Observations on Michigan Football Recruiting 2021 (February 5, 2022 Update)

The Big Ten Championship season really had a positive affect on the end of another see-saw recruiting season. Michigan had a record 10 decommitments, but signed a solid class of 22 on December 15 after offering at least 360 prospects plus at least 22 walk-on candidates. Unfortunately, Coach Harbaugh has spend the last month following the Orange Bowl contenmplating his future as the Wolverine's Head Coach, and has refused to sign a new offer from Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel; he interviewed with the Minnesota Vikings on Signing Day.

On Offense, Harbaugh offered at least 21 quarterbacks; Harbaugh and his Quarterbacks coach, Matt Weiss, signed Jason Denegal who was previously committed to California, and Alex Orji who was a former Virginia Tech pledge. They were quite hot on Maalik Murphy (Texas), Conner Harrell (North Carolina), Nicco Marchiol (Arizona State, then West Virginia), Nate Johnson (Utah), and Drew Allar (Penn State). Harbaugh wanted to get two scholarship quarterbacks, and so Weiss came after Justyn Martin (UCLA) and Bryan Archie (Coastal Carolina). They also landed walk-ons, Brandon Mann who was previously committed to Kent State, and Declan Byle so they'll have at least 4 new quarterbacks in their stable. Michigan Quarterbacks

At Running Back, Mike Hart offered at least 30+ prospects; he signed C.J. Stokes from South Carolina. Hart pursued Gavin Sawchuk (Oklahoma), Nick Singleton (Penn State), George Pettway (North Carolina), and others early. In an effort to gain a second running back in this class, Hart tried to get several others including Justin Williams (Tennessee), Damari Alston (Auburn), Demond Claiborne (Wake Forest), and Quinshon Judkins (Mississippi); however, he couldn't get them to visit so he offered DeaMonte Trayanum (Arizona State) from the transfer portal, but he accepted an offer from Ohio State to play linebacker after the UofM Admissions wouldn't accept his transfer credits. Andrew Paul was then offered, and visited in January; however, he was offered late by both Clemson and Georgia, and signed with Georgia. Michigan will probably look to add a running back from the transfer portal from April to June if possible. Michigan's Greatest Running Backs

At Wide Receiver and Tight End, Michigan offered at least 70 prospects from Josh Gattis and Jay Harbaugh, and gained signees, Tyler Morris, Amorion Walker, and Darrius Clemons at Wide Receiver plus Colston Loveland and Marlin Klein at Tight End. There was speculation that Gattis wasn't recruiting wideouts early in the season; however, Michigan closed with an excellent overall class. Michigan put their efforts on Dillon Bell (Georgia), Kaleb Brown (Ohio State), Ja'Kobi Albert (Auburn, then Kentucky), Tobias Merriweather (Notre Dame), Dane Key (Kentucky), Kaleb Webb, Marquarius White and Chas Nimrod (Tennessee), Cody Hagen (BYU), and others without success. At Tight End, the first priorities went towards Oscar Delp (Georgia), Josh Kattus (Kentucky), Jake Johnson (LSU, then Texas A&M), etc. Michigan State beat out Michigan for three in-state prospects, Dillon Tatum, Jaden Mangham, and Antonio Gates; Jeremiah Caldwell (Louisville), Tay'Shawn Trent (Youngstown State), Tommy McIntosh (Wisconsin), and Christion Stokes (West Virginia) were other in-state wideouts who signed elsewhere. Michigan Ends (Wide Receivers, Tight Ends and Wingbacks (Slots)

On the Offensive Line, Sherrone Moore offered over 50 prospects, and signed Connor Jones, Alessandro Lorenzetti, and Andrew Gentry; there is still hope that they'll also sign Josh Conerly although Oklahoma, USC, Miami-FL, and Washington are other contenders. Moore coveted several other top linemen including Zach Rice (North Carolina), George Fitzpatrick (Ohio State), Kiyaunta Goodwin (Kentucky), Joe Brunner (Wisconsin), Aamil Wagner, Billy Schrauth, and Ty Chan (Notre Dame), Lucas Heyer and Fisher Anderson (Stanford), Falentha Carswell (Miami-FL, then Mississippi), Mark Nabou (Texas A&M), etc. Moore passed on a some in-state prospects that are Division I prospects: Jackson Pruitt (Temple), Ka'marii Landers (Akron), Masai Reddick (Tennessee), Cross Watson (Purdue), Ashton Lepo (Michigan State), and James Livingston (Kansas). Michigan also landed walk-on prospects, James Kavouklus and Daniel Taraboi, for 2022. Moore may try to add a propect from the transfer portal, April-June, if Conerly doesn't sign. Michigan Offensive Line

On Defense, Mike MacDonald has completely revamped and reenergized the group in one season, and has added significant talent for depth for the upcoming seasons to come. Unfortunatley, his services were only rented from Baltimore Ravens Head Coach, John Harbaugh; he elevated MacDonald to be his Defensive Coordinator for 2022. Michigan is now searching to replace him.

