The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1503142
THE WOLVERINE 2023 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 151 FOOTBALL RECRUITING U-M did impress three-star Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day prospect Jordan Shipp, the No. 57 wide receiver nationally, on his official visit in June. However, the Wolverines still have to fight off home- state programs NC State and North Caro- lina. Three-star Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas prospect James Madison, the No. 75 wide receiver nationally, is still on the board as well but has yet to set up an official visit and is trending toward staying closer to home. If Michigan misses on Moore and Shipp, it could circle back to King George (Va.) High's Mekhai White, the No. 91 wide receiver nationally, Greensboro (N.C.) Grimsley's Terrell Anderson, the No. 18 wide receiver nationally, or New Orleans St. Augustine's Joshua Jackson, the No. 89 overall prospect nationally. Michigan also remains in the mix for speedy four-star Tampa (Fla.) Carrollwood Day wide receiver Bredell Richardson, who recently named U-M in his top four. Rich- ardson, the No. 55 wide receiver nationally, seemed to be favoring LSU in mid-June, but official visits should paint a clearer pic- ture of this recruitment. Michigan State and Oregon are the other two teams still in contention. The wildcard on the board is Top 100 Burley (Idaho) High wide receiver Gat- lin Bair, who is looking to take a two-year church mission upon graduation and wouldn't count toward numbers for this cycle. Bair, the No. 13 wide receiver and No. 88 overall prospect nationally, ran a 10.15 in the 100 meters at the Idaho state meet, the fastest clocking by any junior in the nation this year, and would be a game changer for U-M's offense. Nebraska is the leader on the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, but Michigan had every opportunity to leapfrog the Huskers when he made his scheduled official visit on June 23. Tight End Need: 2 Commits: 2 The Skinny: Michigan scored an early commitment from On300 Bellevue (Wash.) High tight end Hogan Hansen, when he sided with the Wolverines in December. Hansen did make a trip to Miami this off- season, but nothing has really come of that visit. Hansen, the No. 13 tight end and No. 180 overall prospect nationally, returned to Ann Arbor on June 16 and appears happy with his decision. The Wolverines also pulled in one of their top overall targets of the cycle in Rochester (Mich.) Adams tight end Brady Prieskorn, who picked U-M over several major of- fers in April. Prieskorn, the No. 5 tight end and No. 93 overall prospect nationally, also made his official visit on June 16, and he is completely locked in with the Wolver- ines. With Prieskorn and Hansen on board, Michigan is done at the tight end position this cycle. Offensive Line Need: 5-6 Commits: 5 The Skinny: Michigan offensive line coach Sherrone Moore has already reeled in five commitments along the offensive front. The group is headlined by Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst prospect Andrew Sprague, the No. 14 tackle and No. 118 over- all prospect nationally, and Austin (Texas) Vandegrift lineman Blake Frazier, the No. 19 tackle and No. 209 overall prospect na- tionally (and whose father Steve was the center on Michigan's 1997 national cham- pionship team). Both were pivotal recruit- ing wins for the Wolverines this offseason. Michigan also added another tackle — three-star Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward prospect Ben Roebuck, the No. 65 tackle nationally. Three-star Avon (Ohio) High prospect Luke Hamilton, the No. 51 interior offen- sive lineman nationally, projects as a guard, while three-star Ponte Vedra (Fla.) High prospect Jake Guarnera, the No. 31 interior offensive lineman nationally, projects as a true center. Michigan is content taking five recruits along the offensive line this cycle but could add another. Fort Bend (Texas) Christian offensive lineman Bennett Warren appears to be the most realistic option. Warren, the No. 25 tackle and No. 270 overall recruit nation- ally, visited U-M for the spring game and was back on campus for his official visit in mid-June. Michigan is right at the top along with Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee and Texas A&M. The Wolverines also have a legitimate chance with On300 Copperas Cove (Texas) High offensive lineman Michael Uini, who visited in the winter and had a great of- ficial visit to Ann Arbor on June 16, when the Wolverines also offered his younger brother, Marques. Uini, the No. 16 tackle and No. 148 overall prospect nationally, will be a bit of a tougher pull but is very much in play. Michigan is in his top group along with Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Georgia and Texas. Michigan is still taking a shot with Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei offensive lineman Brandon Baker, the No. 4 tackle and No. 30 overall prospect nationally, and Braden- ton (Fla.) IMG Academy offensive lineman Jordan Seaton, the No. 8 tackle and No. 58 overall prospect nationally. However, both are likely to end up elsewhere. Three-star Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei offensive lineman Deandre Carter remains on the radar as well, but there hadn't been much movement with him through mid- June. Defensive Line Need: 5 Commits: 4 The Skinny: Michigan has already landed four commitments (all three-star recruits) along the defensive line this cy- cle — Cheshire (Conn.) Academy's Jerod Smith, Wallingford (Conn.) Choate Rose- mary Hall's Manuel Beigel, Cincinnati St. Xavier's Ted Hammond and Princeton (N.J.) Hun School's Owen Wafle. All four prospects are three-technique candidates, which means Michigan still has a need for a true nose. Copperas Cove (Texas) High offensive lineman Michael Uini is rated by On3 as the No. 16 tackle and No. 148 overall prospect nationally. U-M is in his top group along with Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Georgia and Texas. PHOTO COURTESY ON3.COM