Early National Signing Day came and went earlier this week, but you may not have noticed as Michigan’s recruiting class experienced no drama whatsoever. The same can’t be said for Ohio State, but that’s a whole different story.
According to 247Sports, Michigan’s class finished rated 15th in the country. There is still a chance that the Wolverines could add four-star wide receiver Gatlin Bair in February, but for all intents and purposes, this class is complete. Today’s discussion is simple: how excited are you about this recruiting class?
The class consists of tons of intriguing prospects. Quarterback Jadyn Davis was nearly a five-star earlier on in the recruiting process, but settled around the top 100 nationally. He may not have the flashiest arm in America, but he consistently makes the right reads and decisions. Running back Jordan Marshall may be the crowned jewel of the class; the Ohio Mr. Football chose the Wolverines over his hometown Buckeyes.
Elsewhere, Michigan picked up their top two tight ends on the board in four-stars Hogan Hansen and Brady Prieskorn. At this point, Jim Harbaugh should have no trouble recruiting tight ends due to how he uses them at Michigan. The Wolverines also picked up a virtual starting five on the offensive line, highlighted by four-star tackle Andrew Sprague.
On the defensive side of the ball, Michigan brought in size, size, and more size on the defensive line. The newest commit, Lugard Edokpayi, measures in at a casual 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds as a defensive end. Similarly, at least four commits have the possibility of playing nose tackle depending on how strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert changes their bodies in three-stars Owen Wafle, Ted Hammond, Manuel Beigel, and Deyvid Palepale.
In the back seven, cornerback Jo’Ziah Edmond was barely a three-star when Michigan offered. He has since exploded into a high four-star and the 14th-rated corner in the country. Four-star linebacker Jeremiah Beasley out of Belleville, Michigan was a big recruiting win for the Wolverines as well.
The Wolverines did swing and miss a lot throughout this round, which is a drawback. They were unable to sign any of the three wide receivers they were interested in: Jordan Shipp (North Carolina), NiTareon Tuggle (Georgia), and Ryan Wingo (Texas).
The most agonizing part was perhaps Michigan’s attempt to steal Ohio’s top two cornerbacks, Aaron Scott and Bryce West, both four-star prospects. Particularly for Scott, Jim Harbaugh and company were undoubtedly in the running and thought they had a good chance of securing his services. Sadly, neither wavered from Ohio State.
Overall, Michigan’s class is excellent but by no means exceptional. But when it comes to Michigan’s coaching staff, they should be given the benefit of the doubt.
Personally, I think Owen Wafle, Blake Frazier, and Andrew Sprague are the best new signings. Which ones are yours? What is your overall impression of this class? Are you disappointed that the recruiting class that emerged from the Big Ten Championships two years in a row was only the fifteenth best? Considering the staff’s history of assessment and growth, do you currently have complete faith in them?
