Class of 2021 recruiting roundups: Seth's May 2020 catchups at offense, defensive line, linebacker, defensive back. Oct 4, 2019. Sept. 20. Aug 6, June 21, June 14, June 7, Sept 1 (offense), Sept 2 (defense), Sept 10, Sept 23, Oct 9, Oct 16, Oct 23, Oct 30

NOTE: The needs have been updated after everyone got another year of eligibility.

The Guys:

Icon	Name	Meaning
	Sad Josh	The genre of player with unrequited interest in Michigan. Unlikely to receive offers; most will eventually fade off the list and go to Duke or Michigan State or something.
	Nefarious Eduardo	Player is a longshot. Either they've declared someone else a leader publicly or popular opinion holds that they're likely to go to another school.
	Data	Either no opinion or Michigan is one of a fairly even group of chasing schools. Players in this category maintain no leader or change their leader frequently. The default category for players that we don't know much about yet.
	Happy Teeth	Players who have Michigan in a small leading group or have Michigan as a tenuous favorite. Should be regarded as a good shot, not a slam dunk.
	Mr. Blue	Player is either a verbal or is expected to be one sooner or later. Players with this designation are 65%+ to be Michigan commits.

The order is my interpretation of how likely they are to commit and how many recruiting points are being expended. Prep school or IMG players are listed with their home states and then either the state their new school's in or "IMG".

A Note on "Stars": These are a general (not exact) average of a player's status among the recruiting services.

A Note on Premium Info: No illicit sharing of said material will appear on this site. Players are listed with interested schools in their profiles; this information is public. Commitments are by definition public. Any assertions as to schools in the mix, decision dates, or leaders I will back up with links to the source of the information.

Quarterback

Needs: 2. Michigan took just Cade McNamara and Dan Villari in the last two classes after longtime 2020 commit JD Johnson had to give up football for health reasons, and Dylan McCaffrey is transferring. Michigan may want to look at grad transfers this offseason to shore up depth.

Status: Five-star in, no other targets.

Signing Day Update: McCarthy is in. Michigan may still pursue a grad transfer to add depth since they lost McCaffrey this year.

Commit
Player	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Previously
JJ McCarthy	IL(IMG)	****.5	Michigan		Hello. To IMG!

Running Back / Fullback

Needs: 2. Haskins, Charbonnet, and Turner will remain sophomores in 2021, and Blake Corum will share eligibility with anyone from this class. Technically Chris Evans can come back but his plans are to move on, and they'll lose at least one of the above early to the NFL or transfer, so they'll be looking for one dynamic athlete to replace Evans, and a mooseback to pair with him. Fullback seems to be getting phased out of the offense, unless an LB is one.

Status: M will pursue Donovan Edwards to signing day and beyond. Tavierre Dunlap is the moose.

Signing Day Update: Michigan is expected to get Donovan Edwards today. Dunlap is expected to sign and enroll early.

Commit
Player	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Previously
Tavierre Dunlap	TX	****	Michigan		Top two. Now one, Coach quote. Hello.
Targets
Player	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Previously
Donovan Edwards	MI	****.5	Michigan, OK, UGA		Presumed leader. Went to SMSB to be with Jay. Would play early.
Amari Daniels	FL	***	TAMU, Miami, PSU		Offer? Coach forgot. M out.
Eric McDaniels	VA	***	WVU, BC, UNC, others
Al-Shadee Salaam	NJ	***	Rutgers commit

Wide Receiver

Needs: 2-4 outside. The 2017s are gone, Ronnie Bell is going to be in the NFL in 2022 if not 2021, and the only other outside type is Cornelius Johnson, though some of the many slots could play that too. Roman Wilson was the only outside recruit in 2020 so it's time to stock up. Slot is okay for now.

Status: Had four, then Allen pulled out. If they can pull in Styles they would take four. Getting 3/4 of their favorite targets in 2021 and a surfeit of 2022 options means they don't have to reach.

Signing Day Update: After some scares when it appeared Michigan's staff was falling apart, apparently Michigan is keeping its three-man haul. Worthy took a visit to Alabama and Andrel Anthony was momentarily a flip to MSU possibility, but it appears they've been reassured Gattis will be sticking around next year.

Commit
Player	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Previously
Xavier Worthy	CA	****	Michigan		Hello. Fam in Detroit.
Cristian Dixon	CA	****	Michigan		Hello. Catch radius.
Andrel Anthony	MI	***	Michigan		Hello.
Targets
Player	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Previously
Lorenzo Styles	OH	****	ND Commit		Trying to flip.
Markus Allen	OH	***.5	M decommit		Hello. Goodbye.
Jayden Thomas	GA	****	ND commit		Another big.
Makai Cope	CA	***	Stanford

Tight End

Needs: 2. Michigan (probably) loses Eubanks after this year and Erick All burned his redshirt. Luke Schoonmaker and 2020 recruit Matthew Hibner are the only other TEs on the roster.

Status: Hansen committed, top target Fidone fell to Nebraska, other options don't seem likely so they're onto 2022s.

Signing Day Update: Hansen is expected to sign.

Commit
Player	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Previously
Louis Hansen	MA	****	Michigan		Hello. Rivals scout. Rival scouts.
Targets
Player	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Previously
Michael Trigg	FL	****	USC commit		Many offers
Erin Outley	AR	***	Arkansas Commit		Ranking up.
Bryson Nesbit	SC	***	SC leads UNC		Grow-a-Kaiju

Offensive Line

Needs: 4. Building the good ol' rows of shark teeth takes a steady diet of top-notch OL you can pack away for awhile but with an extra year of eligibility granted to everyone on campus the need isn't as great for a big class.

Status: The in-state group this year (Dellinger/El-Hadi/Anderson/Spindler/Tiernan) would itself be an elite haul and Massachusetts has two elite guards (one at IMG) so this year was set up for Michigan to rake 'em in. RT/G Giovanni El-Hadi has been committed forever, is a Bredeson/Mayfield-level talent who could play T or G. 4* Cass Tech C/G Raheem Anderson always was going to be in the class, fellow C Greg Crippen was rated above Anderson.

Michigan struck out on a lot of elite bookends: Country Day's Caleb Tiernan (Northwestern), as well as other LT targets David Davidkov (Iowa), and Garrett Dellinger (LSU), and lost Spindler to ND. They moved on from Dellinger to one of their Frey types in Bounds and got a pledge. With Spindler choosing ND, and Kendall trending away, they might go for one more or stand pat.

Signing Day Update: Expected to sign just the four. Contact continued with Kendall but that seems to be a Stanford/BC battle. Strickland interest flickered out.

Commits
Player	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Previously
Giovanni El-Hadi	MI	****.5	Michigan		Hello. Big-time potential. Winter camp star.
Greg Crippen	MA(IMG)	****	Michigan		Hello.
Raheem Anderson	MI	****	Michigan		Hello. Smartest kid in the class.
Tristan Bounds	VA (CT)	***	Michigan		ND coming, Take for M, Hello.
Willie Allen	LA	GT	Michigan		Grad transfer.
Targets
Player	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Previously
OG Remington Strickland	TX	***	M likely leads Houston, SMU		Kick tires, M leads
OG Drew Kendall	MA	****	BC		Phinney's hello. COVID helps BC, souring
OT/OG Diego Pounds	NC	***	PSU commit		Field of 15, PSU soon
OG Rocco Spindler	MI	****.5	ND commit		Visit for Army. JJ wants to be friends. Interview w Marich. Dad played for JackH, ND chipping away, Fortnite->ND, M/ND, ND commit.
OT JC Latham	IMG (WI)	*****	Bama commit		M led once up on a time. McCarthy will work him.
OG Ross Maseuli	CA	***	open		Bama offer

Defensive Tackle

Needs: 2-3. Avoids "Dire" only because they got an elite guy and another guy close to it last year in Chris Hinton and Mazi Smith. They're also several years into their build-your-own DT program, and likely to start seeing the fruits of that labor by the time any 2021 commits step on campus.

