2024 recruiting

It's not a dramatic one, we hope, but welcome to Early Signing Day for the 2024 class. Our recruiting board lives here. Our Signing Day Livepod with Steve Lorenz of 247 will be at noon. Tune in on Youtube or catch the podcast version afterwards. We'll have this page stickied most of the day so scroll down for news that posts.

OTHER THINGS POSTED TODAY THAT GOT BUMPED:

• MGoRadio 9:13: Signing Day Espectaculo. With Steve Lorenz of 247. Podcast runs through the entire class, including those we forgot.
• Hello: Lugard Edokpayi. Picked up a freaky high ceiling at edge at the buzzer.
• Maryland LB Jaishawn Barham committed. Yoinked a highly productive LB from a conference rival.

THE CLASS AS IT STANDS

This section will be updated as the faxes come in. Last update: 3:13 PM.

WHAT WE'RE WAITING ON

Edge prospect Lugard Edokpayi is choosing between Michigan and closer-to-home Maryland today. Announcement is at noon. The crystal balls point to Michigan after Edokpayi canceled an FSU trip to extend his Ann Arbor visit.

PROBABLY NOT SIGNING TODAY

Idaho WR Gatlin Bair is also still on the table, but is reportedly waiting until February. Michigan has led at several points to either side of his commitment and decommitment from Boise State, but Oregon has made up ground. He's also taking a Mormon mission for two years after he graduates so that's more of a 2026 class thing.

Michigan was still trying to pluck a receiver but IN 5* Nitro Tuggle signed with Georgia this morning, and Virginian 3-stars Mekhai White and Chanz Wiggins are expected to stick [update: stuck] with Maryland and Virginia Tech, respectively.

That's it. Sit back and watch Ohio State's class try to stay together, and we'll see you at noon.

wsg Steve Lorenz.

The Sponsors

We want to thank Underground Printing for starting this and making it possible—stop by and pick up some gear, check them out at ugpmichiganapparel.com, or check out our selection of shirts on the MGoBlogStore.com. And let’s not forget our associate sponsors: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Human Element, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, The Phil Klein Insurance Group, Venue by 4M, Winewood Organics, Sharon's Heating & Air Conditioning, SignalWire where we recorded this, and introducing to the podcast, Autograph: Fandom Rewarded, who just launched an app where you earn rewards for things like reading MGoBlog and listening to our podcast.

Featured Musicians: Champagne Saints

The Video:

[After THE JUMP: The things said.]

Michigan's one biggest unfilled need in the 2024 class was a pass-rushing edge. They had one of their favorite ceilings in Elias Rudolph out of Cincinnati, but That Miami yanked him out in mid-August. They had a high floor too in Jacob Smith, but both he and his heavier twin Jerod decommitted for Kentucky. Jerod was no big loss given Michigan had a high ceiling and floor committed for the Heavy position in Devon Baxter and Dominic Nichols, respectively. But Michigan has been wanting a freaky edge-bender since Ojabo left early, and suddenly found themselves back in the mixer for the senior risers, basketball switchers, late growth spurts, and scouting finds.

Fast forward to signing day and say hello to Lugard "Lu" Edokpayi, a late-growth spurt, senior-rising, basketball-convert scouting find who's been shooting up the rankings. Michigan jumped into the mix in November and quickly shooed off the various Minnesotas and Virginias that had been buzzing around him since the first two weeks of his senior film hit the circuit. It came down to Wolverines and Terps after a Texas A&M trip ended up getting canceled for hometown Maryland, and his Ann Arbor visit was extended over the day he was planning on being in Tallahassee, which is usually a good sign where the wind's blowing.

And oh what storm. The scouts agree: this guy has the balance to ride on the winds, legs to run to the sounds of thunder, feet to dance among lightning bolts, and arms to tear the world asunder. All that's left is to teach him to play the game of football.

GURU RATINGS

These changed in just the last few days; Edokpayi was an 88 and in the 560s to 247 as of last Friday and unranked before mid-September. And now:

Note that Rivals hasn't ranked him yet, so his position and state rankings are one spot behind the last ranked four-star.

[AFTER THE JUMP: Taco watch: We have the ingredients to make tacos.]