The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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46 THE WOLVERINE ❱ OCTOBER 2024 BY EJ HOLLAND T he Wolverine traveled around the country and saw several Michigan commits and targets in game action dur- ing the month of August. Here are the five best based on their performances. 5. DB ZECH FORT (2026) BRADENTON (FLA.) IMG ACADEMY Fort would have been higher on this list, but he only played a half in IMG's win over Bergen Catholic. Prior to suf- fering a leg injury, the country's No. 8 safety and No. 92 overall player, per the On3 Industry Ranking, was on his way to having a stellar performance. Despite being undersized at 5-foot-10, 170 pounds, Fort plays with physicality and made a great play when he stopped 6-foot-4 wide receiver Quincy Porter in the open field on a key third down. He also had an interception and was flying all over the field. Fort is the perfect candidate for the nickel at Michigan. He visited three times last year and is looking to get back this fall. 4. DB DONOVAN STARR BRENTWOOD (TENN.) RAVENWOOD Starr, the nation's No. 34 cornerback according to the On3 Industry Ranking, is one of Michigan's top remaining targets this cycle, and with good reason. The four- star Auburn commit runs the 100 meters in a blazing 10.5 seconds and is one of the fastest corners in America. He would be the perfect complement to current Michi- gan cornerback commit Jayden Sanders. Starr completely locked down his side of the field when I saw him in game ac- tion. He also flipped over to the offensive side of the ball and took the top off the defense at wide receiver. The speed is real. Michigan is working to get him on campus for an official visit this fall. 3. DL JERMAINE KINSLER (2026) ORADELL (N.J.) BERGEN CATHOLIC The No. 162 prospect and No. 14 defen- sive lineman in the country according to the On3 Industry Ranking, Kinsler is big, athletic and can play multiple spots along the front. He has a really impressive frame at 6-foot-5, 275 pounds and has the abil- ity to dominate as a 4i or three-technique. However, he could easily play at over 300 pounds at the next level as a taller, longer nose tackle in the same mold as Kenneth Grant. Kinsler made a handful of big plays on defense and also lined up at tight end. He has a tremendous ceiling and will likely be a rankings riser. Kinsler made his first visit to Michigan the weekend of Sept. 7. 2. DL AIDEN HARRIS (2026) MATTHEWS (N.C.) WEDDINGTON On3's No. 25 player and No. 3 defen- sive lineman nationally, Harris is listed at 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, but he looks much closer to 270 pounds. He was a dominant force in the interior of the de- fensive line and consistently lived in the backfield. He also lined up as a defensive ❱ MICHIGAN RECRUITING NOTEBOOK From The Road: The Five Best U-M Recruits In Early Action The Wolverine recruiting analyst EJ Holland raved about Michigan tight end commit Eli Owens from Alcoa (Tenn.) High after seeing him play in person this season, calling him "without a doubt, the best H-back recruit in the country." PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND