The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1444545
48 THE WOLVERINE FEBRUARY 2022 BY EJ HOLLAND M ichigan closed strong on early signing day, winning several key battles and currently boasting the No. 9 class nationally. With just a couple of 2022 targets left heading into the late period, focus is beginning to shift to the 2023 recruiting class. Here is a look at Michigan's 10 most wanted prospects for next cycle: QB DANTE MOORE Detroit King On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 18 overall recruit and No. 4 quarterback nationally Early Contenders: Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan State, Florida State, Miami, LSU, Oregon Where Michigan Stands: Much like Will Johnson and Donovan Edwards be- fore him, Moore is the true prize in Michi- gan's own backyard this cycle. The local product is an elite talent under center with top-level arm strength, pinpoint accuracy and tremendous leadership qualities. Moore is arguably the most impor- tant target for Michigan in the entire 2023 class. The Wolverines have hosted Moore on multiple occasions and may even have a slight edge. However, the Ohio native is high on Ohio State and has also expressed plenty of interest in schools like Penn State, Michigan State and Notre Dame. Moore is also attracting more interest from a number of Southern schools. As it stands right now, Moore has no set decision timeline. U-M head coach Jim Harbaugh and company will continue to recruit him as hard as possible. WR JALEN BROWN Miami Gulliver Prep On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 34 over- all recruit and No. 5 wide receiver in the country Early Contenders: Michigan, Miami, Florida State, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Oregon Where Michigan Stands: Michigan has made Brown its top wide receiver target for more than a year and got him on campus this fall for the game against Washington. The Wolverines have had plenty of success recruiting the Sunshine State over the last several years and have a secret weapon in this recruitment in ex- Wolverine Desmond Howard, who serves as a mentor to Brown. Michigan is fully expected to receive an official visit this offseason with Brown eyeing a summer decision. U-M is definitely in a good spot but will have to fight off local programs Miami and Florida State — Brown has visited both on multiple occasions. Miami is es- pecially making an aggressive push with new head coach Mario Cristobal, who has strong ties in South Florida, leading the way. OL LUKE MONTGOMERY Findlay (Ohio) High On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 59 over- all recruit and No. 4 interior offensive lineman nationally Early Contenders: Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Clemson, Oklahoma, Penn State Where Michigan Stands: Findlay, Ohio, is right in between Ann Arbor and Columbus, and this one is shaping up to be a massive Michigan-Ohio State re- cruiting battle. Montgomery has been to both schools on multiple occasions and most recently took in U-M's win over Ohio State in The Big House on Thanks- giving weekend. Montgomery is looking to make a re- turn visit to Michigan, and Harbaugh is already slated to swing by Findlay to see him. With Michigan knocking off Ohio State this fall and winning the Big Ten, there is a true sense of optimism around Ann Arbor that the Wolverines can win this head-to-head clash. Notre Dame, Penn State and Clemson have made big im- pressions as well, but again, Michigan and Ohio State seem to be the front- runners. OL CAYDEN GREEN Lee's Summit (Mo.) North On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 65 over- all recruit and No. 3 offensive tackle in the land Early Contenders: Michigan, Okla- homa, LSU, USC, Iowa, Notre Dame, Mi- ami, Missouri, Georgia, Florida Where Michigan Stands: Green was considered a heavy Oklahoma lean be- fore the Sooners saw Lincoln Riley bolt to USC. Now, Green has a wide-open re- cruitment. He plans to see several of his top schools this offseason, and that swing of trips started off with Michigan for his first-ever trip to Ann Arbor. Michi- gan has seen its stock boom with Green over the last few months and had a chance to make a huge impact during his time in A2. Michigan is in on several interior of- fensive linemen this cycle, but Green, along with Charles Jagusah — a 6-6, FOOTBALL RECRUITING Michigan's 10 Most Wanted Prospects For 2023 Detroit King quarterback Dante Moore, the nation's No. 18 overall prospect per the On3 Consensus, is the biggest prize in the Wolverines' own backyard and possibly overall. PHOTO BY TIM VERGHESE