Five Finger Discount: Michigan’s Top Recruiting Steals

When Michigan hired Jim Harbaugh and his staff, I knew he would likely target some underrated recruits thanks to their eye for talent. But I don’t think anyone saw the 2016 class coming. Though he and his staff have Michigan at/near the top of some of the most elite recruits in the country, they have accepted several two and three star recruits as well as a couple recruits who didn’t even have recruiting profiles.

Because of those additions, fans are a little worried. But if I had one piece of advice to give, it would be to not sleep on the underrated commits in this class.

If a coaching staff completely made up of NFL/elite college football level coaches think a player is worth an offer from Michigan, I think the player is worth the offer. And when you look at some of the talent they have found, there looks to be multiple “steals” in the group.

Speaking of recruiting steals, Michigan has had more than their fair share of former two and three star recruits that turned into stars in the Maize and Blue, including:

Recruiting steals between 2002 and 2012

2002:

  • LB David Harris (3* via Rivals, Unranked on Scout)

2003:

  • LB/DE Shawn Crable (3* via Scout)

2004:

  • RB Mike Hart (3* via Rivals and Scout)
  • Jamar Adams (3* via Rivals and Scout)
  • DT Alan Branch (3* via Scout)

2005:

  • TE Carson Butler (3* via Scout)

2006:

  • LB Obi Ezeh (3* via Rivals and Scout)

2007:

  • David Molk (3* via Rivals)
  • WR Junior Hemingway (3* via Rivals)

2008:

  • OG Patrick Omameh (2* via Rivals, 3* via Scout)

2009:

  • WR Jeremy Gallon (3* via Scout)
  • RB Fitzgerald Toussaint (3* via Scout)

2010:

  • LB Jake Ryan (3* via Rivals and Scout)

2011:

  • DE Frank Clark (3* via Scout (TE) and 247(ATH))
  • LB Desmond Morgan (3* via Rivals, Scout & 247)
  • RB Thomas Rawls (3* via Rivals, Scout & 247)

2012:

  • DL Willie Henry (3* via Rivals, Scout & 247)
  • RB Drake Johnson (3* via Rivals, Scout & 247)

As for the possible steals in Harbaugh’s class and the last couple classes for Hoke:

Possible 2013-16 steals

  • 2016 QB/ATH Victor Viramontes (3* via Rivals, Scout & 247)
  • 2016 TE Sean McKeon (2* via Rivals, 3* via Scout and 247)
  • 2016 DL Rashad Weaver (2* via Rivals, Scout & 247)
  • 2016 CB Benjimin St-Juste (3* via Rivals and 247, 2* via Scout)
  • 2016 RB Kingston Davis (3* via Rivals, Scout & 247)
  • 2015 RB Karan Higdon (3* via Rivals, Scout & 247)
  • 2015 CB Keith Washington (3* via Rivals, Scout & 247)
  • 2013 DT Maurice Hurst (3* via Rivals)
Garrett Fishaw