The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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AUGUST 2017 THE WOLVERINE 47 FOOTBALL RECRUITING four-star cornerback Myles Sims and Buford (Ga.) High three-star running back Christian Turner — both Michi- gan commits — well and is excited to see Ann Arbor because of what they've told him. The biggest fish in the group, St. Brown, is the No. 1 wide receiver and No. 4 overall prospect nation- ally according to Rivals.com. The 6-1, 187-pounder makes everything look easy on the field. His brothers Osiris and Equanimeous attend Stanford and Notre Dame, respectively, but the appeal of Harbaugh, and per- haps more specifically Pep Hamilton, keeps the Wolverines on his mind. "Michigan is really recruiting me hard right now," St. Brown said ear- lier this summer at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge. "Coach Pep Hamilton is a football mega-mind. He knows a lot about plays and schemes, and I think he's a great coach." It feels like a three-horse race be- tween Stanford, Notre Dame and USC for St. Brown, with Michigan and Ohio State hanging in as well. His recruitment will be one of the closer watched ones of the fall. OVERALL CLASS SIZE A big factor in how the rest of the 2018 class evolves will be determined by just how many spots are available on Michigan's roster come the 2018 season. As of July 7, Michigan was committed to 76 scholarships for the fall of 2018, assuming redshirt sopho- more defensive end Shelton Johnson is indeed done at U-M. The program hasn't officially announced anything but he didn't play in the spring game and he hasn't been seen around Ann Arbor in some time. Junior wide receiver Grant Perry's legal issues seem resolved, and it appears he will be back in the fall. Given those situations, Michigan only has nine scholarships to give in the 2018 class. Entering the 2018 season quarter- back Wilton Speight, wide receiver Moe Ways, tight end Ian Bunting, of- fensive tackle Juwann Bushell-Beatty, defensive lineman Chase Winovich, defensive lineman Lawrence Mar- shall, defensive lineman Bryan Mone, linebacker Jared Wangler, linebacker Noah Furbush, cornerback Brandon Watson and cornerback Drake Harris would all be fifth-year seniors. It's reasonable to think that some players will be done at Michigan after 2017, which would increase the available spots in 2018. These numbers are very fluid and constantly changing based on ex- pected and unexpected attrition. For example, no one saw former Asiasi leaving the program after his freshman campaign or incom- ing freshman defensive end Corey Malone-Hatcher medically retiring from football. ❏ The Five Most Realistic Remaining Targets The following is a look at a handful of 2018 prospects that could realistically commit to the Wolverines. Ramsey (N.J.) Don Bosco Prep four-star strongside defensive end Tyler Friday Anytime Michigan is chasing a prospect from New Jersey, people tend to pay attention. Friday — Rivals.com's No. 4 strongside defensive end and No. 41 over- all prospect nationally — stays quiet about his recruitment, but he's very high on the Wolverines. The 6-3, 260-pounder put U-M in his top group along with North Carolina, Rutgers, Ohio State, Alabama, Miami, Penn State, Georgia, UCLA, Michigan State, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Syracuse, Nebraska and Boston College. A list that large indicates that he may not be all that close to a decision. Indianapolis Lawrence Central four-star outside linebacker Cameron McGrone Despite picking up a Michigan offer in late June, McGrone is considered a U-M lean. The 6-1, 210-pounder, who is considered the No. 16 outside linebacker in the country by Rivals.com, put the Wolverines in his top group along with Indi- ana, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Wisconsin just a week after picking up a tender from the U-M staff. He's close with Michigan sophomore running back Chris Evans, another India- napolis product, and that could prove advantageous when McGrone gets ready to commit. Missouri City (Texas) Ridge Point four-star tight end Mustapha Muhammad The 6-5, 225-pound Muhammad is probably the closest thing to a lock to end up at Michigan in this group. Rivals.com's No. 18 tight end in the country has been quite open about his future plans, which include picking U-M closer to National Signing Day. Concord (N.C.) High four-star defensive tackle Rick Sandidge Sandidge insists he has a top 11 made up of Ohio State, South Carolina, North Carolina State, North Carolina, Vir- ginia Tech, Michigan, Florida State, Florida, Georgia, LSU and Miami, but a few schools appear to be closer to the top than the rest and U-M is one of them. The 6-5, 263-pounder loved Ann Arbor during a June visit and has been tweeting about the Wol- verines ever since. Sandidge, the No. 4 defensive tackle and No. 48 overall prospect nationally according to Rivals.com, would fill a position of need within the 2018 class. Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter's Prep four- star outside linebacker Shayne Simon It's a Notre Dame-versus-Michigan battle for the 6-2, 210-pound Simon, and both programs think they're in the lead. Simon — Rivals.com's No. 9 outside linebacker and No. 138 overall prospect in the country — is a per- fect fit for the Viper position in Don Brown's de- fense, and that appeals to the New Jersey native. — Brandon Brown Rivals.com rates Ramsey (N.J.) Don Bosco Prep stand- out Tyler Friday as a four-star talent, and the No. 4 strongside defensive end and No. 41 overall player in the country. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM