The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1386887
158 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2021 FOOTBALL PREVIEW FOOTBALL RECRUITING With a change in philosophy under new defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, the Wolverines are looking for big run stuffers in their 3-4 scheme, so it's no surprise mam- moth 300-pounders like Detroit Cass Tech four-star Deone Walker, the No. 23 defen- sive tackle nationally, and Merrillville (Ind.) High three-star Kenneth Grant are U-M's top priorities. Michigan is also working hard on a pair of defensive linemen that offer flexibility in Trussville (Ala.) Hewitt Trussville four-star Justice Finkley, the No. 13 defensive tackle and No. 179 overall prospect in the land, and Tampa (Fla.) Gaither four-star Mario Eugenio, the No. 14 weakside defensive end and No. 246 overall recruit in the country. Jacksonville (Fla.) Bolles three-star Hayden Schwartz, the No. 43 strongside defensive end in America, made an official visit to Michigan June 4 and is another flex- ible defensive lineman that remains high on the board. Linebacker Committed: 0 Projected Take: 4 Synopsis: New Michigan linebackers coach George Helow is originally from Jacksonville, Fla., and has the Wolverines in a strong spot to close with Jacksonville (Fla.) Bartram Trail three-star Micah Pol- lard, the No. 39 outside linebacker na- tionally. Pollard made an official visit to Michigan on June 4, has a great personal connection with Helow and is the nephew of Michigan great Braylon Edwards. While Pollard is the most likely to commit, four-star Evanston (Ill.) Town- ship prospect Sebastian Cheeks, the No. 10 outside linebacker and No. 105 overall prospect in the coun- try, remains the top dog on the board at this position. Texas seems to have a slight advantage, but the Wolverines are doing everything they can to convince him to stay in the Midwest. Michigan is also pushing for Pilot Point (Texas) High's Ish Harris, the No. 11 athlete and No. 217 overall recruit nationally, but he is more of a long shot. With Michigan's move to a 3-4, landing pure edge rushers is a must next cycle. U-M is heavily involved with pros- pects like Raleigh (N.C.) Leesville Road four-star Beau Atkinson, the No. 13 weak- side defensive end and No. 234 overall senior in America; Towson (Md.) Loyola Blakefield four-star Anto Saka, the No. 18 outside line- backer and No. 203 overall prospect in the land; Mansfield (Texas) Summit four-star Joseph Adedire, the No. 23 strongside de- fensive end in the country; Kennesaw (Ga.) North Cobb three-star Joshua Josephs; and Lawndale (Calif.) Leuzinger three-star Kev- onte Henry. Defensive Back Committed: 2 Projected Take: 4-5 Synopsis: Michigan landed its most im- portant recruit of the cycle in Grosse Pointe (Mich.) South five-star Will Johnson, the No. 4 cornerback and No. 15 overall player in the nation, in February. However, with the departure of position coach Maurice Linguist, John- son is taking a look at other schools and made an official visit to USC. Keeping him in the class is the top pri- ority for new Michigan cornerbacks coach Steve Clinkscale, who offered Johnson at Kentucky. Clinkscale is also hard at work keeping four-star cornerback commit Kody Jones, who is listed as the No. 20 safety nationally by Rivals.com, in the fold. Jones committed in large part because of Linguist and made an official visit to Illinois June 4. Aside from maintaining commits, Clink- scale is going all in on Brentwood (Tenn.) Ravenwood four-star Myles Pollard, the No. 34 cornerback in the land that has a top three of Michigan, Auburn and Oklahoma. He is also looking to flip Belleville (Mich.) High four-star safety Jeremiah Caldwell from Kentucky, after he initially reeled in the nation's No. 24 athlete for the Wildcats. New Michigan safeties coach Ron Bel- lamy has honed in on his former player at West Bloomfield (Mich.) High in four-star athlete Dillon Tatum, who is being recruited as a nickel and safety. Tatum, the No. 17 athlete nationally, is down to Michigan and Michigan State, and will make a decision at some point this summer. ❏ Rivals.com lists Michigan defensive back commitment Will Johnson as the No. 4 cornerback and No. 15 overall prospect nationally. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM