The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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52 THE WOLVERINE JANUARY 2018 BY BRANDON BROWN A s of Dec. 15, Michigan had 16 to- tal commitments with room for six to eight more depending on addi- tional attrition and possible changes to the status of the 16 commits. Outside of Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County four-star outside linebacker Otis Reese, none of Michigan's com- mits have hinted that they'll look around — but recruiting is always fluid. Reese has been flirting with Georgia all fall, but is still viewed as a U-M com- mit as the calendar year wraps up. The following is a look at Michigan's remaining targets divided into tiers. Tier 1 targets have a very good chance of ending up at U-M. These prospects have all shown serious interest in the Wolverines and might be sporting the maize and blue at this time next year. Tier 2 targets also have a lot of in- terest in U-M but seem to be more drawn to other programs as National Signing Day approaches. Finally, prospects in Tier 3 techni- cally haven't eliminated Michigan but won't be committing to the Wol- verines — at least not without a ma- jor change in their recruitment. TIER 1 PROSPECTS Michael Barrett Valdosta (Ga.) Lowndes At 6-0, 200 pounds, Barrett plays mostly quarterback in high school and is being recruited as a wildcat weapon, slot receiver or possibly even a safety by the Michigan staff. Barrett, who is rated as the No. 72 player in Georgia by Rivals.com, took his official visit to U-M the weekend of Dec. 8 and there was some buzz that he might commit. That didn't happen, but now Michigan is perceived as the stand-alone leader for Barrett's services. Tyler Friday Ramsey (N.J.) Don Bosco Prep Perhaps Michigan's biggest target regardless of position, Friday looks like he might just end up picking the Wolverines in January. The four- star defensive lineman measures in at 6-3, 260 pounds and explained how Michigan would use him. "They see me as a defensive end or as a three-technique in their system," the New Jersey native said. "Coach [Don] Brown likes to see how quickly his guys can shoot to the ball out there. He really studies the game as well, and that's something I admire about him — I really like Don Brown." Friday is rated as the No. 4 strong- side defensive end and No. 64 overall prospect nationally by Rivals.com. If Michigan lands him, it would con- tinue a trend of bringing in talented prospects from New Jersey. Jalen Goss Valdosta (Ga.) Lowndes Goss, a teammate of Barrett, was also in Ann Arbor in early Decem- ber for an official visit and may be viewed as a U-M lean after that trip. "I spent time with a lot of the coaches during the visit, but I talked the most with Coach [Tim] Drevino and Coach [Greg] Frey," Goss explained. "I also talked to Coach Jim Harbaugh a cou- ple of times, and they all really said the same things to me. They all were say- ing that I should go to the school that I feel is the best fit for me. They think I could really fit in well at Michigan, and I kind of felt that way too. "Getting to be around those guys and talk with those guys more really helped me get to know them better and just feel better about them and the school." At 6-6, 270 pounds, Goss checks in as Rivals.com's No. 90 player in Georgia, but possesses a ton of upside as a long, lean, athletic tackle prospect. Miami and Auburn serve as the biggest threats to keep Goss away from Michigan. Jarrett Patterson Mission Viejo (Calif.) High Offered by Michigan in early No- vember, the three-star offensive tackle is very interested in the Wol- verines and set up an official visit to Ann Arbor almost immediately after being offered. Patterson swung by campus in early December and was able to take in Michigan's overtime win over UCLA on the hardwood. Ironically, the 6-5, 275-pounder is down to U-M and UCLA. Rivals.com's No. 34 offensive tackle in the country will make his decision in January and will pick either the Wol- verines or the Bruins. UCLA gives him an option much closer to home, but he insists that distance doesn't matter. Nick Petit-Frere Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley Prep If Friday isn't Michigan's top re- maining target then it's probably Pe- tit-Frere. The 6-5, 265-pounder is an- other long and athletic lineman type, and is considered the No. 7 offensive tackle and No. 67 overall prospect nationally by Rivals.com. Jim Harbaugh and Michigan will actually be practicing at Berkeley Prep in preparation for the Outback Bowl, giving Petit-Frere a chance to at least see the team in action. The U-M staff can't use the time on the high school's campus as a recruit- ing tool, but Petit-Frere can willingly check things out if he wants to. Petit-Frere is very focused in the classroom, making Michigan a very FOOTBALL RECRUITING U-M Is Down To A Manageable Number Of Legitimate Options In The 2018 Class Ramsey (N.J.) Don Bosco Prep standout Tyler Friday — the No. 4 strongside defensive end and No. 64 overall player in the land accord- ing to Rivals.com — is one of U-M's top tar- gets regardless of position. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM