The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1386887
THE WOLVERINE 2021 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 157 FOOTBALL RECRUITING Entering June, Michigan held seven commitments and had the No. 19-ranked 2022 recruiting class in Rivals.com's national team recruiting rankings. This summer, the Wolverines have an opportunity to close with several of their top targets. Here is a look at the five most important regardless of position: DL Walter Nolen, Cordova (Tenn.) St. Benedict A consensus five-star recruit and the player ESPN listed as the second-best prospect in high school right now regardless of age, Nolen is perhaps the most important overall target left on the board. The 6-5, 300-pounder would fill a position of need and have an opportunity to make a immediate impact in Ann Arbor. While he is from SEC country, Nolen's grandparents live in the Detroit area, and he has a few U-M alums in his family. Nolen is slated to officially visit both Florida and Michigan this summer, and will also see at least Georgia and LSU on unofficial visits. Alabama remains a huge threat in this recruitment as well. Michigan is dark horse, but will continue to make its push. DL Deone Walker, Detroit Cass Tech Michigan is making a concerted effort to make sure the best players from the state play for the Wolverines. A mammoth defensive tackle who is listed at 6-7, 325 pounds by Rivals.com, Walker would fill a need in the trenches. While he is more raw than Nolen, Walker has improved a ton over the last year and has been dominant at camps throughout the offseason. Schools such as Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and LSU have his attention, but Walker, Rivals.com's No. 23 defensive tackle in the land, has plenty of ties to the Michigan program and great relationships with assistants Ron Bellamy and Steve Clinkscale. DL Mario Eugenio, Tampa (Fla.) Gaither Michigan found some success in the Sunshine State last year and is looking to replicate that with Eugenio this cycle. The 6-3, 240-pounder is a versatile prospect that can play multiple spots along the defensive line or come off the edge as a stand-up rusher. Michigan offered the four star that is ranked as the nation's No. 246 overall prospect relatively early and has made him one of its top overall targets over the last few months. U-M was set to host him for an official visit on June 18 and is in a great spot with him. He'll also officially visit Iowa State and camp with some major programs in the Southeast. LB Sebastian Cheeks, Evanston (Ill.) Township Cheeks is Michigan's top target on the 2022 linebacker board, and the Wol- verines appeared to be the top contender in his recruitment heading into sum- mer. However, the 6-2, 210-pounder has still not set an official visit with U-M. New defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and linebackers coach George Helow are working vigorously to make sure that happens. Both have been on several Zoom calls with Cheeks, the No. 10 outside linebacker and No. 105 overall prospect nationally, over the last several weeks. The unanimous top-200 prospect also happens to be good friends with Ri- vals100 Michigan wide receiver commit Tyler Morris. But as it stands right now, Texas may have the slight edge with North Carolina also squarely in the mix. DB Myles Pollard, Brentwood (Tenn.) Ravenwood Michigan already holds a commitment from five-star cornerback Will Johnson, but the Wolverines want to pair him up with another tall, long prospect on the outside. At 6-2, 180 pounds, Pollard fits that description. The four-star prospect can play on an island and is the top remaining target on Michigan's corner board this cycle. The nation's No. 34 cornerback will officially visit Michigan this summer and is very high on the Wolverines. He also happens to have a preexisting relationship with Clinkscale, who recruited him at Kentucky, and was a teammate of 2021 signee Junior Colson. Michigan will have to fend off Auburn and Oklahoma, but the opportunity is there for the Wolverines to close. — EJ Holland U-M it trying to land 6-7, 325-pound run stuffer Deone Walker from Detroit Cass Tech. Rivals.com ranks him as a four-star prospect and the No. 23 defensive tackle in the nation. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM The Most Wanted: Michigan's Five Most Important Remaining Targets