The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN RECRUITING U-M's offer list in the 2017 class has climbed to 137 prospects, while the Wol- verines have offered 26 members of the class of 2018 and six in the 2019 class. • Director of player personnel Chris Par- tridge's promotion to interim linebackers coach has paid dividends on the recruit- ing trail. Elevating Partridge to a coaching role, rather than support staff, allows him to hit the road and see high school pros- pects on in-school and in-home visits. With the departure of defensive coordi- nator DJ Durkin, Partridge has filled in the gaps left in Florida and Georgia (where Durkin was the primary recruiter), while continuing to excel in New Jersey, where he was the head coach at Paramus Catho- lic High before being hired by the Maize and Blue. • The NCAA's recruiting calendar sees a Dead Period begin Dec. 14 and extend through Jan. 13. During this time, coaches may not visit high school prospects off- campus, nor are the players permitted to take official or unofficial visits to colleges. The Wolverines will resume hosting (and visiting) recruits in mid-January to close out their 2016 class. ❏ Rivals Re-Rank The penultimate Rivals100 and Rivals250 prospect rankings were released Dec. 7-8, and a few Michigan commitments (and targets) made significant moves. Pro-style quarterback commitment Brandon Peters remained a four-star pros- pect, but the 6-4, 195-pound product of Avon (Ind.) High climbed from No. 242 to No. 140 overall. Los Angeles Loyola cornerback David Long saw his ranking climb as well. The 6-0, 170-pounder moved from No. 134 to No. 94 overall. Although he's committed to Stanford, Long took an official visit to Michigan this fall, and the Wolverines are right in the midst of his recruitment — possibly close enough to steal him from the Cardinal. More Michigan targets, however, did see their rankings drop, and not just those who had other players move past them. That included a pair of future Wolverines up front. Detroit Cass Tech offensive lineman Michael Onwenu slid from No. 83 overall to No. 157, while Downers Grove (Ill.) South lineman Erik Swenson dropped from No. 115 to No. 223. While both are still firmly entrenched within the Rivals250, they didn't make quite the progress as seniors that would have allowed them to remain highly ranked. Wayne (N.J.) DePaul Catholic running back Kareem Walker dropped from No. 21 overall to No. 41, and perhaps more significantly, lost his fifth star, settling into high four-star range. The 6-0, 208 pounder is now the No. 2 running back nationally (surpassed by Clemson commitment Tavien Feaster), though the drop certainly doesn't indicate that he'd be any less of an instant-impact player should he opt to become a Wolverine. — Tim Sullivan