The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1479568
48 THE WOLVERINE OCTOBER 2022 FOOTBALL RECRUITING prospect nationally. Buzz is starting to pick up that Jagusah may be interested in making a visit to Michigan this fall due to the Irish's on-field struggles to start this season. Defensive Line Commits: 1 Need: 2-3 Michigan has just one defensive line commit coming out of the summer in three-star Wilmette (Ill.) Loyola prospect Brooks Bahr. At 6-foot-6, 275 pounds, Bahr is a tall, long three-technique with plenty of upside. He is On3's No. 53 de- fensive lineman prospect nationally. Michigan wants to add at least another true defensive lineman this cycle. The Wolverines plan to evaluate more senior tape and could throw out a few offers soon. U-M could also circle back to guys like ex-Illinois commit Jamarrion Harkless, Purdue pledge Saadiq Clements and Ne- braska commit Riley Van Poppel. Hark- less wants to make a fall official visit to Michigan, while the Wolverines once led for Clements and were set to host Van Poppel for a visit. Notre Dame commit Devan Houstan, brother of former Michigan basketball player Caleb Houstan, could also be in the mix due to the Irish's struggles on the field. The biggest target on the board is On3 Consensus four-star prospect Kayden McDonald from Suwannee (Ga.) North Gwinnett. At 6-foot-2, 325 pounds, Mc- Donald is a true nose and would be big win for the Wolverines on the trail. McDonald made an official visit to Michigan this month, but the Wolverines are in a tight race with Clemson and Flor- ida. He is the No. 43 defensive lineman and No. 310 overall prospect nationally, per the On3 Consensus. Edge Commits: 3 Need: 3 Michigan appears to be done with edge recruiting this cycle. New Michigan de- fensive line coach Mike Elston has put together an edge group with the biggest ceiling in the country. On3 four-star (No. 17 defensive lineman and No. 112 over- all prospect nationally) Enow Etta (6-4, 260) has only been playing the sport for three years but is having a monster senior campaign and is the second highest rated commit in U-M's 2023 class. In his first four games of the season, Etta recorded 46 tackles, 12 hits for losses, 6 sacks and 1 blocked punt. Fellow four-star prospect Collins Acheampong (No. 30 edge and No. 263 overall prospect in the land) only has one year of playing experience under his belt and is quite the physical specimen at 6-foot-8, 265 pounds. Lastly, three-star French prospect Aymeric Koumba (6-4, 230) is a bit of mystery, but Elston fell in love with his potential this summer. Linebacker Commits: 1 Need: 2 Linebacker recruiting has been tough sledding this cycle. Remember, the Wol- verines once held a pledge from No. 1 line- backer and No. 25 overall prospect Ray- len Wilson. U-M hasn't really recovered since losing him to Georgia. Michigan does have a commitment from No. 25 linebacker and No. 262 pros- pect Semaj Bridgeman, who is a big (6-1, 235), physical downfield backer, but the Wolverines would like to add another to the class. Notre Dame commit Jaiden Ausberry, the No. 19 linebacker and No. 219 overall prospect nationally, is the perfect can- didate. Michigan finished second in his recruitment, and there are already rum- blings that he's interested in the Wolver- ines again. U-M could also circle back to guys like Nebraska commit Hayden Moore and Wisconsin commit Jaquez Keyes. Defensive Back Commits: 0 Need: 2-3 Michigan has honed in on two corner- backs this cycle in No. 8 corner and No. 70 prospect Chris Peal (6-1, 190), a team- mate of Jadyn Davis' at Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day, and No. 23 corner and No. 200 prospect Jyaire Hill (6-1, 170) of Kankakee, Ill. Peal has been considered a Georgia lean for most of the cycle, but Michigan has built up some steam as of late and hosted him for an official visit for the Connecti- cut game. Hill has been torn between Illinois and Michigan for a while now, but there is a sense the Wolverines can finally beat out the Illini. Michigan also has been heavily involved with top-100 prospects Javien Toviano and Jeremiyah Love and Florida pledge Aaron Gates, but there isn't reason for optimism with any of the three as things stand right now. U-M is still keeping tabs on No. 18 cor- nerback and No. 156 overall prospect Ro- drick Pleasant (5-10, 167) from Gardena (Calif.) Junipero Serra, but he's likely only an option if Michigan misses on Peal or Hill. Michigan has explored taking a safety this cycle, but it appears the Wolver- ines will only do so if they can land an elite athlete at the position. There are no names worth mentioning at this time. ❏ Chris Peal of Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day is rated by On3 as the No. 8 cornerback and No. 70 overall prospect nationally. He made an official visit to Michigan the weekend of Sept. 17. PHOTO COURTESY ON3.COM