Observations on Michigan Football Recruiting 2018 (Updated May 25, 2019)

Michigan rebounded from a mediocre recruiting year in 2017 with an outstanding signing class for 2018; it gives the Wolverines faithful more hope that the Championship drought will end. The Wolverines appear to have finally turned the corner in the recruiting wars as they landed the top class in the Big Ten for 2019 with 26 prospects; their class was ranked as high as 8th by ESPN and 247Sports, and as low as 9th nationally by Rivals.

Michigan's title drought is now the longest in Wolverine history, and Harbaugh's first four seasons haven't changed the dilemma although we are closer to the top than before he arrived. As a Michigan football fan, I've experienced two of these droughts. The Big Ten competition continues in its intensity, and the path to the top continues to be a great challenge in a 14 team conference. Our non-conference schedule is also rugged with Notre Dame back on schedule plus future tilts with Washington in 2020 and 2021 plus UCLA in 2022 and 2023 with Texas and Oklahoma in home and home events, 2024-2027. In 2019, Michigan plays Middle Tennessee, Army, and Notre Dame; in 2020, they add Ball State and Arkansas State, and they still have work to do on adding opponents for 2021-2027.

This class has 8 January enrollees: Erick All, Zach Charbonnet, Cade McNamara, Gabe Newburg, David Ojabo, Jalen Perry, Mike Sainristil, and Mazi Smith

On Offense, Harbaugh offered at least 10 quarterbacks; this position must be one of the first filled to lead any class, and he passed on Sam Johnson of Walled Lake who signed with Boston College. Michigan signed Cade McNamara after he decommitted from UCLA and Notre Dame; he will enroll in January, and compete for playing time in 2019. McNamara was ranked 6th in the Elite 11; he was ranked as the top quarterback that Alabama pursued. Another top in-state prospect, Dwan Mathis, initially pledged to Michigan State, and flipped to Ohio State; the Buckeyes landed Georgia transfer Justin Fields which sent Tate Martell to Miami-FL. The quarterback position is in great hands with Shea Patterson returning; Redshirt Joe Milton and last year's backups Dylan McCaffrey. Brandon Peters will tranfer. Harbaugh also added walk-ons Andy Maddox, Ren Hefley, Mathew Harrison, Matt Bills, and Tommy Friberg; he offered at least 7 walk-on candidates. One of the big announcements just recently occurred on February 5 as Ben McDaniels will replace Pep Hamilton as Quarterbacks Coach; Josh Gattis was announced as the new Offensive Coordinator on January 10. The most important recruiting dynamic in the Gattis hire includes a new emphasis on recruiting both pocket passers, and dual-threat quarterbacks who can run.  Michigan Quarterbacks

At Running Back, the Wolverines got one of the country's best in Zach Charbonnet; he will also enroll in January, and compete for the starting position during spring practice. Runnings backs coach, Jay Harbaugh, offered over 20 players, and also had the pledge of Eric Gray who later committed to Tennessee; he also offered Noah Cain (Penn State), John Emery (LSU), Jerrion Ealy (Clemson), etc. We also gained the commitment of Giles Jackson, an all-purpose back who will play Slot Wide Receiver, a position of great need for the Wolverines in 2019. Mike Sainristil was very impressive as a wide receiver, and is athletic enough to play Slot. Other APB's offered included Wandale Robinson (Nebraska), Kyren Williams (Notre Dame), etc. The addition of walk-ons Jordan Castleberry, Leon Franklin, and Abraham Jafaar was "icing on the cake" for this position group; however, Michigan lacked gaining another Fullback recruit. Harbaugh and Gattis are frantically trying to recruit a Grad Transfer for 2019 with the recent loss of Chris Evans due to academic ineligibility. Michigan's Greatest Running Backs

At Wide Receiver, Michigan held on to finish with 3 solid receivers even after losing Jim McElwain to Central Michigan. Cornelius Johnson, George Johnson, and Quintel Kent. We gained what we needed with size, speed, quickness and versatility. We offered over 40 prospects, some of the other top recruits we coveted included: George Pickens (Georgia), Kyle Ford (USC), Frank Ladson (Clemson), John Metchie (Alabama), Marcus Washington (Texas), John Dunmore (Penn State), Jaylen Ellis (Baylor), etc. The Wolverines already have a solid wideout rotation with Nico Collins, Tarik Black, and Donovan Peoples-Jones plus backups Ronnie Bell, Oliver Martin, and Jacob McMurry. Giles Jackson, George Johnson, and Mike Sainristil will vastly improve the Slot Receiver position. At Tight End, Michigan offered nearly 20 prospects; Sherrone Moore was please with the addition of Erick All, and he enroll in January, and was very impressive in the Spring. Some of the other major offered prospects were: Hudson Henry (Arkansas), Keon Zipperer (Florida), Austin Stogner (Oklahoma), Ryland Goede (Georgia), Luke Deal (Auburn), etc. The coaches have commitments from Jack Billo and Will Sessa with several walk-on offers extended: Clayton Burton, Tre Davis, Ryan Nolan, Cody Tierney, etc.; however, only Nolan pledged. Michigan Ends (Wide Receivers, Tight Ends and Wingbacks (Slots)

On the Offensive Line, Harbaugh really improved the team with the hire of Ed Warriner; he has really improved this unit, and has also done a remarkable job in recruiting as he gained the commitments of six new offensive lineman after redshirting two freshman this past season with Jalen Mayfield and Ryan Hayes. Trevor Keegan, Trente Jones, Jack Stewart, Nolan Rumler, Zach Carpenter, and Karsen Barnhart will bolster an offensive line that needs to replace one starter at Right Tackle. Blake Fisher, Mica Gelb, Mahdi Hamide, and Hunter McDaniel have pledged as preferred walk-ons for 2019. Some of the other Offensive Linemen that Michigan coveted included in-state giants, Logan Brown (Wisconsin) and Devontae Dobbs (Michigan State), William Harrod (Florida), Xavier Truss (Georgia), Branson Bragg (Stanford), Bryce Benhart (Nebraska), etc. Michigan Offensive Line

On Defense, Don Brown has got to be happy with the 12 prospects that were added! Obviously, the best news was the addition of a Five-Star Safety, Daxton Hill, who should possess the skills to help the defensive backfield immediately, and limit big plays on the Wolverine defense. Also, it is expected that Chris Hinton will earn immediate playing time on the defensive line.

