10.
There is no reason this class should be outside the top 10, or really the top 5 even. This class SHOULD be close to as good if not better than Ohio State’s class, and it should compete for one of the top spots in the nation.
Anything can happen in recruiting, as we’ve seen this year, but I expect next year to be much better. If the Wolverines land Jadyn Davis early, I think that’s an excellent sign of what’s to come.
Go blue.