The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1451622
MARCH 2022 THE WOLVERINE 73 is the nephew of former NFL super- stars Peyton and Eli Manning. At this point, Manning is a long shot to end up in Ann Arbor, but the Wolverines are in contact. RUNNING BACK Need: 2 Commits: 1 Michigan running backs coach Mike Hart only landed one running back last cycle in three-star signee CJ Stokes. It was an extremely weak year at the position, making a rusher a top priority for the Wolverines in 2023. Hart is already off to a fast start — literally — as he notched a com- mitment from Dexter (Mich.) High running back Cole Cabana in early February. The local prospect is a speed demon that clocked a 4.34 40- yard dash at a recent camp and ran a 10.69 100-meter dash as a sopho- more. The three-star ball carrier can be used in a lot of different ways, but Hart and company still want to add an elite back to the fold. The Wolverines are squarely in the mix for Lake Stevens (Wash.) High running back Jayden Limar, the No. 258 overall prospect nationally. While he's out in the Pacific North- west, they have already hosted him on two visits. U-M is also working hard on a trio of Florida backs — Orange Park (Fla.) Fleming Island's Samuel Singleton, the No. 132 over- all prospect; Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) American Heritage's Mark Fletcher, the No. 238 recruit in the land; and Jacksonville (Fla.) Trinity Christian Academy's Treyaun Webb, who is listed No. 137 in the class. WIDE RECEIVER Need: 3 Commits: 1 Former Michigan offensive coor- dinator Josh Gattis is off to Miami, which means the Wolverines will need to rebuild relationships with several wide receiver recruits. How- ever, Gattis had slowed down on the trail and struggled to recruit the posi- tion last season. The Wolverines already hold one commit in West Bloomfield (Mich.) High's Semaj Morgan, who played as an underclassman for U-M assistant Ron Bellamy. Bellamy is switching from coaching safeties to wideouts, the position he played as a Wolver- ine. Morgan is currently unranked but is quick and explosive, and should excel in a role similar to cur- rent U-M wideout A.J. Henning. Michigan is looking for a couple of bigger-bodied wide receivers to pair with Morgan, including Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy's Carnell Tate, the No. 17 overall recruit nationally; and Lakeland (Fla.) High's Tyler Wil- liams, who is listed No. 220 in the class. The Wolverines are also prioritiz- ing Jalen Brown of Miami Gulliver Prep. Brown, the No. 33 overall prospect nationally, clocked a 10.66 100-meter dash as a sophomore and is a silky-smooth pass catcher at 6-1, 160 pounds. Ex-Wolverine Desmond Howard serves as a mentor to Brown and regularly helps out his high school football team. TIGHT END Need: 2 Commits: 1 Michigan took two tight ends in 2022 and is once again looking to add two this cycle. The Wolverines already hold a pledge from Milton (Mass.) Academy prospect Andrew Rappleyea, the No. 279 overall pros- pect nationally. Rappleyea commit- ted in January over offers from Mich- igan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin and others. Most of Michigan's top remain- ing tight end targets are out West. At the very top of the board is Port- land (Ore.) Central Catholic's Riley Williams, the No. 85 overall recruit nationally. The Wolverines are also working hard on Folsom (Calif.) High's Walker Lyons, the No. 80 prospect in the land; Concord (Calif.) De La Salle's Cooper Flanagan, the No. 209 recruit nationally and a cur- rent Notre Dame commit; and Mat- thew Klopfenstein, a fast riser from Scottsdale (Ariz.) Horizon currently listed No. 568 in the class. OFFENSIVE LINE Need: 5-6 Commits: 0 Michigan took an extremely small offensive line class in 2022, which means the Wolverines are in line to take five or even six prospects in the trenches this cycle. U-M is still searching for its first commitment, but West Bloomfield (Mich.) High's Amir Herring is a safe bet to jump on board. The No. 219 overall prospect nationally also played for Bellamy as an underclassmen and has vis- ited Michigan more than any other school. Herring projects as an interior of- fensive lineman, where there is a lot of talent this cycle. Michigan is al- ready a top school for guard and cen- ter targets like Garland (Texas) Naa- man Forest's Markis Deal, the No. 88 overall prospect nationally; Ramsey (N.J.) Don Bosco's Chase Bisontis, the No. 41 overall prospect nation- ally; Pfafftown (N.C.) Reagan's Sam Pendleton, the No. 374 overall player in the country; and Ferndale (Wash.) High's Landen Hatchett, a three-star prospect listed No. 582. The Wolverines are also in the hunt for a number of tackle types, including Rock Island (Ill.) Alleman's Charles Jagusah, the No. 77 overall recruit nationally; Boston Thayer 's Samson Okunlola, the No. 54 over- all player nationally; Lee's Summit (Mo.) North's Cayden Green, the No. 64 overall prospect nationally; and Kansas City (Mo.) Raytown's Logan Reichert, a three-star recruit who checks in at No. 428. DEFENSIVE LINE Need: 2 Commits: 0 Michigan has landed several tal- ented defensive linemen over the last two cycles as it transitioned to After a small offensive line class in 2022, U-M is looking to add five to six blockers this cycle. Among the Wolverines' targets is Ramsey (N.J.) Don Bosco's Chase Bisontis, the No. 41 overall prospect nationally. PHOTO BY BIRM/LETTERMEN ROW