Status: Offered many elites but pursuit hasn't borne fruit. In good shape to get NJ 4* George Rooks, who'll need to add some weight. Took a commitment from low-ceiling Dominick Giudice in the hopes he can grow into a Ryan Glasgow. Done everything right for local 6'5"/300 OL/DL Rayshaun Benny, who wants to play DL, who's deciding soon between the two schools in Michigan.

Signing Day Update: Benny committed to MSU after the loss, but appears to be coming back around. Won't sign in December. Rooks is very quiet but seems to be a PSU/BC/UM battle that BC was winning and PSU might pull out (he's visiting there Thursday).

Commits
Player	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Previously
Dominick Giudice	NJ	**	Michigan		Hello. Harbaugh bait.
Targets
Player	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Previously
Rayshaun Benny	MI	****	MSU commit		Moved up timeline, MSU talks NLI
George Rooks	NJ	****	PSU, BC, Michigan		Visited for PSU, PSU might lead
Jay Toia	CA	****	USC soft commit		Committed forever ago. Still in it?
Anthony Hundley	FL	***	LSU commit
Arden Walker	CO	***	Col, TX, UCLA		build-a-bear
Pius Odjugo	MI	**	CMU commit		not likely
Ryan Keeler	IL	***	RU commit		Best of Midwest star. Raves about UM. Iowa Visit.

Defensive End/Edge

Needs: 2-3, with emphasis on WDE/Edge types because they've taken so many Anchors recently. Not that Brown will resist taking all of them (see: the DT board).

Status: Set. Somerville is a Danna-like machine and backed by a pair of impact guys from the Northeast in Kwity Paye-like T.J. Guy and long-and-lean Uche type Kechaun Bennett. Will try to chase the SEC powers for Dallas Turner, who has two teammates committed to M, but it would take a big season to bring in the nation's #1 pure pass rusher.

Signing Day Update: Somerville suddenly turned into a flip to UCLA, likely a sign that Michigan won't keep Shaun Nua, who was the guy Somerville wanted to play for. Turner is sticking to Alabama.

Commits
Player	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Previously
Quintin Somerville	AZ	****	Michigan		Hello. Visited for The Game, Nua is the key, was #5 ovr
Kechaun Bennett	CT	****	Michigan		Hello. MnB Film.
T.J. Guy	MA	***	Michigan		Hello.
Targets
Player	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Previously
Dallas Turner	FL	****.5	Bama commit
James Wilborn Jr.	CT	***	BC, Michigan, ND

Inside Linebacker/SAM

Needs: 3-4. Michigan is rebuilding a position hit hard by attrition and graduation, and should start preparing for life after Cam McGrone and Josh Ross, especially with Charles Thomas, their only 2019 LB, transferring. This was well addressed in 2020 with a class featuring MLB/Viper Kalel Mullings, modern OLB/ILBs Osman Savage and Nikhai Hill-Green, and old fashioned thumper Cornell Wheeler. They still could use at least two; getting a real difference maker to serve as heir to McGrone would be ideal.

Status: All set. Colson is a difference-maker who could play viper or move inside and be a Lombardi candidate at MLB if he can learn to stack and shed like one. Jennings is a Victor Hobson who could play all four LB positions or grow into a WDE. Hood is a potential Devin Bush-like object, though other schools are still trying to recruit him. Tyler McLaurin is Branden Jennings Lite.

Signing Day Update: Jennings is set to flip to Maryland because of uncertainty in Michigan's staff. Hood isn't signing because he wants to visit first, but there are no other schools presently on or near Michigan's level.

