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Michigan closing in on another D-line pledge, and maybe a 5-star

Michigan football landed another blue-chip commitment on Monday but the Wolverines are from finished if you read the tea leaves.
ByChris Peterson|
Dec 31, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive coaches Wink Martindale and Lou Esposito celebrate after a defensive stop against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Dec 31, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive coaches Wink Martindale and Lou Esposito celebrate after a defensive stop against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images | Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Michigan football has been on one of the best recruiting runs in program history this month, and it will only get better in the next few days.

Head coach Sherrone Moore teased two more commitments on Monday. One of them appears to be from a defensive lineman, as D-line coach Lou Esposito posted on X, "Trenchmobkid."

That's his tag line for defensive line commits. It just so happens that Steve Wiltfong of On3.com put in a projection in favor of the Wolverines, also on Monday, to land the pledge of 6-foot-6, 240-pound EDGE Julian Walker.

Michigan now has a 61 percent chance of getting Walker, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. He's ranked 197th via the 247 Sports composite rankings, and is a player who can be an EDGE or a defensive lineman in a 3-4 scheme. He also has proven to be a successful pass rusher on the edge, as well as on the interior.

If Michigan lands Walker over South Carolina, his home state program, it will be the fifth blue-chip on the defensive line in this class joining Carter Meadows, Titan Davis, McHale Blade, and Allister Vallejo.

Judging by the other commitments, which have come soon after coaches posted on social media like Moore and Esposito, the good news could come soon.

Michigan makes top three for five-star recruit

247 Sports has 6-foot-5 wideout Calvin Russell rated as a five-star recruit. He's ranked 47th in the 247 Sports composite rankings, and there is a real chance Michigan lands the Miami, Florida, native.

Russell is a highly accomplished basketball player, too, averaging over 20 points a game as a junior. He also had 704 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns, in addition to playing quarterback as a sophomore.

Russell told Gabby Urrutia of 247 Sports this week that Miami was out of it with Russell, who is now considering three schools: Michigan, Oregon, and Florida State.

LSU was one of the biggest threats, or seemed to be, and the Tigers aren't in the top three. Sam Webb of the Michigan Insider reported recently that the Wolverines are "surging" with Russell, who is expected to make a commitment announcement on Saturday.

Landing Russell would be one of the biggest commitments of the entire class, and as we sit a few days out, it feels like Michigan might be the team to beat.

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