On the Defensive Line, Shaun Nua offered at least 50 prospects, and signed Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, and Derrick Moore; Joey Klunder was added as a preferred walk-on. Nua has moved on to USC, and Michigan hired Mike Elston to replace him; Elston is a significantly better recruiter than Nua. Michigan also spent significant time trying to lassoe: Walter Nolen (Texas A&M), Justice Finkley (Texas), Khurtiss Perry and Isaiah Hastings (Alabama), Beau Atkinson (North Carolina), Jordan Phillips and Joshua Josephs (Tennessee), Hayden Schwartz (Nebraska, then Minnesota), Lemar Law (Virginia Tech), Robbie Harrison (Arizona State), Derek Shepard (Cincinnati), Tawfiq Thomas (Louisville), Joseph Adedire (TCU, then Texas Tech), etc. Defensive Line decommitments included: Mario Eugenio (Cincinnati), Alex Vansumeren (Michigan State), Ethan Burke (Texas), and Davonte Miles (Bowling Green). Michigan Defensive Linemen.

At Linebacker, George Helow landed Jimmy Rolder, Deuce Spurlock, Micah Pollard, and Aaron Alexander. Some of the others he went after among the 45+ offers included: Jaylen Sneed, Nolan Ziegler, and Josh Burnham (Notre Dame), Lander Barton (Utah), C.J. Hicks and Gabe Powers (Ohio State), Sebastian Cheeks (North Carolina), Jeremy Patton (Baylor), Mani Powell (Arkansas), Jaran Kanak (Clemson, then Oklahoma), etc. Michigan passed on some highly rated in-state prospects including: Aaron Alexander (Massachusetts), Michael Williams (South Florida), Aidan Vaughn (Wisconsin), Jordan Cannon (?), Tag Bonnema (Western Michigan), Jordan Kwiatkowski (Central Michigan), and Tyler Stolsky (Minnesota). Michigan Linebackers 

In the Defensive Backfield, Steve Clinkscale and Ron Bellamy offered over 60 prospects; they signed Will Johnson, Kody Jones, Myles Pollard, Damani Dent, Zeke Berry and Keon Sabb. Michigan pursued many others, but none more than Domani Johnson (USC); Marquis Groves-Killebrew (Georgia, then Texas A&M), Jaheim Singletary (Georgia), Jaeden Gould (USC, then Nebraska), Austin Ausberry (Auburn), Austin Brown (Wisconsin), Jalil Tucker (Oregon), Jahil Florence (Oregon), Jacoby Matthews (LSU, then Texas A&M), etc. Taylor Groves (Mississippi) and Myles Rowser (Campbell) were two decommitments. Michigan passed on several in-state prospects including Deshaun Lee (Pittsburgh), Cincear Lewis (Cincinnati), and Olando Trader (Iowa). Michigan Defensive Backs

December 15, 2021 Signees

Michigan has a record 13 January, 2022 Enrollees: Darrius Clemons, Jayden Denegal, Mason Graham, Will Johnson, Connor Jones, Kody Jones, Colston Loveland, Derrick Moore, Tyler Morris, Alex Orji, Myles Pollard, Keon Sabb, and Amorion Walker

On Special Teams, Michigan gained the pledge for Snapper, Evan Boutorwick. Michigan Placekickers/Punters/Specialists

Preferred Walk-On Offers (22+ offers-13+ commitments)

All NCAA Division I Football squads have 85 scholarships and 35 walk-ons for a roster of 120 players; there are continual offers for potential walk-on players.

