Big Visit Weekend Ahead

Michigan is set to host a solid group of targets this weekend. Before getting to the full list, let's check in with three-star NJ OT Will Fries, who wrapped up a two-day visit yesterday and gave his reaction to 247's Clint Brewster ($):

"It was amazing I had great time," Fries told Wolverine247.

Is Michigan in Fries' top group now following the visit?

"Yes, they are."

Excellent.

The list of weekend visitors comes courtesy of reports from The Wolverine's Tim Sullivan($) and 247's Steve Lorenz($), unless otherwise noted. While there isn't a full-blown "buckle up" situation heading into the weekend, it's worth keeping an eye on a couple of these prospects:

• Five-star WI OT Ben Bredeson will be on campus all weekend, and this is a hugely important visit for Michigan, as this is likely his last trip to Ann Arbor before he makes a decision in early June. The Wolverines are in a top four along with Wisconsin, Notre Dame, and Ohio State; the Badgers appear to be M's chief competition.
• Four-star Farmington Hills Harrison DE Khalid Kareem told TomVH he'll take a weekend visit. Kareem has been a steady presence on campus since Jim Harbaugh arrived, but Michigan has plenty of competition from the likes of Alabama, Michigan State, and Notre Dame.
• Four-star IN WR Austin Mack will be in Ann Arbor on Saturday, a visit sandwiched between trips to Notre Dame and Ohio State this weekend, per 247's Bill Kurelic ($). Mack is expected to end up with the Buckeyes when he announces his decision on June 7th.
• Three-star ATH Kiante Enis and four-star all-purpose back Chris Evans will both make the trip from Indiana. Enis, a running back who could play a number of positions, already holds an offer. Evans doesn't, but he's expected to add one this weekend, and if he does there are rumblings of a potential commitment—his Crystal Ball immediately added several Michigan predictions after the visit was announced.
• Three-star Paramus (NJ) Catholic WR Donald Stewart already has Michigan at the top of his list heading into his first campus visit. Lorenz reports that while a commitment isn't expected to occur this weekend, one could come shortly thereafter.
• Three-star MN ATH JD Spielman is still getting his football recruitment off the ground after committing to Ohio State to play lacrosse. He's expected to choose football at the next level, and Michigan was one of his first offers for the gridiron.
• 2017 four-star QB Dylan McCaffrey and 2017 in-state DE Corey Malone-Hatcher will be in Ann Arbor, as well. Malone-Hatcher is visiting this weekend since he has a conflict preventing him from attending next Tuesday's in-state Junior Day, when the other seven in-state rising juniors offered by Michigan will all be on campus.
• 2016 commits Brandon Peters and Matt Falcon will assuredly have their recruiting hats on. Peters, especially, could help convince his fellow Hoosier State prospects to join up.

There's a notable omission: Four-star IN DE Auston Robertson previously planned to visit with Austin Mack, but his mother told 247's Steve Wiltfong that he'll be at Notre Dame on Saturday ($). Robertson is considered a Michigan State lean, and with his decision coming up on June 7th, Michigan's chances are slim at best without getting a final chance to impress him.

[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the roundup.]

Butler Sets Return Trip

Three-star Lakewood (OH) St. Edward CB Tony Butler is a Pitt commit, but it doesn't appear he'll remain one for too long. He visited Michigan last month after adding an offer in March, which reportedly didn't please the Pitt coaches, and Steve Lorenz reports he'll be back in Ann Arbor on June 20th.

Michigan looks to be in good shape with Butler, especially with his former high school coach Rick Finotti now on staff as the director of football operations. Ohio State could become a major factor, possibly even the favorite, if they come through with an offer, but thus far they haven't extended one.

A pair of highly regarded corners are also showing solid interest in Michigan. Four-star TX CB Jared Mayden told The Wolverine's Brandon Brown he's informed the coaches of his plans to take an official visit to Ann Arbor in the fall ($). He'll also attend M's satellite camp in Grand Prarie. Mayden plans to announce a commitment at The Opening in July, and that initial choice is unlikely to be Michigan, but he still plans to take those official visits.

Four-star CA ATH Jack Jones, who could play either receiver or defensive back, told Tim Sullivan he "most definitely" wants to visit, and he might attend M's satellite camp in the Los Angeles area ($).

Etc.

Three-star VA WR Grant Holloway named Michigan to his top ten. While there's no order to the ten schools listed, Holloway named Virginia Tech as his leader last month.

Three-star NC ILB Jonathan Smith will visit Michigan and Notre Dame in June, per 247's Ryan Bartow. He'd like to see those schools before making a commitment; North Carolina is the presumed favorite.

Three-star CA S Micah Croom, a Utah commit, told Bartow he'll take trips to Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State, and Michigan in June. He holds offers from the former two schools, but not from either of the Michigan schools.

Three-star TX WDE Rahssan Thornton said to Scout's Greg Powers that adding his Michigan offer was "amazing," but LSU is his leader after the Tigers recently joined the fray ($).

Just one offer to note from the last couple days: Tim Sullivan reports an offer went out to 2017 five-star TX RB Toneil Carter. Carter already boasts an offer sheet befitting a five-star; I'd be impressed if Michigan got him on campus.