MICHIGAN FOOTBALL RECRUITING

Michigan football received five new commitments in one day Wednesday, boosting its 2022 recruiting class into the top 10 during the early signing period.

[Photos via Twitter: @kodyjones_ and @iamtaylorgroves]ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan football landed commitments Friday morning from two four-star recruits out of Tennessee in the span of two minutes. 10 class in the country for 2021 on Wednesday by flipping Michigan State commit Rayshaun Benny and Colorado commit Ikechukwu Iwunnah while signing George Rooks. About one minute after Jones committed, four-star safety Taylor Groves, from Cross Plains, Tennessee, also announced his pledge to Michigan. Linebacker Junior Colson, a four-star and top 100 recruit, was the only Tennessee player in Michigan’s 2021 class. The only other Tennessee recruit to choose Michigan during the Jim Harbaugh era was three-star receiver Nate Johnson in 2016.

Michigan Wolverines Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh watches the replay during the fourth quarter of the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He’s allowed to defend his coach, but Michigan needed a change. Rocky Lombardi marched up and down the field against Michigan in 2020, as did Rutgers and a then-winless Penn State. Address defensive tackleMichigan’s approach to the defensive tackle position during the late Brown era was, to put it kindly, curious. RECRUITING: Michigan flips defensive tackles from Michigan State, Colorado on National Signing DayAdOn Wednesday -- the start of the late signing period -- the Wolverines flipped four-star defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny from Michigan State.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan football set off more recruiting fireworks on National Signing Day, flipping Michigan State defensive tackle commit Rayshaun Benny and Colorado defensive tackle commit Ikechukwu Iwunnah. Last week, they landed an important commitment from four-star defensive tackle George Rooks, the No. Perhaps the most high-profile announcement came Wednesday morning, as Michigan flipped Benny, the four-star Oak Park tackle, from rival Michigan State. When he didn’t sign with Michigan State during the early period, it was a sign that perhaps his recruitment wasn’t finished. Shaun Nua, Sherrone Moore and the rest of the defensive staff deserve credit for these recruiting wins.

Cornelius Johnson #6 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrate a fourth quarter touchdown during the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan football has officially signed 20 new players, and the overwhelming theme of this roster is a stacked offense and a defense with major holes. Offensive firepowerThere will certainly be transfers, NFL draft declarations and possibly even some late additions to the roster before the 2021 season, but as it stands, Michigan’s offense looks completely loaded. All three were stars in high school and highly regarded during the recruiting process. Losing commit Quintin Somerville to UCLA on Wednesday was a major blow for the 2021 class, as now, Kechaun Bennett, T.J.

But the bad news stopped there, as the biggest announcement of the day went in Michigan’s favor. Four-star running back Donovan Edwards, of West Bloomfield High School, chose Michigan over Georgia, Oklahoma, Ohio State and dozens of other offers. That would not have been good news for Michigan, especially since a new defensive staff is likely to take over. Finally, three-star cornerback Ja’Den McBurrows went on Instagram Live and chose Michigan over hometown Miami. McBurrows had scholarship offers from Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, Penn State, Florida State, Miami and many others.

RECRUITING: Michigan football’s depleted defense loses 2 of top commits on National Signing DayOn-field performance was the most obvious reason to believe Michigan could lose some of its top committed players. The Wolverines lost four of six games this season, including to in-state rival Michigan State and then-winless Penn State. Other than the Michigan State game, the losses weren’t even competitive. Michigan football recruiting: 4 victories, 2 major blows for 2021 class on National Signing DayEven Ja’Den McBurrows stuck with Michigan despite a full-court press from his hometown Miami Hurricanes, who enjoyed an 8-2 season. For Michigan to beat out those schools and sign Worthy, Edwards, Hood and McBurrows is a testament to the coaching staff’s ability to overcome enormous recruiting obstacles and keep the class together.

WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. – West Bloomfield running back Donovan Edwards -- a top 50 recruit and the No. 2 player in the state -- committed to Michigan football Wednesday over dozens of other programs. Edwards announced his decision on National Signing Day, choosing the Wolverines over programs such as Georgia, Oklahoma, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, USC, Wisconsin and Michigan State. 2 player in Michigan, Edwards is ranked No. While Michigan was in the mix for Edwards the entire cycle, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Georgia and Oklahoma were also contenders.

Michigan Wolverines defensive coordinator Don Brown reacts to a fourth quarter penalty during the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ohio State defeated Michigan 56-27. ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan football was weak on the defensive side of the ball this season, and National Signing Day brought more bad news, as the Wolverines lost two of their top defensive commitments. LATEST: Michigan cancels final game of season vs. Iowa due to COVID-19Indiana dropped 38 points on Michigan, and a week later, Wisconsin scored 49. MICHIGAN HOOPS: Should Michigan basketball be ranked?

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan football’s star quarterback commit, J.J. McCarthy, is holding the team’s talented recruiting class together despite an ugly three-game losing streak. "This great university demands excellence. We are all in this together.”By all accounts, McCarthy could be the stabilizing presence Michigan needs at the quarterback position. — J.J. McCarthy (@jjmccarthy09) November 15, 2020This great university demands excellence. — J.J. McCarthy (@jjmccarthy09) November 15, 2020There is always light at the end of the tunnel.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – When Michigan football takes the field Saturday against Minnesota, it will do so against seven players who received scholarship offers from Jim Harbaugh. Meanwhile, three of Minnesota’s best players received Michigan offers. That’s how recruiting works in this era of college football, and it means Michigan likely prioritized each of these players differently. 47 in OhioAccording to 247 Sports, Minnesota and Michigan were the only Power Five schools to extend scholarship offers to Fleming. He also received scholarship offers from Michigan State, Iowa, Northwestern, Purdue and Illinois.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – There are 25 players on the Michigan football roster who received scholarship offers from Minnesota during their recruiting processes. TE Erick AllRecruiting profile: 4-star, No. OL Karsen BarnhartRecruiting profile: 4-star, No. HenningRecruiting profile: 4-star, No. DL Luiji VilainRecruiting profile: 4-star, No.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan football added another elite linebacker recruit to its 2021 class Friday, landing former Florida State commit and top 100 overall player Branden Jennings. 82 overall recruit in the 2021 class. He had 42 official scholarship offers, including from Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, LSU, Auburn, Texas and Penn State. 7 in the country, behind only Ohio State in the Big Ten. 474 overall player) committed to the 2021 class.

Every single recruiting class is important, and the Wolverines have reached the point where the 2018 class -- by far Harbaugh’s most criticized group -- has to make major contributions. Remembering the 2018 recruiting cycleThe 2018 class was recruited amid Michigan’s worst season of the Harbaugh era. The result was Michigan’s only full recruiting class to be ranked outside the top 20 since Harbaugh took over. Michigan’s recruiting has since rebounded, but that 2018 unit will play a major role in the coming seasons. 18 in MissouriRole: Guaranteed starterNobody better exemplifies the 2018 class than Bell, and everyone who follows Michigan football knows his story.