In all, Harbaugh offered approximately 360+ scholarships in 39 states; he offered 330+ prospects in 2016, 250+ in 2017, and 310+ in 2018, and 340+ in 2019. 53 in Florida, 39 in Texas, 32 in California and Georgia, 17 in Michigan, 14 in Tennessee, 13 in Maryland and Alabama, 12 in Ohio, 11 in Virginia, 10 in Missouri, 9 in New Jersey, Indiana, and Pennsylvania, 8 in South Carolina, 7 in Nevada and Illinois, 6 in Washington, Louisiana, and Arizona, 5 in Colorado, Massachusetts, and Oklahoma, 4 in North Carolina, Nebraska, Kentucky, and Wisconsin, 3 in Utah and Arkansas, 2 in the District of Columbia, Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, Connecticut, and Hawaii, plus 1 each in Kansas, Delaware, Idaho, and OregonNearly 49% of the prospects we are now offering are in the South!

Michigan had 22 Signees as of December 15; our top rated prospect in the class is William Johnson. All teams have until April 30 to sign recruits for the 2022 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.

Losing Recruiting Battles in the State of Michigan

Michigan continues to lose battles within its own state as other schools have dominated recruiting; the Wolverines were only able to sign one of the state's top 15 prospects according to ESPN ratings. Michigan State signed 4, Notre Dame plucked 2, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia signed one each. Other out of state schools are actively involved in the state with its best prospects including Indiana, Purdue, Iowa, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Iowa State, Kansas, Vanderbilt, BYU, and all the MAC schools which leaves Michigan with less preferred walk-on prospects.

Losing Recruiting Battles in the Midwest and Other Big Ten States

In the Midwest and Big Ten states, Michigan also gained zero recruits this season in Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Pennsylvania, but did gain Tyler Morris and Jimmy Rolder from Illinois plus Kenneth Grant from Indiana, and Derrick Moore from Maryland. Notre Dame offered Wolverine signees, Tyler Morris, Kody Jones, Will Johnson, and Derrick Moore.

When Jim Tressel took over at Ohio State in 2001; he instituted a "policy" that encouraged Ohio Football Recruits to sign with the Buckeyes or go elsewhere other than Michigan, and this policy has had a real negative effect on Michigan's ability to sign recruits in the State of Ohio. This "Tressel Effect" continues to hurt Michigan in 2021; the Wolverines were not able to gain one commitment from talent-rich Ohio. The recruits that Michigan signed this season with Ohio State offers include: Will Johnson, Jimmy Rolder, and Kenneth Grant.

Michigan has chosen to emphasize recruiting in the last decade in the Deep South which a dramatic shift from 30-40 years ago when it was the Midwest; they offered at least 85 prospects in Florida and Georgia. The competition for those highly skilled prospects is intense; this season, Michigan only managed to gain three commitments of the 85 offered: Marlin Klein, Keon Sabb, and Damani Dent. Michigan signed Colston Loveland, Myles Pollard, and Will Johnson; they were offered by Alabama. Georgia also offered Marlin Klein, Jayden Denegal, Derrick Moore, and Alessandro Lorenzetti; this shows a definite upgrade in our talent base. The hiring of Steve Clinkscale, Mike MacDonald, Ron Bellamy, and George Helow have helped recruiting in Florida, Georgia and the rest of the South. Here is a list of the tough competition in this recruiting region, and how they fared:

The Big Ten has transcended into a much more competitive recruiting conference; in addition to Ohio State and Penn State, the Wolverines are getting a lot more competition from Wisconsin, Iowa, Maryland, Purdue, Minnesota, Michigan State, and Indiana.

Offers by Team 2021

There has to be something said about "economy of effort" in the recruiting process. Some teams make significantly fewer offers due to regional as well as academic differences as they pursue football prospects. Michigan no longer recruits its owns state as hard as it recruits other states particularly in the South; other schools have a bevy of talent nearby, and don't have to utilize long distance national recruiting particularly the Florida, Texas and California schools who comprise 27 of the 130 (nearly 21%) NCAA Division I Football competitors.

Obviously, Stanford, Clemson, and North Carolina are the leaders nationally in economy of effort. In the Big Ten, Rutgers, Iowa, Northwestern and Wisconsin are the leaders along with Ohio State; in my opinion, Michigan should be putting more effort into this "economy of effort" strategy. In the West, few of the PAC-12 Schools need to offer athletes outside their region due to the talent-rich California are so Washington, California, USC, and other teams don't need to offer as many athletes. In Texas and the Midlands, the same is true with many of the Texas schools as there are so many athletes in Texas to offer so Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas Tech and others utilize "economy of effort" effectively, and many of these schools also capitalize on Community College transfers as well. In Florida, the host schools, Florida, Florida State, and Miami-Florida have a great advantage, but many schools including Michigan put forth a great effort to influence these athletes to go elsewhere.

National and Major Conference Football Recruiting Leaders for 2021