The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/418536
FOOTBALL RECRUITING is a safety (where he's the No. 11 player at the position in the country), not a cornerback like the lost pledges. The Wolverines have active offers out to several of the nation's best defensive backs — No. 3 overall player Iman Marshall of Long Beach (Calif.) Poly tenta- tively plans to take an official visit to Ann Arbor — but they might be tough pulls for a team with an underwhelming 2014 season and a coaching staff on the hot seat. U-M may choose to offer local prospects such as three-star Saline (Mich.) High safety Tyrone Miller, but will almost certainly have to replace for- mer commitments with lesser-ranked players. DEFENSIVE END DARIAN ROSEBORO Michigan needs a pass-rusher to replace Roseboro — who is ranked as a de- fensive tackle but had planned to play on the end in Ann Arbor — and there is one highly regarded option to do just that. Orange (Calif.) Lutheran five-star Keisean Lucier-South is a 6-6, 220-pounder with natural athleticism on the edge. He grew up a Michigan fan and took his official visit for the Wolverines' night game victory over Penn State. While Oregon, UCLA and others will be tough competition, Michigan has a fighting chance to land the No. 30 overall prospect nationally despite the uncertainty around the program. LINEBACKER DARRIN KIRKLAND JR. Kirkland may be the tough- est player for Michigan to re- place. Among the nation's top 25 inside linebackers, only four are uncommitted, and none of those are considering the Maize and Blue. It's a similar situation for outside lineback- ers (where Michigan also hopes to land one prospect), and the Wolverines may have to take a pass on the group in the 2015 class, or reach for a sleeper prospect to develop within the system. Fortunately, the 2016 class looks stronger, with U-M already holding a pledge from Dele' Harding, the No. 5 inside linebacker in the class, and considering several other prospects. The decommitment of Indianapolis Lawrence Central inside linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. — ranked No. 7 nationally at his position — leaves a hole that will be tough for U-M to fill. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM