This feels especially dumb now that literally having a guy signed and on campus isn’t enough to stop him from getting recruited anymore, but hey, here’s the defensive half of recruiting update. Recruiting board is here, or find it under ‘Useful Stuff’.

Offense is here, including a list of visits. Some quick updates on that: the June 18-20 visit weekend is being dubbed “Victors Weekend” and the BBQ is that one week in July when recruiting briefly reopens (thanks reader).

Welcome Home Courtney Morgan

Years ago I was at the Bentley Library texting late-’90s photos I was finding to late-’90s players, and at that moment some recruit Hoke was after chose UCLA. I asked Cato June what’s up with losing guys to frikkin Jim *L* Mora and, Cato was like “You know who’s out there: Courtney Morgan!” So last week when I heard from someone that Mississippi State was going to hire Morgan I said “Man, we should get him.”

This totally means you have me to thank (you really do not) for Harbaugh bringing home a beloved Lloyd-era lineman who’s been killing it (and sometimes us) on the West Coast, to modernize Michigan’s recruiting efforts. Sitting recruiting director Matt Dudek, was welcome to stay but understandably wasn’t thrilled that Michigan had hired a high-profile alum to share his job, and gracefully resigned to take the opening under Mike Leach in Starkville.

For what it’s worth I was told “That wasn’t it” when I suggested the timing of this shakeup coincided with losing Xavier Worthy, that this was just a case of jumping on a true blue hot commodity who was in the process of moving up. Dudek critics have always been way off base—the I still don’t think I’m going out on a limb in believing Worthy’s botched enrollment played a role in making Dudek expendable.

Anyway: great move. Everyone from his former teammates to the OL coach of Pittsburgh Steelers have been handing out unsolicited praise about Courtney Morgan, and his track record at UCLA, Fresno State and San Jose State speaks for itself. Sam noted on their podcast (38:00) that Morgan adds a guy with Ohio ties (his parents are from there), which was previously a blind spot for this staff, and Lorenz added that Courtney has experience in marketing for when NIL comes into play. Like Hart and Bellamy, and very much unlike Dudek, this is the kind of program hire that should survive a rough season if Harbaugh doesn’t, which means the recruiting class could too.

Defensive Tackle

Quick summary: Need bodies. They have have a 3*, plus a good shot at Cass Tech’s next big guy, and the kind of Alabama 4-star Michigan can get. Very much in it for a #1 overall elite but you know how those go down.

The latest: All hands are on deck in the recruitment of elite TN 5* Walter Nolen, who will be visiting during the big June weekend. Via Sam Webb, the Allied forces include lead recruiter Ron Bellamy and position coach Shaun Nua, the parents of CB commit Kody Jones, 5-star commit Will Johnson, and Mom’s entire extended family($):

“Man, my wife's uncles and cousins... we went out to her grandmother's house and they came in with their Michigan paraphernalia on,” Mr. Nolen recalled laughingly. “They were like, 'cuz... nephew... you gotta go to Michigan!'”

“She's got an aunt that's in Phoenix and they were FaceTiming. She was like, 'nephew, you gotta to Michigan.' They were cracking jokes and one her uncles said, ‘tell her Ohio State is one of the (schools) on the list and watch what she says.’ She pitched a fit! Man, it was hilarious. (Laughter)”

Of course camp friend Kody Jones is in Nolen’s ear all the time.($, info in title)

EJ Holland used the bulk of his Into the Blue (free) column this week to address Michigan’s pitch after Nolen came up for an unofficial visit:

Michigan always preaches family to recruits. Nolen will get a better feel for the staff's genuine approach to this on his official visit, but I know Michigan is virtually moving the needle in this area. Nolen's grandparents live in Detroit, so he would have family close by if he were to pick Michigan. The Wolverines also offered Nolen's younger sibling, which meant a lot to the family. And I'm told his parents and other relatives that made the trip really loved their time at Michigan and around Ann Arbor. Continuing to pitch family will be key in this recruitment.

Holland thinks OSU and Alabama are the other teams ahead, while Wiltfong includes Florida, Nolen’s dad lists Michigan, OSU, and Georgia as his most likely visits to MLive’s Ryan Zuke, and OSU writer Bill Kurelic would take the field over OSU($). Mom says “academics, academic support, good strong academic support and a coach that’s going to challenge him,” are what she’s looking for. 24/7’s staff has analyzed the attack plan($) and agrees the Nolen Alliance presents a real danger. SEC writers warn not to overestimate our chances.

[After the JUMP: Michigan leads for some guys but shhhhhhh]

That Into the Blue update on Rivals also includes bits on Michigan’s top target for the off-tackle position(s), AL 4* Justice Finkley, who seems to have the profile of the kind of guy Michigan can pull out of the South. Finkley is also the type of kid whose teacher mom wells up when you put the boy in operating scrubs:

...this one made me tear up. God said, “Write the vision and make it plain.” Goals: Professional athlete. Neurosurgeon. #boffum *he’s operating on a football it’s the details for me @UMichFootball thanks for the graphic pic.twitter.com/aQKrkutKof

— Dr. April Finkley (@aprilPINKie) April 3, 2021

I can add that such moms will be disappointed, but still love you just as much, if you become a football blogger. Finkley’s made it sound to Sam Webb that she’s in Michigan’s camp($), and EJ Holland said Finkley is likely headed to Michigan unless Bama pushes, with Texas and Colorado trailing. Remember, this is the guy who contacted Brice Marich to come see him last year.

The other guy climbing up Michigan’s board is Cass Tech 3* Deone Walker, whose “offseason progression is pushing him into 'important target' category” said Lorenz. Rivals agrees that Walker has improved dramatically; Clayton Safie saw Walker at the Under Armour Camp in Ohio, says what used to just be a big body has slimmed down 23 pounds (to just 317) and turned into a beast. Kentucky was leading here before, but Harbaugh, Gattis, Bellamy, and WR commit Tay’shawn Trent are putting on the press, former teammate is Raheem Anderson chipping in, and Sam now thinks Michigan and Michigan State are now a solid top two ($, info in title), while Safie notes Walker’s got serious interest in Tennessee, where (former PSU DBs coach) Tim Banks is now DC.

Nua’s been spending time recently on a couple of other emerging DTs. IN 3* NT Kenneth Grant is another big kid—24/7 says he’s 6’4”/335, Rivals says “full grown mammoth, but he doesn’t have a sloppy build”—and seems gettable, with Cincy and some middle Big Ten West programs the competition. This is a relatively new recruitment so we’ll see how it develops.

So is the recruitment of CA 3* DT Hero Kanu, but at a much more rapid pace. New to football and originally from Germany, Kano is blowing up faster than the sites can add him to their databases. Michigan’s pushing hard for a visit; having Julius Welschof, Marlin Klein and the Wagnersbrüder can’t hurt. Clemson is involved too, and Ohio State recently offered($ info in title), with Florida, USC, and others jumping in too. You can see why in the highlights.

Last month’s new recruitment, FL 3* Jordan Phillips, is still flying under the radar($), somehow. A wrestler whose football coach is the uncle of Jaydon Hood, and whose dad talks regularly with Sam Webb, Phillips let it be known the whole family’s coming up to visit in a few weeks. Mom & Dad and son aren’t going on any other dead period visits, so this one could move before anyone else catches win of the 290-pound monster from an area known for producing the kind. Hopefully I buried him deeply enough in this post that they won’t notice?

Lest we forget, Nua was also the first big offer for AZ 4.5* Anthony Lucas, who was born in Haiti, lived in Florida for a time, and is still rather new to football. The 6’4”/279 DT prospect actually visited Michigan before the pandemic. Since then his recruitment has blown up—Lucas is well inside the composite top 150, is knocking on the door of the national top-25 to 24/7 after their February re-rank, and recently picked up Alabama and Georgia offers. Michigan recently made the cut for his top ten, which includes a lot of powerhouses, and broke down where each stands to local reporter Jordan Hamm. The Michigan part:

Of the top 10 schools, Michigan was the first to offer Lucas. It’s also one of the few schools Lucas has been able to see in-person prior to the pandemic. Former ASU defensive line coach Shaun Nua has been a key part to the Michigan recruitment as well.

“(There is) a lot of history behind the school. Great coaching staff. Coach Nua really been becoming closer with me and my family over the course of time. Prestigious academics also.”

FSU wins nicest comment—the things he said about Michigan he used for other schools as well. USC and UCLA also got unofficial visits in the past. Texas A&M is the only other school that currently has a visit locked in. Texas and Oklahoma just offered however.

Another guy Michigan’s been after a long time whose stock is now soaring, TX 4* 3T/DE Jadon Scarlett has remained in contact through the staff changes, and said he wants to see Michigan along with Texas A&M and Mizzou. Defensive analyst Joe Staab (not Ryan Osborn) has been Nua’s assistant on this one, which shows the Wolverines still see the kid with an explosive first step as a DT. Michigan’s still working away($, info in title)

Class it’s most like: It’s too early to tell because Nolen is going down to the wire. If we get him, hell, call it 1991, when national elite Jason Horn led a strong group of diverse talents that included Trent Zenkewicz, Walter Reggans, and Brion Smith. That’s a ceiling; the floor is the year they got really close with Da’Shawn Hand (like we had the Hello written) and Malik McDowell didn’t listen to his mother, and other big targets like Lorenzo Carter, Andrew Brown, Dexter Wideman, and Khairi Clark came and went. Michigan still reeled in massive Bryan Mone and Southfield 4* Lawrence Marshall, backfilling with grayshirt offer Brady Pallante, but DT issues resonated for years after.

Defensive End

Quick summary: The board was blown up with the coaching shifts, but they have a good idea who they want, and they’re not guys everyone else wants.

The latest: The staff’s #1 edge target remains GA 3* DE/OLB Joshua Josephs, a guy Brian Jean-Mary is still after, now for Tennessee. Both BJM’s former and current schools have secured official visits($), with Miami (YTM) and Kentucky also around, for now. He’ll be on campus for the Victors Weekend, and then we’ll know where the Wolverines stand. Thinking here is getting Josephs up here, and locking him up soon, would be Michigan’s best shot, because when the SEC schools see the film things could get competitive.

There’s no doubt FL 4* Mario Eugenio is one of the new staff’s top targets, and if local Miami (Yes THAT Miami) hadn’t offered recently EJ Holland said he’d have a FutureCast in for Michigan. ISU’s Matt Campbell had this in the bag a few months ago; it’s interesting that other schools (e.g. Georgia) that use a linebacker-ish edge aren’t involved. Eugenio told 24/7’s Brice Marich that he’s tight with MI DT Deone Walker. Sounds like there’s a shot Eugenio commits on the visit if Walker’s feeling it by then.

Their other top name is IN 4* Joe Strickland, one guy whose talk of academics seems to be very serious indeed. We’ve heard a number of times in these recruitments that Michigan seems particularly adept at this pitch, and this from Strickland’s mom was a window into who’s responsible for that:

“He had at least six other guys on the call and he didn’t pause once or question himself. Knowing what he wanted to possibly major in and throwing out ideas and school rankings for the particular major was impressive. He knows Joe has a lot of the top academic schools and he quickly pointed out the overall benefits of Michigan. For a head coach to be as focused on academics is definitely a piece in the puzzle Joe is putting together. He’s making this a 40-year plan...not just 3-4.” - Strickland's mom on Jim Harbaugh

An emerging name from a big group of offerees over the winter is TX 3* Joseph Adedire, a productive pass-rusher who’ll be visiting the big weekend. Lorenz sees competition from Georgia Tech and Cal as “winnable”—it also suggests an academic focus and that location’s not much of a factor. Marich confirms Adedire’s a top prospect($, info in title), IE not a Plan B, for Michigan. Analyst Ryan Osborn is leading the recruitment, Holland reports.

The staff also seems to really like MD 3* Anto Saka, a grow-an-SDE with a similar academics vibe—Northwestern and Penn State are the other two teams who’ve been after him. EJ Holland is optimistic($) and credits Osborn for doing work here.