On the Defensive Line, new DL Coach Shaun Nua hired on January 16 expects Kwity Paye, Carlo Kemp, Michael Dwumfour and Aidan Hutchinson to anchor the 2019 line with Redshirts Taylor Upshaw and Julius Welschof ready to earn playing time along with Juniors Donovan Jeter and Philip Paea; however, Chris Hinton, David Ojabo, Gabe Newburg, Mazi Smith, and Mike Morris could also earn playing time rather than redshirt. Brown also added Grad Transfer, Mike Dana, as well. In all, the Wolverines offered over 55 defensive lineman; some others that were offered include: Zach Harrison (Ohio State), George Karlaftis (Purdue), Adisa Isaac (Penn State), etc. Michigan Defensive Linemen.

At Linebacker,  two solid athletes were added with Charles Thomas and Anthony Solomon; he offered at least 25 others including Kalen Deloach (Florida State), Aeneas DiCosmo (Stanford), Brandon Smith (Penn State), Lance Dixon (Penn State), Tommy Eichenberg (Ohio State), etc. It is expected that Josh Ross, Devin Gil and Khaleke Hudson will lead the Wolverine linebacking corps in 2019 with Redshirts Cam McGrone and Junior Jordan Anthony gaining extensive action. Josh Uche may move to Defensive End with Hudson playing both SAM and Viper as needed. H-Backs Ben Mason and Ben Vansumeren could also see action both ways. Brown hired Anthony Camponile to coach the Linebacking Corps on January 11th.

In the Defensive Backfield, Chris Partridge and Chris Zordich should both be delighted with their upgrade in overall talent with Daxton Hill, Jalen Perry, D.J. Turner, Quentin Johnson, and Joey Velazquez joining Redshirts Vincent Gray, Gemon and German Green, and Sammy Faustin in the competition for playing time. Myles Sims transferred to Georgia Tech. It is expected that four of the five positions will have returning starters back with Josh Metellus and Lavert Hill as well as backups Brad Hawkins, J'Marick Woods, Jordan Glasgow, Hunter Reynolds, and Jaylen Kelly-Powell. The coaches have also offered several great walk-on prospects including legacy pledge, Caden Kolesar and Braedon Junker. Our coaches offered at least 65 prospects, and some other notable offers included: Akeem Dent (Florida State), Julian Barnett (Michigan State), Lewis Cine (Georgia), Te'Cory Couch (Miami-FL), etc. The competition for playing time in the Spring and Summer should be very, very intense; hopefully, it will contribute to improving our secondary play in 2019.

December 19, 2018 Signees

On Special Teams, Michigan gained two local placekickers with James Turner of Saline and Karl Kerska of Dexter. They have offered several prospects, and lost out on Ryan Sanborn (Stanford) and Nick Barr-Mira (UCLA). Both Will Hart and Justin Moody return. In terms of kick returners, Michigan really improved themselves with Giles Jackson, George Johnson, Quintel Kent, and Mike Sainristil to go with Redshirt Michael Barnett. Donovan Peoples-Jones, Ronnie Bell, and Ambry Thomas return along with leading tackler Jake McCurry; Jordan Glasgow could also return for a 5th year. Some of the new recruits could also help as "gunners" on the punt return team. They also gained the pledge of Snapper William Wagner, and Duquesne Grad Transfer Trey Harper.

In all, Harbaugh offered approximately 310+ scholarships in 34 states including at least 65+ preferred walk-on offers; he offered 330+ prospects in 2016, and 250+ in 2017. We offered the most prospects from Florida (42+), Georgia (41+), Texas (29+), California (24+), Ohio (20+), Michigan (18+), Alabama (10+), Louisiana/North Carolina (9+), Missouri/New Jersey/Virginia (8+), Maryland (7+), Connecticut (6+), Illinois/Mississippi (5+), Indiana/Kansas/Kentucky/Oklahoma/Tennessee/Pennsylvania (4+), etc. Over 50% of the prospects we are now offering are in the South! On the positive side, we did gain six of our recruits from Ohio, the most in many years from a state that consistently has well over 100 players enroll at a Division I football program. We have 26 Signees; our top prospects in the class are Daxton Hill, Chris Hinton, Zach Charbonnet, Mazi Smith, and Nolan Rumler. All teams have until April 30 to sign recruits for the 2019 season, and grad transfers can be accepted anytime through Summer until the Fall semester begins. There are nearly 1.1 million high school football players each season in American, but only 6.7% have a shot at playing college football with only 2.6% having a shot at Division I; each ranking service has approximately 5,000 prospects in their database with ratings from one to five stars. Recruiting talent in any endeavor is a matter of perception and hope; the hard work, competition, and improvement is unmeasurable so time will tell over the next 3-5 years as how these young men will develop under the tutelage of Harbaugh's staff.

Offers by Team 2019

Our new recruiting coordinator, Matt Dudek, How to win at Recruiting Although we are considered by Forbes Magazine as the #5 team in America for "Brand" or value at $94 million, our recruiting effort didn't even land the Wolverines in the Top 20 nationally.

National and Major Conference Football Recruiting Leaders for 2019