Commits
Player	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Previously
Junior Colson	TN	****	Michigan		Hello. Coach quotes.
Branden Jennings	FL	****	Michigan		Hello.
Jaydon Hood	FL	***.5	Michigan		Hello. Miami trying to pry
Tyler McLaurin	IL	***.5	Michigan		Hello. Scrumtrulescent.
Targets
Player	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Previously
Damon Ollison	OH	***	Wis, MSU
Baron Hopson	GA	***	GT, Neb
Deshauwn Alleyne	FL	***	Kentucky, Auburn, PSU, Neb
Casey Phinney	MA	**	Flipped to BC		Hello. Rivals not impressed. WLB. Exit.

Viper

Needs: 1 at least who's perfect for the job, and then any LBs or safeties who fit. Took a lot last year.

Status: Colson counts but please look at Freeman?

Signing Day Update: Freeman signed with Indiana.

A Guy Seth Unilaterally Added to the Board
Player	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Previously
Maurice Freeman	VA	**.5	IU commit		Guy on 247 boards, Seth adds to board, Don't click here. M offered as a "general LB"

Safety

Needs: 2.5, meaning they'd like two guys for the safety depth chart and somebody with positional flexibility. Michigan got three good prospects last year when Chris Partridge was the safeties coach, and is in strong shape for the 2022 class, where Myles Rowser decommitted, but Michigan remains his leader, and having him at IMG ironically might be better than 40 minutes down the road at Belleville. However at least one of the 2020s is probably ticketed for viper, Hawkins is a senior, Dax Hill is a potential three-and-out, and modern football requires a lot of safety-like objects on the field at once. Don Brown used to KILL IT at finding outrageous athletes and turning them into UConn and BC draft picks, and was in early on a quite a few recent risers.

Status: Michigan got one of their top three underrated targets, but wanted three.

Signing Day Update: Rod Moore waffled but appears set to sign with Michigan.

Commits
Player	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Previously
Rod Moore	OH	***.5	Michigan		Hello.
Targets
Player	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Previously
Daymon David	MD	***	Oregon commit		Ducks suddenly. 4* soon?
Ryan Barnes	MD	***	ND commit
Titus Mokiao-Atimalala	HI	****	ND, ASU, Cal, UCLA, UMD
Kaleb Edwards	GA	****	GT commit
Jaden Slocum	GA	***	open
Justin Walters	IL	***	ND Commit		McLaurin hello.

Cornerback

Needs: 2.5 again, though it is my sad duty as a sports blogger of late Generation X to report that won't be enough because when it comes to cornerbacks no amount is. With Ambry Thomas entering his final year and Vincent Gray getting hype beyond his level of play thus far, the lack of blue chip corners is up there with DT among things the fans are concerned about. Michigan thinks DJ Turner (who lost last year to injury) will be very good, and 4* 2020 recruits Andre Seldon and Darion Green-Warren mean the position isn't in as dire straights as we professional cornerback worriers make it out to be.

Status: Cornerback recruiting is playing out a lot like the last couple of years, when Michigan whiffed on some elite targets early, held onto a commitment from a super-fast overlooked guy (this year it's Ja'Den McBurrows) who was on top of their board the whole way, and then finished strong with another guy at the top of their board. This is a perfect recipe to remain a top-ten passing defense every year while ensuring your middle-aged fans won't make it to their 50s with anything left of their molars. Here's what we're gnashing on now:

Signing Day Update: Michigan's terrible season ruined their pursuit of Cooper, who signed with FSU. Ja'Den McBurrows went into signing day 50-50 to flip to Miami (YTM). Ceyair Wright is leaning to USC and ND seems to be #2. People want Michigan to go back around to PSU commit Kalen King.

Commits
Player	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Previously
Ja'Den McBurrows	FL	***	Michigan		Hello.
Targets
Player	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Previously
Ceyair Wright	CA	****.5	USC, ND, M		Will visit? Visited.
Kalen King	MI	****	PSU commit		Cass Tech
Omarion Cooper	FL	****	FSU soft commit		Needs visit
Tyreek Chappell	PA	***	TAMU commit
Avante Dickerson	NE	****	Minnesota commit
Darian "Duce" Chestnut	NJ	***	Syracuse commit
Jaylan Harris	GA	**	Pitt, Vandy, BC

Specialists

Needs: 1.5. Jake Moody is a junior but Will Hart, Brad Robbins, and Quinn Nordin all graduate after this season so they'll have two scholarships opening up, with the opportunity to bank one if they find a punter who can also kick and kick off. Walk-ons George Caratan (P) and Karl Kerska (K/P) are the only guys on the roster with eligibility beyond 2021 right now.

Status: Tommy Doman is the nation's top combo K/P. What luck!

Signing Day Update: Domon is expected to sign.

Commit
Player	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Previously
Tommy Doman	MI	*****	Michigan		Hello.

Updates

12/16/2020: Added signing day updates. 

6/4/2020: Added the safeties, cornerbacks, and specialists. Upgraded RB Donovan Edwards to Mr. Blue, downgraded Prophet Brown to Nefarious Eduardo (Oklahoma leads). Moved OT Tristan Bounds to committed, downgraded Thomas Cole to Sad Josh (Bounds likely took his spot). Changed DT Ikenna Ugbaja to "CMU commit". Removed DE/Edge Darryl Peterson (committed to Wisconsin).

7/8/2020: Removed WR AJ Green (committed to Arkansas), moved WR Xavier Worthy to Mr. Blue, WR Cristian Dixon to committed, and Andrel Anthony to sad josh. Added WRs Bryce Stephens and Makai Cope. Removed OT Garrett Dellinger (committed to LSU), upgraded OG Rocco Spindler to Mr. Blue, removed OT Thomas Cole (UCLA), re-added OT JC Latham. Downgraded DT Jacob Schuster to Eduardo, upgraded Rayshaun Benny to Mr. Blue, removed Jay Toia (confirmed USC commit), Derek Wilkins (ended pursuit) and Tywone Malone (ended pursuit). Added LSU commit Anthony Hundley. Moved DE Quintin Somerville to committed. Removed DEs JT Tuimaloau, Patrick Hisatake, Tobechi Okoli because they're full. Removed S Donovan McMillon (dropped M, I sad), and Ryan Barnes (committed to ND). Added S Kaleb Edwards (GT commit, ND ended pursuit).

8/28/2020: Moved WR Andrel Anthony and WR Xavier Worthy to committed. Made Rocco Spindler red (committed to ND). Re-added CA DT Jay Toia. Removed Pharoah Brown. Kept S Maurice Freeman even though he committed to IU because it's IU.

9/10/2020: Moved Tavierre Dunlap to Mr. Blue, downgraded Jayden Hood to Happy Teeth, moved Markus Allen to Nefarious Eduardo (decommitted, dropped us), added some articles.

9/23/2020: Moved Tavierre Dunlap to committed, added Remington Strickland, moved Casey Phinney to Eduardo (decommitted, dropped us), changed Ceyair Wright to the green head because it's less depressing and it could happen man, just let me have this. Dropped WR Bryce Stephens (committed to Arkansas), S Daymon David (committed to Oregon), CB Ishmael Ibraheem (committed to Texas), CB Jaylin Smith (committed to USC), CB Jamier Johnson (committed to Texas), DT Jacob Schuster (dropped M), ATH Malik Nabers (committed to MissSt), S JD Coffey (committed to Texas), Viper Will Latu (committed to Washington)

10/8/2020: Moved CB Ceyair Wright to Eduardo, moved up CB Omarion Cooper to happy teeth. Added LB Branden Jennings.

10/21/2020: Removed DE Josaiah Stewart (committed to Coastal Carolina, no interest). Moved DT George Rooks down to happy teeth. Moved LB Branden Jennings to committed.