The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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OCTOBER 2021 THE WOLVERINE 53 MICHIGAN RECRUITING nomenal job of recruiting the family. "From the time they began recruiting Semaj, Coach [Jim] Harbaugh, Coach [Josh] Gattis, [offensive analyst] Coach [Steve] Casula and Coach [Ron] Bellamy have all been great," she said. "They've shown us love. They've shown us that they really value their players academi- cally as students and as athletes. During the visit, they came and sat with us and talked to us. "One thing I respect is that they want to know about the family and not just my son. They want to know about us and how the recruiting process is going for everybody. I like that they take an active interest in what's going on with the family. That means a lot." Morgan also holds offers from Bowl- ing Green, Central Michigan, Memphis, Ole Miss, Missouri, West Virginia and others. But it's no secret which school mom has at the top of her list. "Michigan is one of the top schools in the nation," Erika said. "It's always been at the top of my list. It's a great school academically. I was impressed when we toured the dorms and went into the business school. It seemed second to none. I'm really big on academics. I want my son to get a great education and be a productive citizen in society. I think Michigan is one of those top-tier schools that can get him there and help him achieve his long-term endeavors. I'm very impressed. "Michigan is at the top of my list. I would say No. 1. But the decision is ul- timately going to be up to Semaj. He has to feel comfortable. He has the connect with the coaching staff and the school itself." ❏ On The Web For regular reports on Michigan football recruiting plus videos of U-M commitments and targets visit TheWolverine.com. At The Wolverine, we pride ourselves on hitting the recruiting trail and seeing pros- pects Michigan is recruiting live at games and various events. Over the last month, I traveled across the country and got a look at several commits and targets. Here are the five best I saw: 5. OL Luke Montgomery, Findlay (Ohio) High (2023) Montgomery is that rare prospect that can be an elite recruit on either side of the ball. In his final summer scrimmage, Montgomery was absolutely dominant. The 2023 Rivals100 prospect was a wall in pass protection and served up a handful of pancakes when run blocking. The 6-5, 260-pounder has a lean, athletic frame with the potential to add plenty of weight. On the defensive side of the ball, Mont- gomery played a lot of five-tech while he registered a couple of sacks and several tackles. Michigan is making the nation's No. 82 overall prospect a priority along the offensive line, which is his preference. 4. DT Deone Walker, Detroit Cass Tech A four-star prospect and top Michigan target for this cycle, Walker is an absolute behemoth in the trenches. On the de- fensive side of the ball, the mammoth 300-pounder stuffed the run and notched a couple of eye-popping tackles for loss in Cass Tech's opening win over Southfield (Mich.) A&T. Walker busted through the line with ease, using an array of swim moves as well as his sheer size and strength. The nation's No. 23-ranked defensive tackle also started at left tackle and made defenders fly throughout the day. Walker won the Iron Man award at the Xenith Kickoff Classic for his performance. U-M remains a favorite. 3. WR Cody Hagen, Draper (Utah) Corner Canyon Michigan recently expanded its 2022 wide receiver board and put an offer on the table for Hagen. While he's ranked as a three-star prospect and the nation's No. 53 wideout, Hagen is one of the country's most explosive and productive offensive weapons. Hagen has scored a touchdown in almost 20 straight games, including the contest I attended. Hagen's 10.5 100-me- ter speed translates to the field where he's a game breaker with the ball in his hands. The 6-1, 180-pounder is also a crisp route runner and can hurt a defense on jet sweeps and out of the backfield. He's extremely underrated. 2. DB Will Johnson, Grosse Pointe (Mich.) South In a season-opening win over Detroit Renaissance, Johnson returned a punt for a touchdown, recorded an interception and led his team in receiving. The five-star Michigan commit is head and shoulders better than everybody he plays against and is ready for the next level. The coun- try's No. 16 overall prospect nationally is playing safety this year, so he can have more opportunities to make plays, but he can completely shut down one side of the field at corner. Johnson should play a role as a freshman in Ann Arbor. He checks all the boxes. 1. DT Kenneth Grant, Merrillville (Ind.) High As impressive as Johnson was, no recruit moved the needle more than Grant. Arguably the most underrated defensive lineman in the country, Grant was dominant at practice and in his senior season opener. The 6-5, 340-pounder is a massive prospect, but he's much more than just a big body. Grant is deceptively athletic, provides a constant pass rush from the interior of the defensive line and consistently lives in opposing teams' backfields. In his first game of the season, the big man registered several tackles, a blocked extra point and a blocked punt, which he returned for a touchdown. He remains a top overall priority for U-M this cycle. — EJ Holland Merrillville (Ind.) High defensive tackle Kenneth Grant remains a top overall priority for Michigan this cycle. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM The Five Best Recruits The Wolverine Saw On The Road In September