The best players in Michigan play for Michigan.
That's the idea, at least, one the Michigan football program is hoping comes to life with the elite in-state recruit, Dakota Guerrant.
A few months ago, Michigan football wasn't even really a contender in this recruitment. Right after Kyle Whittingham was hired, it felt like a foregone conclusion that Guerrant, the No. 1 recruit in Michigan and No. 35 overall as a wide receiver, would be leaving the state, most likely to Oregon.
That could still happen. The Ducks are still the favorite. But it's not a done deal anymore.
Five-star recruit talks Michigan's push with decision looming
Guerrant re-affirmed with MLive on Tuesday that he's going to announce a commitment in early July, so we are in the stretch run on this recruitment. Here's what Guurrant said about the Wolverines
“They got a young receiver coach, so he kind of can relate to me a little more,” Guerrant said of Michigan's new wide receiver coach, Micah Simon. “Just being around him, talking to him, going out to eat, seeing me work out, coming to track practices and things like that – they’ve been trying for sure and spending time with me.”
Guerrant expressed the one concern about Michigan football that's going to be hard to answer before a decision comes, which is whether the program is really committed to throwing the ball.
Whittingham is sort of like Jim Harbaugh. He's known for wanting to run the football. Utah had a top-10 rushing offense, which is a good thing, just maybe not for a five-star wide receiver.
“I really want to see if they going to throw the ball,” Guerrant said. “I mean, they a good school, got all the connections in the world, but if they can’t throw the ball and they want to run the ball all day, then it just would not be a good place for a receiver.”
Guerrant will visit Oregon this week on an official visit. Then, he is scheduled to come to Ann Arbor for Victors Weekend on June 19th. That weekend will have a bunch of big-time recruits on campus, so the Wolverines are doing all they can.
But it sounds like Guerrant is going to have to see the passing game to believe it, which makes it feel like Michigan is fighting an uphill battle with his commitment date looming.
The Ducks have an 89 percent chance to win the commitment, according to the Rivals Recruiting Prediction Machine.
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