The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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football recruiting Though he's not ready to rank that top group or narrow his list any further, it's clear that Michigan is in an enviable position on it. He took an unofficial visit to Ann Arbor at the beginning of the Wolverines' 2013 spring practice sessions, and saw a lot to like. "I had a great visit," Hand explained. "I did everything: I talked to the professor of sports management, ate good food, met good coaches, saw some film and got a chance to spend time with some players. I also got a view of the town and the campus, and it was very nice." Peppers visited Ann Arbor with a teammate — Bushell-Beatty — who has since committed to Michigan. While Bushell-Beatty's pledge won't be the difference-maker in securing Peppers' commitment, it can only help. According to Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Mike Farrell, the Wolverines' shot at reeling in both players is exceptional. "I think it's possible that they land both," Farrell said. "They're the leader for Peppers. He's got the Penn State visit, which is a little concerning, and a Stanford trip may or may not happen. "They lead for Peppers, and then they're in the top five or six schools for Hand. I think Hand is much further away from making a decision, so there's a long way to go." On The Web For regular reports on Michigan football recruiting plus videos of U-M commitments and targets visit TheWolverine.com. Changes in the rankings cut in both ways, however. Although it seems that Michigan could see a few current commitments move up, there's no guarantee that these two prospective commitments maintain their status atop the board. "The big thing you've got factor in here is, 'Will those guys be one-two at the end of the process?'" Farrell opined. "The top-end talent this year is exceptional. I could see Peppers move up to No. 1, or Hand stay No. 1, but I could also see some of these guys behind them moving up. "At the end of the day, I don't think Michigan cares about the rankings. Just getting those two — regardless of their final ranking — is a treat for your defense." Simply landing both Hand and Peppers — assuming they remain Nos. 1-2 nationally — would see Michigan add 483 team rankings points. Filling Out The Rest Even if Michigan lands the top two players in the nation — and their rankings stay that way — that won't be the end of the class. There would still be at least five more spots remaining. The Wolverines would have their eyes on top talent to fill out their haul. One of the top targets on the board behind Peppers and Hand is Detroit Loyola defensive lineman Malik McDowell. The 6-6, 292-pounder doesn't have such a shabby ranking himself — he comes in No. 21 in the Rivals.com national recruiting rankings — and is a local product with whom U-M has an excellent shot.