The Wolverines reunited with a familiar face for their coaching staff, as former Michigan football defensive assistant Chris Partridge was announced as the latest addition to Jim Harbaugh’s 2023 coaching staff. As a dynamic recruiter, Partridge can help Michigan make a big push for a handful of top targets in the class of 2024.
It is well known that new Michigan football assistant is an elite recruiter. During his time in Ann Arbor, Partridge was either the primary or secondary recruiter for a litany of top Michigan signees, such as five-star DL Rashan Gary, Aubrey Solomon, and Christopher Hinton, and also helped open up a pipeline into the state of New Jersey, landing elite recruits like four-star center Cesar Ruiz, four-star linebacker Drew Singleton, and the aforementioned Gary.
Now back at Michigan in an unspecified capacity, it seems likely that Partridge will be taking over the linebackers unit, with recent Twitter activity from current linebackers coach, George Helow, suggesting he may be departing shortly, perhaps to take over the defense at Tulane.
However, regardless of where it is Partridge ultimately slots in on the defensive staff, what is clear is that his recruiting chops will be highly valuable for the Wolverines as they seek to pull in a top-10 class in 2024. Here are five recruits that Partridge’s hire should help Michigan football either land or make a significant push for.
Four-star linebacker Aaron Chiles (Maryland)
Ranked as the 61st best player on the On3 Consensus board, Chiles is a stud linebacker that Michigan football just recently hosted for a weekend visit.
By all accounts, Michigan hit it out of the park with Chiles, with him even declaring that “they are definitely No. 1.” to On3’s E.J. Holland. And even if the Wolverines do swap out incumbent linebackers coach George Helow for Partridge, that likely won’t have much effect on Chiles’ recruitment, as he already has an existing relationship with Partridge, who was his lead recruiter at Ole Miss recently.
Partridge made Chiles one of his first calls upon taking the job and already appears to have another visit for the talented linebacker lined up. This one seems to be trending closer and closer toward a commitment for the Wolverines.
Four-star safety Ricardo Jones (Georgia)
Make no mistake about it, as much as Partridge is known for his New Jersey ties, he’s been a terrific recruiter down South in the state of Georgia.
At Michigan, he brought in two five-star Georgia defensive linemen in Aubrey Solomon (Leesburg, GA) and Christopher Hinton (Norcross, GA), as well as four-star offensive tackle Trente Jones (Loganville, GA) and four-star cornerbacks Myles Sims (Atlanta, GA) and Jalen Perry (Dacula, GA). He even continued his Georgia success at Ole Miss, landing four-star edge rusher Jaron Willis (Leesburg, GA).
As to Jones, he’s a top target for the Wolverines at safety, and some even suggest he may be the top safety on Michigan’s board ($). Michigan football offered him all the way back in May of 2022, and while the momentum appears to be with Southern schools like Florida State and Georgia, Partridge’s entrance into this recruitment should build some optimism that the Wolverines can get Jones up for a visit or two, placing themselves in contention to land his signature.
With Partridge and fellow ace recruiter Jay Harbaugh working the Michigan angle here, the Wolverines have two of their best on Jones, and will certainly be making a big push here.
Four-star defensive lineman Jordan Thomas (New Jersey)
Hailing from NJ powerhouse Don Bosco Prep, Thomas is ranked as the top player in the Garden State according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. While Michigan football has not been heavily mentioned in his recruitment, the Wolverines did offer Thomas back in May of 2022 as well. At 6’5, 296 lbs. Thomas has the length and size to be dominant in Michigan’s defensive front, working in a variety of different roles on the interior.
As of now, Thomas does not appear to have a particularly clear-cut leaderboard, though recent visits to Georgia and South Carolina suggest that those two SEC teams are likely factors here, as well as Big Ten foe Penn State. Either way, this is a somewhat open recruitment, and the Wolverines adding a prolific defensive recruiter with strong New Jersey ties certainly opens the door for Michigan to make a move with Thomas.
Four-star safety Jaylen McClain (New Jersey)
Another New Jersey prospect that Michigan football has likely boosted its chances with is the talented defensive back out of Seton Hall Prep, Jaylen McClain. Ranked as the fourth-best player in-state on the 247Sports Composite, McClain would be a significant addition to the Wolverines class, joining four-star defensive back Jacob Oden at that position.
McClain recently released his Top 10 schools remaining in his recruitment, and Michigan was included as one of the ten, along with rivals Notre Dame, Michigan State, and Penn State, and some other major powerhouse programs like Georgia, USC, and Oregon.
The Wolverines appear to have significant competition for McClain’s signature, but with an ace New Jersey recruiter with experience coaching McClain’s position, McClain is yet another prospect that Michigan is likely feeling a whole lot better about landing with Partridge now on the trail.