The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/641955
2016 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE Wolverines' loss to Ohio State, and the Baltimore native seems keen on returning North for his college ball. St. Joseph (Mich.) High four-star Corey Malone-Hatcher The more unofficial visits to a given campus a prospect takes, the more likely he is to ultimately pick that school. That makes Malone- Hatcher — who has been to Ann Arbor at least a dozen times, more than he's been to any other institu- tion — a solid bet. The No. 7 junior in Michigan and No. 13 strongside end nationally is a 6-3, 246-pounder equally capable of defending the run and pass. Princeton (N.J.) The Hun School four-star Fred Hansard A 6-3, 314-pounder who picked up big-time interest after reclassify- ing from 2016, Hansard is the No. 5 defensive tackle and No. 89 overall prospect nationally. He is also the No. 2 junior in New Jersey, a state Michigan has emphasized. National powers are in hot pursuit, but Mich- igan's success in his home state is nothing to sneeze at. LINEBACKER Scholarship Players In 2017: 9 Need: 2 Commits: 0 Michigan was in serious trouble entering 2016 with just one veteran returning (senior Ben Gedeon). How- ever, U-M should enter 2017 feeling pretty good about its linebacker corps thanks to five signees in this class, the potential return of Chase Winovich to linebacker (from the H- back/tight end spot he played in his redshirt freshman campaign) and perhaps the arrival of Reuben Jones, who took snaps at linebacker in bowl practices, in addition to defensive end, during his rookie season of 2015. Michigan filled this year 's class with three inside linebackers, in four- star Devin Bush Jr., four-star Elysee Mbem-Bosse and three-star Devin Gil, and will start four-star Carlo Kemp and three-star Joshua Uche on the outside, in roles that could look like rush ends in Brown's defensive plan of attack. The Maize and Blue aren't ready to compete with the Alabamas of the world yet, needing to improve their athleticism at key positions, includ- ing linebacker. U-M should sign two, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy 's Josh Kaindoh, a five-star recruit and the No. 2 overall prospect nationally according to Rivals.com, is U-M's top target along the defensive line. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM