The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1493247
MARCH 2023 THE WOLVERINE 57 2 0 2 4 - L O O K I N G T O T H E FUTURE BY EJ HOLLAND AND ZACH LIBBY M ichigan's 2023 recruiting class saw a strong finish, adding defensive back Jyaire Hill, On3's No. 104 player and No. 12 cornerback nationally, and four-star wide receiver Karmello English during December. The Wolverines also flipped three-star defensive lineman Cameron Brandt from Stanford on National Signing Day in February. With a late surge at a few positions of need, Michigan moved up the On3 Con- sensus national recruiting class team rankings and finished with the No. 18 overall group with a total of 24 signees. Now, it's time to look ahead. As of Feb. 20, Michigan had seven ver- bal commitments in the 2024 class. At this time last year, the Wolverines had just three pledges. Right now, Michigan has the No. 13-ranked 2024 class nationally, per the On3 Consensus, but the Wolverines could contend for a spot in the top five by next February. Here is a position-by-position look at Michigan's needs and where the Wolver- ines stand with top 2024 targets. QUARTERBACK Commits: 0 Needs: 1 Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day four- star Jadyn Davis visited Ann Arbor four times unofficially this past year, includ- ing two appearances at the Big House for games, and a trip for the annual BBQ at the Big House in late July. The No. 3 quarterback and No. 18 player in the country per the On3 Con- sensus has set a couple of different time- lines but continues to be open to other suitors. His decision could come as early as March. Davis and his family had a pro- longed conversation with head coach Jim Harbaugh in January, and new quar- terbacks coach Kirk Campbell has made contact as well. Earlier in the winter, Campbell also reached out to Baltimore St. Frances Academy four-star Michael Van Buren, who's the No. 70 overall player and No. 8 signal-caller nationally. U-M was left out of Van Buren's top-eight list in December but could work its way back in the mix. RUNNING BACK Commits: 0 Needs: 2 The Wolverines have not signed a run- ning back in the top 100 players in the country since Donovan Edwards in 2021. That could change in 2024. The Wol- verines already have hosted two highly ranked backs in Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller's Jordan Marshall, On3's No. 45 overall player and No. 4 running back in the country, and Longview (Texas) High's Taylor Tatum, who is rated as the No. 36 prospect and No. 2 ball carrier nationally. Marshall came off his third unofficial visit to Ann Arbor in January when he spent an entire day as the lone recruit on campus. He released a top four in Febru- ary with Michigan, Ohio State, Tennessee and Wisconsin as finalists. Tatum has reported offers from both Michigan's football and baseball teams. During the four star's late-January visit in Ann Arbor, he spent a full day with each team. Michigan also hosted Baltimore St. Fran- ces Academy prospect DeJuan Williams, the No. 291 player and No. 28 running back nationally, for an unofficial visit in January. The Wolverines landed in the top-10 list of schools released by Andalusia (Ala.) High prospect J'Marion Burnette, the No. 14 running back and No. 158 recruit over- all in the country, per the On3 Consensus. Running backs coach Mike Hart stayed active on the recruiting trail through- out January and February, offering and jumping in the mix with Frisco (Texas) Centennial three- star prospect Harry Stewart (No. 38 running back); Lancaster (Texas) High three-star prospect Kewan Lacy; Lufkin (Texas) High four-star Kedren Young; and Chicago Mount Carmel three- star prospect Darrion Dupree. WIDE RECEIVER Commits: 0 Needs: 3 The highest ranked among the offered wideouts are St. Louis University's Ryan Wingo, the No. 24 player and No. 5 wide receiver nationally in the On3 Consensus; Daingerfield (Texas) High's Aeryn Hamp- ton, the No. 99 player and No. 17 wideout; Burley (Idaho) High's Gatlin Bair, the No. 119 player overall; Tampa (Fla.) Carroll- wood Day's Bredell Richardson, the No. 128 player; and St. Louis Christian Broth- ers College's Jeremiah McClellan, the No. 215 player overall. Richardson and the two St . Louis players have visited Ann Arbor, and both Hampton and Bair are eying Michigan for one of their available Assessing Michigan's Recruiting Priorities For The 2024 Class Rochester (Mich.) Adams' Brady Prieskorn is a priority target for U-M. He is the No. 1 in-state prospect and No. 3 tight end nationally. PHOTO COURTESY ON3.COM