The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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42 THE WOLVERINE OCTOBER 2018 BY BRANDON BROWN A fter Michigan's first home game a g a i n s t We s t e r n M i c h i g a n Sept. 8, the staff procured commit- ments from two 2019 prospects in Boca Raton (Fla.) American Heritage four-star weakside defensive end Michael Morris and Oakley (Calif.) Freedom three-star all-purpose back Giles Jackson, bringing the grand to- tal up to 22 total pledges. That means that heading into the fall of 2019, U-M would be at 93 to- tal players on scholarship, which is eight over the 85-scholarship limit allowed by the NCAA. Luckily, there are many ways to change that number, and those situ- ations take place every single year. If any current commits have a change of heart and decommit, the number would obviously go down. If the Michigan staff lands any other pros- pects, that total would grow. Players like Rashan Gary and Devin Bush, along with several oth- ers, could potentially be playing on Sundays next year, which would free up a couple of scholarships. Still, the Michigan recruiting staff doesn't have a limitless number of tenders to dole out, and room within the 2019 haul is shrinking. Only a few prospects on the big board are actu- ally takes as the 2018 season marches on, but the U-M recruiting staff's job is to keep as many on the line as pos- sible because you just never know how a player's status can change in the world of recruiting. Some positions are pretty solidi- fied, while others have more moving parts. Here's how Michigan looks on the recruiting trail with about 75 percent of the 2018 season remaining (all rankings are from Rivals.com): Quarterback Michigan is solid with Reno (Nev.) Damonte Ranch four-star pro-style quarterback Cade McNamara and isn't really pursuing any other tar- gets. The 6-1, 202-pounder has been very active in recruiting other pros- pects and was in Ann Arbor for the SMU game Sept. 15. The No. 1 player in Nevada and No. 9 pro-style quarterback nation- ally looks like he'll be the only signal- caller in the class after U-M kicked the tires on Greenville (S.C.) High three-star pro-style quarterback Da- vis Beville, who's now committed to Pittsburgh, and Calera (Ala.) High three-star pro-style quarterback Cor- nelious Brown IV, who doesn't seem to be looking at U-M very seriously anymore. Both quarterbacks were scouted but never offered. Running Back Michigan has one of the more im- pressive running back hauls in the entire country. Westlake Village (Ca- lif.) Oaks Christian four-star running back Zach Charbonnet, Memphis (Tenn.) Lausanne Collegiate School three-star all-purpose back Eric Gray and Oakley (Calif.) Freedom three- star all-purpose back Giles Jackson are all dynamic and productive, and have all decided they'd like to play in Ann Arbor. Charbonnet measures in at 6-2, 219 pounds and is the No. 13 run- ning back and No. 236 overall pros- pect nationally. He's solid to Michi- gan and is done with the recruiting process. Gray, the two-time Tennessee Player of the Year, is the No. 6 all- purpose back in the country at 5-10, 185 pounds. He's definitely still checking out other schools, includ- ing Tennessee and Ole Miss and may not be a part of U-M's class. Jackson, while listed as an all-purpose back, actually projects as a slot for Michi- gan at 5-9, 183 pounds. He, like Char- bonnet, is solid and won't be look- ing around. As the No. 7 all-purpose back in the country, he checks in just behind Gray at the position. The Wolverines staff is not pursu- ing any other running backs with Charbonnet, Gray and Jackson in the fold. Wide Receiver After landing just two-star wide re- ceiver Ronnie Bell in 2018, Michigan has made pass catchers a priority in 2019. The Wolverines staff has pro- cured commitments from Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward two-star wide re- ceiver Quintel Kent and Stuart (Fla.) Martin County three-star athlete George Johnson III. Kent measures in at 6-0, 170 pounds and, even though he's mod- estly rated, is having a solid senior season against tough competition and continues to get attention from bigger schools. FOOTBALL RECRUITING Michigan's 2019 Class Is Filling Up Cade McNamara, the top player in Nevada and No. 9 pro-style quarterback in the country according to Rivals.com, is the only signal-caller Michigan is bringing in for the 2019 class. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM