The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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16 THE WOLVERINE MARCH 2017 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS 30-Man Class In 2017 Is U-M's Best Ever By Brandon Brown When you look at Michigan's 2017 class, it doesn't leave much to be desired. The haul finished at No. 4 overall ac- cording to Rivals.com, which ties with last year's group as the highest ever. Detroit Cass Tech wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy inside linebacker Jordan Anthony and Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon give U-M three five-star prospects, the most ever in the Rivals.com era. Peoples-Jones, Anthony and Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Acad- emy four-star Cesar Ruiz are ranked No. 1 at wide receiver, inside linebacker and center, respectively, giving U-M the best player it could get at three positions of need. Finally, with 13 trench players, eight offensive skill play- ers, eight second- and third-level defensive players, and even a highly rated punter all signed, the class has excellent balance, should provide depth moving forward and even brought in several prospects who should be on the field in 2017. This class will go down as the best ever at Michigan when Harbaugh and his gang are playing for Big Ten and poten- tially national championships in the years to come. Michigan's Class Has Accomplished Nothing By John Borton Without question, Jim Harbaugh put together the highest- rated recruiting classes since Rivals.com began sizing them up and assigning a number to them back in 2002. The Wolver- ines have boasted the No. 4 crew in the nation in 2016 and '17 That and a roll of 100-dollar bills will get you a seat on the 50-yard line when Ohio State rolls into town next November. The simple fact is, despite all the noise and show, the class of 2017 has yet to take even its first pop quiz, much less a major exam. Consider Michigan's class of 2004, for a moment. Five-star Chad Henne came in as the headliner and didn't disappoint, becoming the first true freshman ever to lead a Big Ten team to a conference title and a Rose Bowl. But three-star tailback Mike Hart found himself lost in the rumblings about four- star big back Max Martin out of Alabama — that is, until Hart took over almost immediately and became Michigan's modern-era rushing leader. Would you rather have five-stars Aubrey Solomon, Dono- van People-Jones and Jordan Anthony than not, along with a host of other talent? Of course. But it's a long road from the Signing of the Stars to the singing of "The Victors" in the College Football Playoff. That journey has only begun. POINT ❙ COUNTERPOINT IS 2017 MICHIGAN'S BEST RECRUITING CLASS EVER? Michigan's 2017 recruiting class is complete and contains 30 of high school football's best players from around the world. Jim Harbaugh and his staff went to New Mexico, Rhode Island, Texas, Alabama and even Canada to put to- gether a class that has the potential to play some very im- portant games in the years to come. With multiple five-stars, 11 early enrollees and several top-ranked players at their respective positions, is this the best class ever recruited to play football at the University of Michigan? Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon is one of three five-star prospects — the most ever in the Rivals.com era — the Wolverines signed Feb. 1. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM