The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1451622
MARCH 2022 THE WOLVERINE 75 Shiner (Texas) High's Dalton Brooks, the No. 59 overall recruit nationally, and Winter Park (Fla.) West Orange's Jordan Castell, the No. 349 recruit in the country, are also at the top of the board. SPECIAL TEAMS Need: 1 Committed: 1 Michigan's first commitment in the 2023 recruiting class came by way of Ann Arbor (Mich.) Huron kicker Adam Samaha. Unlike kicker/punter combo Tommy Doman in the 2021 cy- cle, he is more of a pure kicker and is expected to focus on field goals, extra points and kickoffs. Samaha is widely regarded as the best kicker prospect in the country and is ranked as a five-star special teams recruit by Kornblue Kicking. He was the youngest prospect in 10-plus years of Kornblue's camps and rankings to earn the five-star designation. ❏ QB Dante Moore, Detroit Martin Luther King — Much like Will Johnson and Donovan Edwards before him, Moore — the No. 18 overall recruit nationally — is the true prize in Michigan's own backyard this cycle. The local product is an elite talent under center with top-level arm strength, pin- point accuracy and tremendous leadership qualities. Moore is arguably the most important target for Michigan in the entire 2023 class. The Wolverines have hosted Moore on multiple occasions and may even have a slight edge. However, he is high on Ohio State and has also expressed plenty of interest in schools like Penn State, Michigan State and Notre Dame. He is also attracting more interest from a number of south- ern schools. As it stands right now, Moore has no set deci- sion timeline. WR Jalen Brown, Miami (Fla.) Gulliver Prep — Michigan has made Brown, the No. 33 overall recruit in the land, its top wide receiver target for more than a year and got him on campus this fall for the game against Washington. The Wol- verines 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. U-M is fully expected to receive an official visit this offsea- son as Brown eyes a summer decision. Michigan is definitely in a good spot but will have to fight off local programs Mi- ami and Florida State — Brown has visited both on multiple occasions. Athlete/Edge Nyckoles Harbor, Washington (D.C.) Archbishop Carroll — A freak athlete, Harbor runs a 10.31 100-meter dash at 6-5, 235 pounds. That means he can liter- ally play any position he wants. However, the Wolverines see a ton of upside as an edge rusher and are making Harbor, the country's No. 13 recruit, a top overall priority. Harbor seemed to be favoring Oklahoma early, but the Sooners underwent a staff change that left the door wide open. Michigan has taken advantage. The Wolverines hosted him for a visit this fall and are in line for a spring return trip. U-M is emerging as the team to beat early on, especially after the Wolverines' fabulous season. Edge Keon Keeley, Tampa (Fla.) Berkley — Keeley, the No. 12 overall prospect nationally, gave Notre Dame an early verbal commitment last summer. However, Michigan is in a good spot to flip him from the rival Irish. After all, the Wolverines just hired defensive line coach Mike Elston, who served as Keeley's primary recruiter, away from South Bend. Elston and Keeley have a great relationship, and Elston is sure to give the Wolverines a boost in this recruitment. On top of that, Keeley is from the same high school that pro- duced Michigan edge rusher Jaylen Harrell. There is already familiarity with the high school staff there, and Harrell will also help the Wolverines sway Keeley. Expect the five-star prospect to make a visit to Ann Arbor at some point this offseason. CB Cormani McClain, Lake Gibson (Fla.) High — Mc- Clain, one of three five-star plus recruits in the 2022 class so far — earning the top distinction from all four major recruiting services — initially released a top five of Alabama, Florida, Ohio State, Miami and BYU, but Michigan has been able to make up ground and is now squarely in what he told On3.com in mid-February is a top eight, after he added Georgia, Oregon and the Wolverines. U-M impressed McClain with their Big Ten title this season, and both Steve Clinkscale and Ron Bellamy have made an aggressive push. McClain plans to reward the Wolverines with an offseason visit. While pulling him out of the South will prove to be difficult, Michigan has won some key battles in Florida in the past and just brought in quite the second- ary haul. — EJ Holland Top-Five Wish List Michigan is emerging as the team to beat for Washington (D.C.) Archbishop Carroll edge rusher Nyckoles Harbor, the nation's No. 13 overall prospect. PHOTO COURTESY ON3.COM