The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1503142
THE WOLVERINE 2023 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 153 FOOTBALL RECRUITING Defensive Back Need: 4 Commits: 1 The Skinny: Michigan has one commit on the back end in Harper Woods (Mich.) High safety/nickel Jacob Oden, the No. 23 safety and No. 238 overall recruit nation- ally. The Wolverines are looking at two corners this cycle and have yet to secure a pledge at the position. The two names at the top of the board are Top 100 recruits Aaron Scott and Bryce West. Michigan appears to have a better chance with Scott, the No. 2 cornerback and No. 13 overall recruit nationally, who was sched- uled to make his official visit in mid-June. Ohio State is considered the favorite for the Springfield (Ohio) High product, but it wouldn't be shocking to see U-M take the lead during his time on campus. Can the Wolverines hold it, though? Ohio State was slated to get his final official visit on June 23, which is obviously concerning. The Buckeyes will also get West, the No. 7 cornerback and No. 52 overall recruit nationally, in for his official visit on June 23. Michigan gave it its best shot with the Cleveland Glenville product during his June 16 visit, but this recruitment still seems like it's Ohio State's to lose. The next two targets on the corner board are Top 100 Tampa (Fla.) Catholic prospect Jameer Grimsley and Cincinnati Withrow prospect Tehryon Nichols — both were scheduled to make their official visits to Michigan on June 23. Grimsley, the No. 11 cornerback and No. 77 overall recruit na- tionally, is high on Alabama, Florida State and Penn State, and has visited all three schools. He will be making his first trip to Ann Arbor, which could really move the needle. Michigan is in a great spot for Nichols, the No. 26 cornerback and No. 188 overall prospect in the land, going into his visit, but the Wolverines will have to fight off Ohio State (if it misses on one of Scott or West), Kentucky and Penn State. Michigan is looking to land a true elite safety this cycle and is squarely in the mix for Miami Chaminade-Madonna prospect Zaquan Patterson, who was scheduled to take an unofficial visit to Ann Arbor on June 23. Patterson, the No. 26 safety and No. 284 overall recruit nationally, seems to have Miami and Michigan at the top. While the hometown Hurricanes will be tough to beat, Michigan can pull this off with a strong visit. Remember, Patterson is a teammate of Top 100 2025 Michigan cornerback commit Chris Ewald. The Wolverines are also in play for three- star Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy pros- pect Jordon Johnson-Rubell, the No. 50 safety nationally. Johnson-Rubell made his official visit to Michigan in mid-June, and it's safe to say U-M is now a dark horse here. Ohio State and Texas had him in for June visits, and his decision was set for early July. Texas was the favorite, but Mich- igan has certainly made things interesting. The Wolverines are still quietly in the mix for Top 100 Rockledge (Fla.) High prospect Jaylen Heyward, who is commit- ted to Georgia. However, Heyward, the No. 3 safety and No. 54 overall recruit nation- ally, has yet to schedule a visit. On300 Cleveland (Tenn.) Bradley pros- pect Boo Carter, the No. 8 athlete and No. 247 overall recruit, would be a take no mat- ter what as a nickel. Carter committed to Tennessee June 17, but expect U-M to con- tinue recruiting him up until signing day in December. Athlete Need: 3 Commits: 3 The Skinny: Michigan holds com- mitments from three defensive athletes this cycle — On300 Nashville (Tenn.) En- sworth prospect Mason Curtis, the No. 10 linebacker and No. 134 overall recruit na- tionally, three-star Charlotte (N.C.) West Charlotte prospect Jaden Smith, the No. 30 linebacker nationally and three-star Pittsburgh Central Catholic prospect Cole Sullivan, the No. 30 linebacker nationally. Curtis is listed as a linebacker, but the 6-foot-4, 190-pounder could be a box safety or edge at the next level. Smith is the most likely candidate to be a true line- backer, potentially in the same role as a Michael Barrett. Sullivan, who stands at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, could also fit there or as an edge. He even has the versatility to play on the offensive side of the ball. ❑ U-M has built momentum with Springfield (Ohio) High's Aaron Scott, the No. 2 cornerback and No. 13 overall recruit nationally, but will have to battle the home-state Buckeyes for his services. PHOTO BY CHAD SIMMONS/ON3 2024 Michigan Commitments Player Rating* Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School Devon Baxter HHHH EDGE 6-5 235 Brandywine (Md.) Gwynn Park Manuel Beigel HHH IOL 6-5 282 Frankfurt, Germany/Choate Rosemary Hall (Conn.) Mason Curtis HHHH LB 6-4 190 Nashville, Tenn./Ensworth Jadyn Davis HHHH QB 6-0 190 Charlotte, N.C./Providence Day School Blake Frazier HHHH IOL 6-6 250 Austin, Texas/Vandegrift Channing Goodwin HHH WR 6-1 160 Charlotte, N.C./Providence Day School Jake Guarnera HHH IOL 6-4 280 Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra Luke Hamilton HHH IOL 6-4 290 Avon, Ohio/Avon Ted Hammond HHH DL 6-4 265 Cincinnati/St. Xavier Hogan Hansen HHHH TE 6-5 200 Bellevue, Wash./Bellevue Micah Ka'apana HHH RB 5-11 195 Las Vegas/Bishop Gorman Zach Ludwig HHH LB 6-2 205 South Park, Pa./South Park Jordan Marshall HHHH RB 5-10 189 Cincinnati/Archbishop Moeller Jacob Oden HHHH S 6-0 185 Harper Woods, Mich./Harper Woods Brady Prieskorn HHHH TE 6-5 220 Rochester, Mich./Adams Ben Roebuck HHH OT 6-7 340 Lakewood, Ohio/St. Edward Jaden Smith HHH LB 6-2 195 Charlotte, N.C./West Charlotte Jerod Smith HHH DL 6-3 255 Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire Andrew Sprague HHHH OT 6-8 295 Kansas City, Mo./Rockhurst I'Marion Stewart HHH WR 6-0 177 Chicago/Kenwood Academy Cole Sullivan HHH LB 6-4 200 Pittsburgh/Central Catholic Owen Wafle HHH DL 6-2 267 Princeton, N.J./Hun School *On3 ratings as of June 20