The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1527978
NOVEMBER 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 51 ❱ FOOTBALL RECRUITING catcher out of the backfield. He's an ex- plosive three-down back who has the potential to be Michigan's next great ball carrier if he lands in Ann Arbor. Hiter visited twice in the offseason and is slated to be back at U-M for his first- ever game day experience when the Wolverines host rival Michigan State on Oct. 26. He recently named Michigan among his top five schools along with Georgia, Ohio State, Penn State and Tennessee. Best Defensive Target JAKE KREUL I'm not normally a fan of undersized edge recruits. I love length and athleti- cism at the position. Give me upside all day. But On300 2026 Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy edge Jake Kreul is so good. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder is the exception to my rule and is clearly one of the best pass rushers nationally next cycle. While Kreul, On3's No. 12 edge and No. 145 overall prospect nationally, isn't the typical edge I would look for, he plays with tremendous power and high- level technique, and just has a knack for getting after the quarterback. Kreul is a high-floor prospect who should make an immediate impact at the next level. Michigan hosted him for a visit in the summer and is looking to get him back before the end of the season. New U-M defensive line coach Lou Esposito is making him a top prior- ity next cycle. And by the way, Kreul is a high school teammate of 2025 Michigan commits Kaden Strayhorn and Donovan Johnson. Along with Michigan, Kreul holds offers from Au- burn, Florida, Georgia, Texas and USC, among others. Best Flip Target BRANDON FINNEY Michigan is looking at some flips late in the cycle, but none have impressed me more than Oregon cornerback com- mit Brandon Finney, On3's No. 10 cor- nerback and No. 78 overall prospect nationally. The Owings Mills (Md.) McDonogh product had a fantastic in-game show- ing when I saw him live in September. He allowed just one completion, and, for the most part, completely took away his half of the field. Finney is your typical tall, long, phys- ical corner, but he also has legit track times, running a 10.8 100-meter dash this offseason. His speed was very apparent on the offensive side of the ball when he lined up at wide receiver, took a short pass and turned it into a huge gain. He is a freaky prospect who could come in and start as a true freshman if Michigan is able to flip him away from the Ducks. Finney made his first visit to Michi- gan in September and is set to be back in Ann Arbor for his official visit on Nov. 23 when the Wolverines host North- western. Michigan and Penn State are the only two schools Finney is consider- ing outside of Oregon. Best Story DONOVAN JOHNSON The one moment that stands out to me from this season is seeing four-star Michigan running back commit Dono- van Johnson break loose for a touch- down run in Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy's big win over Cocoa (Fla.) High. Johnson was out of football for more than a year, had offers disappear and saw his rankings dip. But Johnson, the No. 26 running back nationally per On3, never let any of that bother him. He worked extremely hard during his rehab process from a knee injury and was so grateful that Michigan running backs coach Tony Alford never stopped believing in him. It's hard to find a bet- ter kid in this class than Johnson, who will graduate early and enroll at U-M this winter. His 100-yard rushing performance and that memorable touchdown run brought a smile to my face and re- minded me that there can still be special moments in a recruiting world that has become more about social media and NIL than things that matter. ❏ Brandon Finney, On3's No. 10 cornerback and No. 78 overall prospect nationally, is currently com- mitted to Oregon. The Owings Mills (Md.) McDonogh product visited Michigan in September and is scheduled to be back for the Nov. 23 Northwestern game. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER/COURTESY ON3 Mineral (Va.) Louisa County's Savion Hiter is a powerful runner between the tackles and is also a terrific pass catcher. He is the No. 2 running back and No. 28 overall prospect nationally in the On3 Industry Ranking. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND