The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/465847
FOOTBALL RECRUITING at least two signal-callers in the class. The top two targets — both for Michigan and in the nation — come from the West Coast. Lake Stevens (Wash.) High five- star Jacob Eason is the country's top overall prospect, but the 6-5, 207-pounder is an early commitment to Georgia. Michigan has still shown interest, with Harbaugh stopping by the school prior to National Signing Day 2015. Rancho Santa Margarita (Calif.) Santa Margarita Catholic four-star KJ Costello is a more realistic option. The No. 2 pro-style passer and No. 25 overall prospect in the nation is a 6-4, 218-pounder who has already taken an unofficial visit to Ann Arbor for the 2014 summer camp, and plans to return for an early spring practice. He is close friends with several pros- pects from Southern California and could have a pied piper effect should he choose the Maize and Blue. Michigan has already suffered a decommitment in the 2016 class, but Huber Heights (Ohio) Wayne quar- terback Messiah deWeaver plans to consider U-M (along with Michigan State and Kentucky, among others) going forward. The 6-3, 200-pounder is the No. 219 overall prospect and No. 7 pro-style passer in the class. RUNNING BACK Scholarship players in 2015: 6 Seniors in 2015: 0 Needs in 2016: 1-2 The pain of missing on local stand- out Mike Weber in the 2015 class was eased by landing three-star Florid- ian Karan Higdon, but Michigan will need to land a top-flight running back in the 2016 class (for the first time since 2013, when Derrick Green picked U-M, and fellow five-star Ty Isaac transferred in after a year at USC). A second tailback is also pos- sible if he's the right fit. College Park (Ga.) Woodward Academy four-star Elijah Holyfield has athletic bloodlines — his dad is former heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield — and the game to back College Park (Ga.) Woodward Academy four-star running back Elijah Holyfield, the son of former heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield, ran for 1,735 yards and 25 touch- downs on 264 carries as a junior. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM