The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/495628
MICHIGAN RECRUITING shown any signs of slowing down when it comes to adding new players to those ranks. A spring offer blitz has accounted for a large proportion of that volume, and the coaches expect to offer even more prospects when they see some in person during the evaluation period from April 15 to May 31 and at summer camp in June. In the 20117 class, 38 prospects already have earned the honor of a Michigan offer, and that number proj- ects to increase even more rapidly than among rising seniors. The change in recruiting philoso- phy extends to recruiting staff as well. Whereas on-field coaches and director of player personnel Chris Singletary were primarily responsible for the en- tire recruiting load under Hoke, Har- baugh has expanded the staff, bring- ing in director of recruiting operations Chris Partridge — a former high school coach at Paramus (N.J.) Catho- lic, where he led U-M sophomores Jabrill Peppers and Juwann Bushell- Beatty prior to their becoming Wol- verines — and recruiting coordinator Matt Doherty (who served in a similar role at the University of Miami). The additional staff provides more manpower for film evaluation, elec- tronic contact (non-coaching staffers can initiate contact through e-mail or social media), and planning for the recruiting process. That streamlines the responsibilities for the coaching staff and allows for U-M to cast a wider net before narrowing focus to others. ❏ In-State Recruiting Picture The Wolverines have offered 10 of the top 20 prospects in the state for 2016 and have landed two of them with potentially more on the way. The following is an overview of Michigan's best rising seniors. 1. Daelin Hayes, LB, Skyline High School, Ann Arbor — Rated as a five-star prospect, and the No. 5 outside linebacker and No. 19 overall player nationally by Rivals.com … 6-3, 227 pounds … Committed to USC in July 2014 … At- tended U-M's spring game with Skyline High team … Seems very solid to USC at this time, giving Michigan a very slim chance to flip him. 2. Donnie Corley, WR, Martin Luther King High School, Detroit — Rated as a four-star recruit, and the No. 12 wide receiver and No. 66 overall player na- tionally by Rivals.com … 6-3, 185 pounds … High on Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan State, LSU and Tennessee … Has visited Michigan multiple times since Jim Harbaugh was hired, including for the spring game … Michigan seems to be making up ground on his previous leaders. 3. Michael Onwenu, DT, Cass Tech High School, Detroit — Rated as a four-star recruit, and the No. 19 defensive tackle and No. 182 overall player nationally by Rivals.com … 6-2, 320 pounds … Is being recruited as an of- fensive lineman by multiple schools … Once called Ohio State his leader, but has backed off of that and is now highly interested in Michigan … Has been to