The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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APRIL 2022 THE WOLVERINE 49 FOOTBALL RECRUITING Five Biggest Targets Out West RB Jayden Limar, Lake Stevens (Wash.) High At 5-11, 190 pounds, Jayden Limar is a compact back who uses his power and balance to make strong runs between the tackles. Limar also has enough speed (11.19-second 100 meters) to break off long runs and is athletic enough to make plays as a pass catcher. His style of play is similar to that of Michigan running back Blake Corum. The nation's No. 15 running back and No. 273 overall pros- pect, per the On3 Consensus, has already visited Michigan twice and is looking to make a return trip to Ann Arbor for an official visit. The four-star prospect also has a strong relationship with U-M running backs coach Mike Hart and sees himself as a system fit. Oregon is the biggest factor out West, while Mi- ami and Notre Dame are making national pushes. At this point, Limar is a very realistic land out of the Pacific Northwest. TE Riley Williams, Portland (Ore.) Central Catholic Riley Williams is an athletic specimen at 6-6, 230 pounds. The top-100 tight end can split out wide and create mis- matches as a pass catcher, but he's also filled out enough to serve as an in-line blocker. Michigan already has one tight end commit in On300 prospect Andrew Rappleyea. However, taking two at the position is a possibility, and Williams is at the very top of the board for new U-M position coach Grant Newsome. Michi- gan head coach Jim Harbaugh stopped by to see Williams, the No.2 tight end and No. 54 overall prospect nationally per On3, before the last dead period, and an offseason visit is in the works. Beating Oregon in this race will be tough, but Michigan can sell tight end production and make a move once he takes his first visit. OL Spencer Fano, Provo (Utah) Timpview At 6-4, 250 pounds, Spencer Fano lacks the ideal height for a tackle, but he makes up for it with superior athleticism, footwork and technique. The country's No. 9 offensive tackle and No. 102 overall prospect nationally per On3, could also slide inside depending on how much weight his lanky fame can hold. Michigan offensive line coach Sherrone Moore is in love with his upside and went all the way out to Utah to see him before the last dead period. Fano has expressed genuine interest in Michigan and wants to make a visit at some point this offseason. In-state schools BYU, where his brother plays, and Utah will be tough to beat, but Moore has the Wolver- ines in the mix here. DL Kelze Howard, Las Vegas Spring Valley A top-100 prospect, Kelze Howard is one of the more in- triguing defensive linemen this cycle. At 6-4, 260 pounds, he can add plenty of weight to his frame and be an athletic three-technique in Michigan's defensive scheme. However, he has the length and quickness (he also plays basketball and wrestles) to play an Aidan Hutchinson role. Either way, Howard has emerged as a priority target for new Michigan defensive line coach Mike Elston. The Wolver- ines just offered Howard a few weeks ago, but he is already planning to make an official visit to U-M. Oregon, USC and Miami are other early players in this recruitment. CB Rodrick Pleasant, Gardena (Calif.) Junipero Serra Pleasant is listed as an athlete but projects best as a cor- nerback at the next level. The 5-10, 167-pounder is a bit on the smaller side, but he makes up for that with elite speed. In fact, Pleasant is one of the fastest players in the country and ran a blazing 10.32-second 100 meters as a sophomore. And that's why Michigan co-defensive coordinator Steve Clinkscale has made him a top priority this cycle. The two are in constant communication and are working on setting up a visit. The nation's No. 6 athlete and No. 157 overall prospect nationally, per the On3 Consensus, recently named Michi- gan a top school, is a family friend of ex-Wolverine David Long and even played with Michigan wide receiver commit Semaj Morgan in a club 7v7 tournament. USC, where Pleasant's brother played, will be tough to beat, but U-M is establishing itself as a dark horse. — EJ Holland Perhaps the biggest Michigan target in the state this year is On300 Gardena Junipero Serra — a different high school than the one that produced Brady — cor- nerback Rodrick Pleasant, a speed demon who posted an eye-popping 10.32-second 100-meter time as a sophomore. "My brother played with [ex-Wolver- ine] David Long," Pleasant said. "Michi- gan has always been one of my favorite schools. I love Coach Harbaugh. He's a great coach. You also have Coach Clink [co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale]. We talk every day. They've always been a team that's recruited me, and they show they really want me." Michigan had success in other states out West last cycle, landing On3 Con- sensus four-star Gooding (Idaho) tight end Colston Loveland and three-star Monument (Colo.) Palmer Ridge offen- sive tackle Connor Jones. Both Idaho and Colorado remain viable options, as do states like Arizona, Nevada and Utah. New defensive line coach Mike Elston is leading Michigan's charge in the lat- ter three, recently offering prospects like top-100 Las Vegas Spring Valley defen- sive lineman Kelze Howard, top-100 2024 EDGE Elijah Rushing and On3 Consen- sus four-star American Fork (Utah) High EDGE Hunter Clegg. Elston helped his former team, Notre Dame, land commitments in Arizona and Nevada during his time in South Bend. The Wolverines also dipped into both states, and landed quarterbacks Cade McNamara (Reno) and JD Johnson (Phoe- nix) in recent cycles. Arizona, Nevada and Utah are all seeing an explosion of move-ins from across the country, including Clegg, who grew up in Ohio. And that's even more reason for the Wolverines to attack there. "Michigan is an amazing school," Clegg said. "I really want to get out there and see what it's all about and why they've been having so much success. Going back to the Midwest for college is definitely something I would consider." Michigan may not have the founda- tion that it did during the 2022 recruiting cycle, but in no way should the region be abandoned. The Wolverines can still win out West. ❑