The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/641955
2016 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE backs in Kareem Walker (6-1, 210) and Kingston Davis (6-1, 225) that fit the mold Harbaugh developed and excelled with at Stanford. Karan Higdon will be a junior in 2017 and Wyatt Shallman a fifth-year senior. The 6-3, 244-pound Shallman could answer a big question — who will play fullback going forward? At present time, U-M's only true fullbacks are walk-ons, thus the Wol- verines could recruit a fullback-spe- cific athlete. Michigan has a commitment from three-star tailback Kurt Taylor but is recruiting a number of elite ball car- riers, including: Antioch (Calif.) High five-star Na- jee Harris The top tailback in the country is already committed to Alabama, but he is more than willing to consider other options at this early stage of the recruiting process. The top junior in California and No. 5 overall pros- pect nationally is a 6-2, 222-pounder reminiscent of current Bama tailback Derrick Henry. Germantown (Tenn.) St. George's three-star Chase Hayden Although he's a Tennessee native and the son of a former Volunteer running back, Hayden has connec- tions to Michigan, too. His dad, Aaron, headed to Knoxville from the Detroit area — and may have been a Wolverine if U-M's coaches had wanted a second tailback in the 1991 class that produced Tyrone Wheat- ley — and there's plenty of family still there. The 5-10, 175-pounder is the No. 11 junior in Tennessee and the No. 7 all- purpose back nationally. WIDE RECEIVER Scholarship Players In 2017: 10 Need: 2 Commits: 0 Michigan loaded up on wide re- ceivers in the 2016 class, signing six, though three-star athlete Chris Evans could move to defense eventually. While U-M has a top three of Jehu Chesson, Amara Darboh and Grant Perry in 2016, chances are the Wol- verines will play at least two or three of their true freshman wideouts so they are poised to play bigger roles in 2017 when Chesson and Darboh graduate and Perry moves into his junior year. With nine to 10 wide receivers eligible for 2017, including redshirt juniors Drake Harris and Maurice Ways, Michigan does not face a des- perate need at the position. How- ever, this coaching staff is constantly looking to upgrade the talent — es- pecially at the skill positions — to compete for championships, and the Maize and Blue will be eager to land a pair of difference makers on the outside. In-state four-star standout Dono- van Peoples-Jones, the nation's No. 20 overall prospect, is a hot name to watch and U-M has a chance to re-secure recent decommitment Jer- emiah Holloman, a three-star, but a few other names under consideration include: Pinson (Ala.) Clay-Chalkville four-star Nico Collins