The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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FOOTBALL RECRUITING lif.) Santa Margarita Catholic four- star Dylan Crawford may be the top target on the board. The 6-1, 175-pounder isn't physically impos- ing, but his big-play abilities have seen him earn a ranking as the No. 12 wideout and No. 66 overall prospect in the country. He is a close friend — and now teammate, after transferring from La Cañada (Calif.) St. Francis — of top quarterback target KJ Costello, and could be far more comfortable with Michigan if the passer ends up in the winged helmet as well. If that were to happen, the chemistry that the two have built up could make a whole more impressive than the sum of its (very impressive) parts. Another member of that particular group of friends — potentially all visiting together with Costello in the spring — is Westlake Village (Calif.) Westlake four-star Theo Howard. Another smaller receiver, the 5-11, 168-pounder still manages to be a deep threat and is exciting with the ball in his hands. The No. 104 overall player and No. 18 wide receiver in the country would be another big- time pull. Michigan's search for playmakers at the position has also seen an offer extended to Niceville (Fla.) four-star Eli Stove. Nearing five-star status as the No. 37 overall player (and No. 6 wide receiver) in the nation, Stove has other offers from Auburn, Florida State, Notre Dame and Oklahoma, so the competition will be fierce. How- ever, if Harbaugh plans to upgrade talent at the wide receiver position, he'll have to win some tough battles. Closer to home, Detroit King standout Donnie Corley is a 6-1, 174-pounder and the No. 14 wide re- ceiver in the nation for the 2016 class. The No. 89 overall player nationally has Michigan just outside his early top five, but Harbaugh and his as- sistants can make some serious noise in that department. TIGHT END Scholarship players in 2015: 5 Seniors in 2015: 1 (AJ Williams) Needs in 2016: 1-2 Michigan hoped to land more than one tight end in the 2015 class, so even picking up a very good one in Tyrone Wheatley Jr. (whose father is the Wolverines' running backs coach) can be considered a bit of a disap- pointment. A coach with a long his- tory of sending athletic pass-catchers to the NFL should have a strong chance at luring a couple big bodies to Ann Arbor. Concord (Calif.) De La Salle has produced several college stars — and NFL players — over the years, including former Wolverine quar- terback Matt Gutierrez and wideout Amani Toomer. Tight end Devin Asiasi could be next in line. The 6-5, 253-pounder is the No. 6 player at his position and No. 129 overall in the class, and has other options including Alabama, LSU, Oregon and USC. Getting him away from the West Coast could be tough, but if anyone can do it, it's Harbaugh. Exton (Pa.) Downington East three- star Cary Angeline is just the No. 16