 

 

Lorenz recently moved OK 3* DeSean Brown to a top target, explained why($), and shared his thoughts on Michigan’s chances($). Oklahoma State fans feel optimistic they’ll keep the local prospect in-state.

I know we’re not THE place for Northeast 3-stars anymore, but MA WDE Samuel Okunlola looked really good at the UA camp($) in Ohio last weekend, via Marich. Okunlola was the recipient of Aaron Bills’s inspired Avatar edit and has a younger brother who’ll be a top-100 OT in next year’s class($, info in title) whom Michigan’s after as well. Arizona DC Don Brown is involved, but Penn State and Clemson are the two schools($) Okunlola told Wiltfong will get a visit.

And we recently offered SDE 3* Tomiwa Durojaiye, another guy whose recruitment barely existed until tape starting rolling in. Marich thinks Michigan will get an official($); Georgia Tech is the other team in the race at the moment.

 

Linebacker

Quick summary: Offers flew out last month and we’re just now seeing who’s reciprocating. Look good for a 3-star the staff thinks is vastly underrated, battling Notre Dame for the rest of their top targets, and still getting acquainted with a lot of OLBs.

The latest: Jumping back to a 2021, incoming freshman Tyler McLaurin is just getting on the field now, as Illinois delayed 2020 football to a shortened spring season. EJ Holland dropped a free article on McClaurin that clarifies where the versatile prospect will fit in the new system:

“(Macdonald) said he sees me as an inside guy at the Will or Mike position,” McLaurin said. “Based off versatility, size and speed, they can move me outside if need be. I definitely think the scheme fit for me might be equally as good or even better. Just talking through it, it’s easy to visualize how they’re going to use me.”

247’s Josh Newkirk got out there and saw him last week, and shared on their podcast that McLaurin’s “tearing it up” and could very well be on the two-deep in fall. Sam asked where Tyler fits on the speed scale and got back Colson’s the fastest guy but McLaurin’s up there, and definitely faster than Josh Ross.

Another guy getting his season underway is 2022 IL 4.5* Sebastian Cheeks, who felt like a Notre Dame lead until the Irish picked off Joshua Burnham. Agents McCarthy and Colson have remained on the case, which they’re now presenting a lot more like a fair fight. Via that Rivals article it also sounds like Cheeks is a McLaurin-like prospect, IE versatile, though that site didn’t have McLaurin anywhere near the top-100, while Cheeks is now up to 109th. While Cheeks has a couple of visits set up outside of the Midwest, Holland thinks it’s down to two schools($). They’ve also posted game clips. Lorenz still has a high-confidence crystal ball to Notre Dame in from mid-February, IE pre-Burnham; it’ll be interesting to see if that comes down.

Among the new-ish offers the one that Michigan seems to be jumping out for is FL 3* Omar Graham Jr., who will be visiting on June 18, with former lone leader FSU, Auburn, and Penn State the others to worry about in a recently announced top seven. Holland is talking to someone($) who knows where Michigan stands in that foursome. The staff are saying “Devin Bush” to Graham, via Marich.

The staff have picked up their recruiting($, info in title) of UT 4* Lander Barton, whom Michigan loves. Two crystal balls to Utah are a year old. Whether or not Michigan gets any further, this scouting report should be saved for discussing the model that Macdonald is looking for in his middle linebackers:

Lean framed prospect with long arms. Prototype build and plenty of physical upside to fill out. Versatile and instinctual linebacker who could fit in at any of the spots inside the box. Strong tackler who holds his ground and charges into contact. Reliable in one-on-one situations and does well to wrap up to finish plays. In blitz packages, shows an ability to get past blockers and displays very good closing speed to pressure the quarterback. Top-of-the-line spatial awareness and takes efficient routes to the ball to eliminate possible outlets. Although fluid athletically, could improve in man coverage situations and moving laterally. Major potential as a multi-year starter at the elite Power Five level and projects as a late-round NFL Draft selection.

Texas, USC, and LSU recently jumped in; Lorenz says Barton may visit in the fall($, info in the title).

Steve also thinks Michigan’s moving up for AZ 3* Shakaun Bowser, a DE/OLB tweener who with Eugenio is helping to justify whatever Aaron Bills expensed for the SNES font. Steve thinks he’s underrated($).

TX 3* ATH Jeremy Patton, a 6’1”/210 OLB prospect for Michigan, has been rising up their board and 24/7s($, info in title). Michigan kicked off a recent offer blitz for Patton, as they try to jump out in front of what was a Baylor/Oklahoma State battle.

Happy Trails: Operation Voluntears had another setback as TN 4* LB Keaten Wade, a longtime top target, eliminated Michigan and is likely to stick with the Vols.

Safety

Quick summary: Took a couple of decommits through staff shuffles and because they’re in such good shape with so many top targets.

The latest: WR/S Taylor Groves decommitted, which we took for a good sign that Michigan feels confident they can find better than the guy who dropped sight-unseen when Linguist came aboard. Rivals national writer Adam Gorney and EJ Holland were as sanguine as I. Holland:

Groves was a bit of a project at safety, having played wide receiver for the majority of his career. With such a strong defensive back class nationally this cycle and the Wolverines already holding verbal pledges from five-star Will Johnson and four-star Kody Jones, this isn't a huge loss for the Wolverines.

Gorney:

If he ends up at Notre Dame which is possible, the Sting Factor number could be higher because Groves is a talented two-way player but if he goes somewhere in the SEC then it’s not that big of a loss.

Michigan has lots of talented targets across the defensive back spectrum and it seems like Groves wanted to play receiver anyway.

The two versatile in-state prospects seem to be closing in on a decision, with West Bloomfield 4* Dillon Tatum choosing in the next few days between Michigan State and the much nicer tire fire that just hired his former head coach as his future position coach. I have a note below on Tatum’s latest 7v7 performance.

A more one-for-one replacement for Groves would be the big WR/S from Groves, Jaden Mangham. The latest is he’s considering being at the big visit weekend, via Marich($, info in title). A bit from that article says Mangham wasn’t happy with his performance at the UA Ohio event, but it hasn’t seemed to deter Michigan’s pursuit. Also from Groves: your author, and exactly zero scholarship football players in Michigan history. If that happens I promise to keep the School part of the Hello to under 75% of the scouting report. It also sounds like it would happen in fall.

Holland used the Taylor Groves decommitment to break down the safety board (free), including where things stand with TX 5* Bryce Anderson (there’s a chance), LA 5* Jacoby Matthews (there’s a chance because of Bellamy). VA 4* Sherrod Covil might move up the board now—my scout on him is he’s more of a hybrid.

M made latest cut for GA 3* Jake Pope, who’s moving up the rankings($, info in title) and for($, info in title) AL 3* Ja’Kobi Albert, two SEC athletes who probably stay in the South if the locals press. Michigan also extended an offer to IL 3* HSP Austin Brown, who will be on hand for the June 18 weekend($, info in title) after trips to Wisconsin and Cincy. It’ll be interesting to see where Brown’s rankings go as Illinois football film comes in these next few weeks—he’s a guy the staff seem to think is underrated.

The guy I haven’t mentioned yet is TX 4* Chace Biddle, a big fish the staff are going hard for, but whom Rivals thinks is feeling Oklahoma too much($) for us to pull another Dax out of the area. Sooners 24/7 guy Collin Kennedy has good sources here and thinks Bama’s a bigger threat, even if Michigan’s done a better job in recruiting, because distance from family is an issue($). They too have all six (fairly recent) crystal balls on Oklahoma.

Class it’s like: 2013, when Hoke had big eyes for Su’a Cravens, Leon McQuay and Priest Willis while still smartly sticking tight to Dymonte Thomas and Delano Hill, both of whom played for Michigan alumni. The pair joined Jarrod Wilson to give Michigan the best safety era we’d had in a minute.

Happy trails: Former commit/Andre Seldon’s brother Myles Rowser committed to Arkansas. He was a top target for Michigan State.

Cornerback

Quick summary: Got the #1 target of the class in 5* Will Johnson, and a key Mo Linguist guy in nickel Kody Jones, and seem to be in great shape for a super-hot, tall playmaker whom we all noticed on Junior Colson’s film last year. Want at least one more guy, if that’s a NJ dude we’ve been leading for for ages, a kid blowing up in Arizona, or a warm body.

The latest: The Pylon 7v7 event is back, and a lot of Michigan’s secondary targets were in Indy. Here are clips of Johnson, Tatum, and Jones from the event.

The Rivals guys thought CB commit Will Johnson was the #1 performer.

[His team] played a lot of zone but when he was allowed to play some man he just overwhelmed guys physically. … Will is just such an underrated athlete. We always talk about his patience, his technique, his length, his willingness to be physical, but this is a guy who also stars on the basketball court, plays wildcat and wide receiver for his high school team. … He was one of the most dominant wide receivers on Day 1 of the tournament. He won a lot of 50/50 jump balls. He runs really good routes. He’s faster than everyone on the field. He’s a legit 6’2”—he’s probably 6’3”.

Photos of Johnson next to Dillon Tatum and Kody Jones, both listed as 5’11”, make the two look tiny. Speaking of 4* TN commit Kody Jones, they named him the #2 performer, whom they say Linguist is bringing in as a nickel/safety type, though Jones played corner. Jones is bigger than they thought; EJ said he’s got great makeup speed but not elite overall speed. Holland spoke with Jones’s father Keith a few weeks ago($), and Marich spoke with Johnson at the event about what he sees in his fellow CB commit($):

“He’s a little bigger than I thought,” Johnson said. “I thought he was going to be a little smaller honestly, but obviously he’s real quick and has some real good speed. I think he would be a great nickel back to me. I was really impressed by him.”

Quickly circling back to safety, #3 was S target Dillon Tatum, who made several plays on the ball and had one interception taken away by being unfairly ruled out of bounds, so he’ll fit right in.

Johnson also discussed possibly playing hoops here, and shared that TN 4* Myles Pollard is Linguist’s “biggest focus right now.” Pollard might be getting closer to a decision but Oklahoma is going to get their shot($) and Washington is hanging around. Sam Webb says Michigan’s “in a pretty good spot” ($, info in title) with this one.

Our favorite ND homer Tom Loy put in a ND crystal ball for AZ 4* Benjamin Morrison, the guy Sam Webb’s been all about who’s finally moving up the rankings, and recently got a Bama offer. Loy crystal balls shouldn’t be taken seriously; it’s more notable that the family and coach seem to talk to Sam Webb but nobody else.

It’s also notable that things still haven’t been consummated with NJ 4* Jaeden Gould, whom Michigan scouted early and have been in constant contact with($). I was reading that as Michigan’s reticence but if that was Gould’s read they’re certainly fixing that now—the entire defensive staff was on a zoom call recently($, info in title), and Gould said he expects to be on campus for the Victors Weekend, with a decision on his birthday (July 3) or in August.

The Wolverines recently offered Gould’s teammate, 3* NJ CB Jayden Bellamy (no relation to Ron), who’s been looking at Notre Dame and Penn State while Ohio State keeps him on the hook, if I read the situation right. I see the offer as less a sign that Michigan’s getting involved in that recruitment than another way to show Gould he remains a serious prospect.

---Quick visits aside---

Both Gould and Bellamy will visit PSU the week of June 11, as will LB prospect Omar Graham and DE target Joe Strickland. Would be a shame if it rains that weekend.

While we’re on that PSU visits article, OR 4* WR target Darrius Clemons moved his Michigan visit to June 18 and will see Penn State the following weekend with his friend Kaden Saunders, a 4* Penn State slot commit. The article would like you to focus on the friend from Central Ohio visiting on the 25th and not the kid from Oregon moving his Michigan visit to the weekend all the other guys will be at Michigan.

---End aside---

Back to corners, Michigan also offered another in-state guy with a similar body type to the decommitted safety named Groves and the safety target from Groves, 3* ATH Jeremiah Caldwell from Belleville. Caldwell is currently committed to Kentucky and recently earned a 4th star on Rivals. Wherever that goes it shows the coaching makeover—specifically Bellamy—addressed whatever bad blood remained between Michigan and Belleville HC/former Cass Tec DC Jermain Crowell, which yes, you want to be on good terms with the nearest football factory high school. The offer however was extended by Mo Linguist, which tells you Michigan is looking at Caldwell at cornerback.

Class it’s like: 1992. This was the year Moeller finally acknowledged that you have to have more than two playable cornerbacks to survive in the pass-happy Nineties, and DC Lloyd Carr knew exactly what he wanted: big fast guys. Their best recruiter, Cam Cameron, was put on the case, and pulled in 5-star Ty Law, nabbed Tyrone Noble and Woody Hankins, and a pulled off a huge upset for 5-star Earl Little out of Miami on signing day. If you don’t know the Little story, Earl was ahead of Deon (father of Will) Johnson in spring practice but then Hurricane Andrew hit, and Little wanted to be home with his family in Miami, and Moeller said he couldn’t, and Little transferred home.

Special Teams

Quick summary: Michigan offered the #1 kicker to Kornblue.

The latest: The guy’s name is Will Bettridge, out of Gulliver Prep, FL, and he’s also the #2 kicker to Kohl’s, which doesn’t always agree with Kornblue. Bettrdige’s only other Power 5 suitor when Jay Harbaugh called was Virginia, but he was at FSU’s spring game.

Marich checked it out($) and found in addition to Kornblue himself, Bettridge goes to school with Dhamir (son of Desmond) Howard, and is also friends with Jett Howard. The article doesn’t say but I can only assume h’s mentored by Mark Harmon, babysits Chase Woodson, and has tea every first Thursday with Shemy Schembechler. I also assume he’s coming to replace Moody in a year. Visit first.

Class it’s like: 2003, when Tom Brady/Charles Woodson classmate Brandon Kornblue was like “Coach, I started a kicking camp in my hometown; please offer my #1 kicker!” and Michigan called this kid from Tampa, and Garrett Rivas was like “Oh yeah, me and Jay Feely go way back, come get me” and they did and it was good.

2023 and Beyond

2023 QB target Dante Moore likes tight windows, is headed toward a 5-star, will probably be “the guy” for Michigan like Donovan Edwards and Will Johnson were, and is so far living up to the hype($, info in title).

Sherrone Moore has his eyes set on the nation’s #2 OT prospect, IA 5* Kadyn Proctor, who visited Michigan with his teammates in 2020 and wants to come again. They’re also after WR Carnell Tate (IMG via Chicago Marist), 4* MN TE Jaxon Howard and others.

EJ Holland has notes on 2023 4* S Dakaari Nelson($) who was offered recently, and GA LB Dion Crawford, who will be a top national guy($). Michigan also offered 5* CA ATH Makai Lemon, who could play WR, CB, or S, and 5* TX DT Jordan Renaud, and have top-100 LB Troy Bowles interested; he’s teammates with Bettridge.

Transfer market?

I don’t know of any names but Sam said Michigan will definitely be in the portal for cornerback depth, defensive line anything, and linebacker, plus whatever else they can find. ITF had this bit regarding Michigan’s issue with transfers:

If not all credits transfer (which they often don’t from other universities — that’s why Van Jefferson, the Mississippi to Florida transfer U-M pursued, ended up with the Gators), wasn’t an option at the end — it drastically shrinks the pool of candidates. The coaching staff will continue to pursue transfers, of course, but they really have two realistic options in many cases — freshmen and grad transfers — and that's the focus.

…that highlights an issue with Michigan the institution that has been a problem for a long time, and will be a pretty big deal if it means Michigan can’t participate in two-thirds of the emerging wide open transfer market, despite contributing more than any other school to it.

Worthy, Quickly

 

And obviously we lost the best recruit in the 2021 class. I agree with Lorenz that Michigan needs to have a reaction (~7:00), even if nothing will come of it, because Texas clearly went way over the line in tampering with another team’s player, and you just can’t have that become a norm.

Silver linings: Andrel Anthony looked pretty good in spring, and IL WR Tyler Morris just had a couple of crystal balls go Michigan’s way after Josh Newkirk got out to see him.