Michigan hunting for last few targets to secure another elite recruiting class

Sherrone Moore and Michigan have amassed one of the country’s best recruiting hauls this cycle, with 22 commitments and a class that ranks No. 11 nationally, according to the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

The Wolverines look to largely be done in this class, though a few flip targets and two major uncommitted prospects remain out there. Five-star running back Savion Hiter is at the top of U-M’s board as they battle Tennessee (get the latest intel from Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong). Landing him would the cherry on top of a very strong class for Moore and Co. They’re also awaiting the eventual decision of four-star linebacker DQ Forkpa, who was set to commit last month but ultimately postponed. And earlier this week, Rivals’ John Garcia Jr. reported that the Wolverines are also pushing for coveted Missouri wide receiver commit Jabari Brady.

If they could pull off all three of those, it would get them to 25 and likely solidify their group this cycle.

Of the 22 currently in the boat, 13 are blue-chip prospects with a few others right on the cusp of four-star status. Six of their pledges came before the summer recruiting period, including quarterback Brady Smigiel, at one time committed to Florida State. Entering June though, they sat outside the top-25 of the team rankings.

Their luck really started to turn midway through the month, nabbing four-stars McHale Blade and Alister Vallejo on back-to-back days. The following week, the commitment spree was on. Five-star edge rusher Carter Meadows, four-star safety Andre Clarke, four-star wide receiver Travis Johnson and four-star pass-rusher Julian Walker all committed in the span of 10 days at the end of June and beginning of July. And that came right on the heels of snagging four-star defensive lineman Titan Davis and massive offensive tackle Malakai Lee, both of whom rank as top-150 prospects.

Four days after Johnson committed, they added another key piece by beating out Colorado for four-star cornerback Dorian Barney and then flipping four-star safety Jordan Deck away from Baylor on July 16.

The class has filled up quickly, with 12 commitments in the month of June alone and four more in July. And they’ve done all of that without landing a single player in their own state, instead taking some of the top prospects out of Washington D.C., California, Missouri, Hawaii, Montana, Illinois, Virginia and more.

Michigan Wolverines recruiting class by position

Quarterback
Four-star Brady Smigiel, No. 140 NATL. (No. 9 QB)

Running back
Three-star Jonathan Brown, No. 677 NATL. (No. 43 RB)

Wide receiver
Four-star Travis Johnson, No. 121 NATL. (No. 15 WR)
Four-star Zion Robinson, No. 181 NATL. (No. 27 WR)
Three-star Jaylen Pile, No. 1040 NATL. (No. 156 WR)

Tight end
Four-star Matt Ludwig, No. 159 NATL. (No. 9 TE)
Three-star Mason Bonner, No. 464 NATL. (No. 25 TE)

Offensive tackle
Four-star Malakai Lee, No. 152 NATL. (No. 11 OT)

Interior offensive lineman
Three-star Marky Walbridge, No. 473 NATL. (No. 44 IOL)
Three-star Bear McWhorter, No. 484 NATL. (No. 47 IOL)

Defensive lineman
Four-star Titan Davis, No. 102 NATL. (No. 01 DL)
Four-star Alister Vallejo, No. 227 NATL. (No. 25 DL)

EDGE
Five-star Carter Meadows, No. 30 NATL. (No. 5 EDGE)
Four-star Julian Walker, No. 153 NATL. (No. 21 EDGE)
Four-star McHale Blade, No. 209 NATL. (No. 26 EDGE)
Three-star Tariq Boney, No. 604 NATL. (No. 58 EDGE)

Linebacker
Three-star Markel Dabney, No. 664 NATL. (No. 51 LB)

Cornerback
Four-star Dorian Barney, No. 240 NATL. (No. 24 CB)

Safety
Four-star Andre Clarke, No. 149 NATL. (No. 14 S)
Four-star Jordan Deck, No. 346 NATL. (No. 29 S)

Specialists
LS Colton Dermer
K Micah Drescher