The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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ready, but understand spots are lim- ited. Spots will fill up. We'll always keep you and your family abreast, but understand we can't hold spots.' "We have needs and objectives we need to address, and we have to do that for the betterment of the program." Michigan's staff doesn't apologize, and doesn't need to, for leaving an en- ergy void on National Signing Day. U- M's coaches care about signing a top class, and in 2012 (No. 7 nationally) and 2013 (No. 5) the Maize and Blue did just that. The Wolverines inked the No. 31 class in 2014, though much of the low mark had to do with lim- ited scholarships — only USC (No. 10, 19 signees) and UCLA (No. 18, 18 signees) finished in the top 30 with fewer than 20 recruits. Still, 2015 could bring about change because Michigan, coming off a 7-6 campaign that followed an 8-5 season, has lost recruiting momentum. Flor- ida wide receiver George Campbell and Kentucky running back Damien Harris, both five stars, have already decommitted, dropping a class of six to four so far. Singletary admitted that prospects may wait on the Wolverines a bit lon- ger, choosing to see how Michigan's 2014 campaign begins to unfold be- fore they make a decision. "You see so many kids that commit and then flip late or flip during the season, so student-athletes might sit back and see how it goes throughout the season," Singletary said. How will Michigan adjust if that scenario does play out? The coaches have said they like to wrap up a class early so that they can focus the ma- jority of their efforts on the current team when fall camp commences in August. However, if U-M sticks to that approach, it may find lukewarm reception from the five- and four-stars targeted. Those players, such as quarterback Josh Rosen, cornerback Minkah Fitz- patrick, offensive tackle Sterling Jen- kins, linebacker Justin Hilliard, and even Campbell and Harris, want to see that Michigan can re-establish its status within the Big Ten and nation- ally after two lackluster seasons. There will be others willing to pledge in the spring or summer, maybe even some of the recruits men- tioned, but with such small numbers available — 12 to 15 scholarships for 2015 — U-M needs to sign the differ- ence-makers that will help elevate the program to a championship level, and not developmental projects that would jump at the chance to wear the winged helmet. While this staff has proven incred- ible recruiting prowess and should not be underestimated, it also faces a tougher sell than with any class since its arrival because of the stalled prog- ress on the football field. If it wants the elite-level talent, U-M will have to alter its game plan some, wait on those players and prove its upward trajectory in September, October and November. ❏ Associate Editor Michael Spath has been with The Wolverine since 2002. Contact him at mspath@thewolverine.com and follow him on Twitter @Spath_Wolverine.