The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/641955
2016 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE recruiting cycle, landing a minimum of five offensive linemen to achieve the desired three-deep. The Maize and Blue are the early leader for five- star Isaiah Wilson of Brooklyn (N.Y.) Poly Prep, the nation's No. 3 overall recruit, and are also earnestly recruit- ing: El Cerrito (Calif.) High four-star Aaron Banks The 6-7, 305-pound Banks is the true tackle that U-M might not have in the 2016 class, and he is ranked No. 9 at his position and No. 70 over- all nationally. The No. 11 junior in California plans to visit Ann Arbor in the spring. Plantation (Fla.) American Heri- tage four-star Tedarrell Slaton Slaton has already named Michi- gan his favorite once in the process, but the competition will be fierce for the No. 16 offensive tackle and No. 143 overall prospect nationally. The 6-6, 339-pounder is simply enor- mous, but it's the athleticism to com- plement that size which makes him the No. 23 junior in Florida. Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy four-star Cesar Ruiz A former teammate of 2016 signees Brad Hawkins Jr. and Ron Johnson at Camden (N.J.) High, Ruiz enters his second year at IMG Academy as the No. 3 center and No. 176 overall prospect nationally, and the No. 28 junior in Florida. He's taken multiple past visits to Ann Arbor and is ex- pected to remain high on the Maize and Blue with his friends on the ros- ter come this fall. DEFENSIVE LINE Scholarship Players In 2017: 9 Need: 4 Commits: 0 The commitment of five-star defen- sive tackle Rashan Gary was huge for the Wolverines in terms of national perception and his incredible talent, but more importantly because there is a significant need along the defen- sive line that will become more obvi- ous in 2017. In two years, Michigan will have just five interior players, including fifth-year senior Maurice Hurst plus redshirt juniors Bryan Mone and Brady Pallante. The Wolverines will have just four defensive ends, all four having yet to prove themselves — Lawrence Mar- shall will be a redshirt junior while Shelton Johnson and Reuben Jones would be redshirt sophomores, and Ron Johnson signed this month. Regardless of whether new defen- sive coordinator Don Brown employs more 4-3 or 3-4 looks, it's good to have six to eight bodies along the interior and another six at defensive end for competition and depth pur- poses. Thus, Michigan needs to sign at least two tackles and two ends in the 2017 class, and is already on the trail of: Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy five-star Josh Kaindoh The No. 2 player in the country looks like a Greek God at 6-5, 241 pounds. The top defensive end na- tionally and top Floridian in the ju- nior class visited Ann Arbor for the