On Wednesday, Michigan signed, sealed, and delivered another deep and strong recruiting class, which included many highly regarded athletes this cycle.
In the 2024 class, the Wolverines signed 18 four-star recruits and 9 three-star prospects. They also landed players from 16 different states, with Ohio (4), Michigan (3), North Carolina (3), Pennsylvania (3), and Maryland (3) having the most.
Michigan signed, sealed, and delivered another deep and strong recruiting class this cycle on Wednesday, which included many highly respected athletes.
The Wolverines signed 18 four-star recruits and 9 three-star talents in the 2024 class. They also landed players from 16 different states, with the most coming from Ohio (4), Michigan (3), North Carolina (3), Pennsylvania (3), and Maryland (3).
Several first-year players have made an immediate impact under head coach Jim Harbaugh, such as freshman wide receiveror Semaj Mgan this season, who has made an impact on offense and special teams.
The Michigan Insider looks at five signees who might have an early impact next season.Running back Jordan Marshall from the Buckeye State, who won Mr. Football in the state of Ohio this season, was one of the major acquisitions this cycle. Mike Hart, the running backs coach, lured this prolific tailback away from Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Tennessee, among others. He has the genetics and skill set to compete early on. Another reason is the potential opportunity he may have with the running back room likely looking quite different next year with Blake Corum gone.Donovan Edwards (debating whether to stay or go) and C.J. Stokes access the transfer portal. Outside of Kalel Mullings (who hasn’t even played the position long), Hart doesn’t have many proven commodities, so he’ll have to rely on some younger backs, and Marshall is more than capable of handling those carries. As a true freshman, he may definitely get considerable playing time.Michigan relies heavily on tight ends in their system, and local standout Brady Prieskorn is an ideal choice to help bolster that unit. He’s got the prototypical stature to compete right away at 6-foot-6, 225 pounds, and he’s showed the ability to catch the ball like a wide receiver even in traffic. He’s a mismatch problem in the red zone and can run a variety of routes, but he can also be a solid blocker and contribute to the running game.
Excellent athlete with a background in multiple sports. Prieskorn will enroll early in order to gain a jump start on the weight room and understanding the offense. Despite knowing Colston Loveland will be back, there is no assurance AJ Barner and others in the tight end room will be back, so Prieskorn has the opportunity to contribute right away.Semaj Morgan, a powerful rookie receiver, has burst into the scene this season. Coming out of West Bloomfield, the playmaker demonstrated explosiveness, elusiveness, and the ability to make the big play. Michigan has found various ways to get him the ball, whether on offense or special teams, and I expect incoming wide receiver I’Marion Stewart to do the same. He, like Morgan, has the license and ability to become an instant weapon for the Wolverines on both offense and special teams.
There’s a lot of hope in Ann Arbor that they’ll be able to do a lot with him because he adds a lot of value on offense and in the return game. A fast, twitchy athlete who can hit home runs once he receives the ball, Michigan has proven that they know how to discover and carve out a niche for a player like Stewart.On the defensive side of the ball, Michigan has a number of bright and versatile talents arriving on campus, including edge rusher Dominic Nichols. The 6-foot-5, 252-pounder isn’t the highest-ranked signee, but his offer list suggests otherwise, as he had nearly 40 scholarship offers before deciding on the Wolverines in June. He arrives to Ann Arbor as an early enrollee, so he’s ahead of the learning curve and problems that most freshman face when they arrive in the summer, which he can use to his advantage. The edge position could potentially see some changes after this season, with players deciding whether to stay or leave the league, and you can never rule out players considering entering the transfer site. Nichols’ senior film stands out, and he helped Oakdale win the state championship this year. He was a very prolific player, recording 94 total tackles and 46 solo tackles.This season, he recorded 28 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, 83 quarterback pressures, 15 pass breakups, four forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, an interception, and two punt blocks. Nichols had 216 total tackles, 51.5 tackles for loss, 27.5 sacks, 149 quarterback pressures, 25 pass breakups, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and three punt blocks in his career. In addition, he only allowed 57 yards after contact on 216 tackles.In his senior year, he had a tackling effectiveness rate of 94% (94 tackles in 100 chances) and a lifetime tackling efficiency rate of 90%. The Wolverines have a long history of developing and producing edge rushers, and Nichols might be the next in line even in his first year.
