The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2023 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 155 FOOTBALL RECRUITING Wolverines and primary recruiter Steve Clinkscale remain major players as of this summer. The No. 11-ranked junior in the state of Florida recorded 69 tackles, 4 sacks and 2 interceptions last season en route to help- ing Chaminade-Madonna High win back- to-back Class 1M state championships. WR Gatlin Bair Burley (Idaho) Senior Gatlin Bair just capped off his final season of high school track by capturing the 100-meter dash in 10.15 seconds, tying his state re- cord. He also won the 200 meters with a state-record 20.41 at the Idaho state championships. His 100-meter time is tied for the fifth fastest in the country this year through early June, while his 200 time ranks third nationally. Both clockings were the fastest by a high school junior. Ranked as the No. 13 overall wide re- ceiver and No. 88 recruit in the country by On3, Bair was scheduled to make his first-ever visit to Michigan on June 23. The Wolverines will be the final school to get Bair on campus for an official visit before the July dead period. Bair has been compiling a strong knowl- edge of what's available at Michigan through talks with members of the coach- ing staff along with his relationship with sophomore tight end Colston Loveland, also from Idaho. Technically, Bair is considered to be a 2026 recruit since he won't arrive at any school until the completion of his two- year Mormon mission, which begins this December. His high-end speed and upside have made the 6-foot-2, 180-pounder a major target for Michigan this cycle. CB Bryce West Cleveland Glenville The coveted and historic relationship between Ohio State and Glenville High has resulted in very few schools able to break down the pipe- line. Bryce West, the No. 52 overall prospect and No. 7 cornerback in the country, per On3, is pro- jected to be next in line to follow in the foot- steps of Cardale Jones, Ted Ginn Jr., Mar- shon Lattimore and others, but Michigan co-defensive coordinator Steve Clinkscale isn't interested in raising the white flag. Clinkscale also has roots in Northeast Ohio, and he is communicating with the 5-foot-11, 175-pound West on a regu- lar basis. Their bond goes beyond foot- ball. West and his immediate family hold Clinkscale in the highest regard. West visited Michigan in mid-January and returned on June 9 for an official visit. While the Buckeyes are expected to land West, their archrival won't go down with- out a fight. CB Aaron Scott Jr. Springfield (Ohio) High Michigan seems to be in a very good place with Aaron Scott, On3's No. 2 overall cornerback and No. 13-ranked recruit nation- ally. Scott, a 5-foot-11½, 165-pounder, scheduled his official visit to Michigan on June 16. He also attended U-M's Junior Day in January and then returned in mid-March to be around several of the 2024 commits, like Charlotte, N.C., four-star quarter- back Jadyn Davis, Cincinnati four-star running back Jordan Marshall, four-star Rochester, Mich., tight end Brady Pries- korn and four-star Austin, Texas, offen- sive tackle Blake Frazier. Scott's frame and length make him an ideal fit in Michigan's press man scheme. He's even received comparisons to U-M's Freshman All-America cornerback Will Johnson from co-defensive coordinator Steve Clinkscale and the rest of the coach- ing staff. Ohio State is the leader at this point, but getting Scott back on campus for an official visit could be the much-needed difference maker for Michigan. EDGE Darien Mayo Olney (Md.) Good Counsel Good Counsel is also the home school of Darien Mayo, the priority edge rusher on Michigan's board. He is the No. 2 prospect in the state of Maryland and the No. 8 edge and No. 89 overall player in the country, according to On3. He was scheduled to be in Ann Arbor on June 23 for his official visit. The 6-foot-6, 240-pounder previously visited Ann Arbor in mid-March to watch a spring camp practice. The opportunity to work toward having the same career arc in college as Aidan Hutchinson, David Ojabo, Josh Uche and Mike Morris is appealing to Mayo, who is friends with fellow Good Counsel stand- out and current Michigan defensive line- man Kris Jenkins. The Wolverines are leading for a num- ber of edge targets who are set to officially visit in June, and they hope to sign four at the position. ATH Boo Carter Cleveland (Tenn.) Bradley-Central There are few Michigan targets in the 2024 class who fit the term "dawg mentality" quite like Boo Carter, the No. 8 athlete and No. 247 overall player in the country and No. 5 junior in the state of Tennessee, according to On3. A versatile weapon at wide receiver and nickel, Carter returned to Michigan on June 9 for his official visit. It was the first time that he had been back to Ann Arbor in nearly eight months. However, one week later on June 17, the 5-foot-10, 180-pounder gave his com- mitment to Tennesse, whose proximity to Carter's hometown has allowed the SEC up-and-comer to host him more than 10 times in the past two years. U-M will con- tinue to recruit him up until Signing Day. If there's one program capable of over- coming UT for Carter, it's the two-time reigning Big Ten champions. Every U-M assistant coach, plus head coach Jim Har- baugh, was on hand to watch Carter com- pete at the Wayne State Satellite Camp in downtown Detroit on June 1. LB Jeremiah Beasley Belleville (Mich.) High Jeremiah Beasley was one of the first 2024 linebacker recruits who heard from Michigan linebacker coach Chris Partridge immediately upon his re-hiring back in February. For a prolonged period, the Wolverines were battling with in-state rival Michigan State for the No. 20 linebacker and No. 294 player nationally and No. 5 player in the state of Michigan, according to On3. Partridge made Beasley a priority, and the four-star made multiple trips to cam- pus, giving Michigan a better chance to land him. The 6-foot, 210-pounder was sched- uled to return to Michigan on June 16 for an official visit. U-M is getting plenty of help in this recruitment from the 2024 commits, in- cluding Harper Woods (Mich.) High de- fensive back Jacob Oden, who has known Beasley for years because of their time together with the Detroit-based Sound Mind Sound Body football academy. ❑