Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Look Who’s Visiting Now: 2016 Spring Game and Junior Day

Posted onAuthorGarrett Fishaw

On Friday at 6pm, Michigan will host their biggest spring game in program history. The event will be viewed by many both in the stadium and on TV. But the people you probably care most about are the recruits that will be in attendance for both the game and the junior day event on Saturday. And the list is long and full of elite targets.

Check out which top 2017, 2018 and 2019 football recruits that are expected to be in town:

The Heavy Majority of the 2016 Class

Most, if not all, of the signees from the 2016 class have announced that they will be in attendance for the game. And this is huge. Having the top ranked class in town to help recruit the future class should really help Michigan’s chances.

2017 Commits 
LB Drew Singleton

According to Wolverine247’s Steve Lorenz, Singleton and teammate Corey Bolds are expected to be in town yet again for the game.

DT Corey Bolds

See above.

OL Brett Neilon

Neilon confirmed with me in February that he plans to visit Ann Arbor this weekend for both events. This could be a trip to watch closely as he’s making the trek across country, is at a high position of need and is close with 2016 signee WR Dylan Kekoa Crawford.

C Cesar Ruiz 

Possibly the name to watch closest during the trip, Ruiz is making another trip to Michigan though this time he’s coming up from IMG Academy in Florida with his teammates. UM looks to be his leader. If the staff pushes hard enough for him, there seems to be a chance he could jump on board during/soon after his trip.

WR Nico Collins

Per multiple reports, Collins will make his way up north to visit Michigan for the 2nd time this cycle. He’s a player that looks likely to stay in-state and play for Alabama though UM has plenty of “ins” here, including his family being from Detroit and full of Wolverine fans. If the staff can wow him and his family, they have a shot.

DT Phillip Paea

Paea confirmed that he’ll be making his third visit to Ann Arbor in just over a month. He’s another guy who the staff is really making a move on and could end up in this class in the not-so-distant future.

OL Robert Hainsey 

Per multiple reports, Hainsey will make a return trip up to Michigan for the game. And this could be a big trip. He’ll be there with plenty of top targets and teammates. It also helps that he looks to be a top target for the staff at a position of need.

TE Major Tennison

According to Steve Lorenz, the Texas commit will make his way up north for the spring game ($) and is a very real option for this class.

CB Deommodore Lenoir

Lenoir is a big maybe at this point. I was able to confirm with his recruiting coordinator that they are indeed setting up arrangements to get to the game. We’ll see if they’re able to make it.

ATH Collin Smith

Smith confirmed with me a month ago that he’ll be making a return visit to Michigan. He received his offer from the staff last fall and was close to pulling the trigger on a commitment. However, he held off and now it’ll be interesting to see where he stands on the staff’s board with the safety commits starting to come in.

DT Neil Farrell 

Farrell told The Wolverine’s Brandon Brown that he’s trying to find a ride to the spring game ($), so let’s put him in the maybe category for now.

RB O’Maury Samuels 

According to Wolverine247, Samuels will make his first trip to Ann Arbor for the spring game ($). This is a visit I’ll be paying close attention to as UM is the talented New Mexican’s biggest offer by far, fits the bill as a change of pace back the class needs and looks to be very high on the staff’s board. If things go really well, Michigan could be getting some good news.

DT Fred Hansard

Hansard announced on Twitter that he’ll be visiting Michigan for both the spring game and junior day. At first, this just looked like a courtesy visit as he didn’t look likely to choose UM when he decides in May. However, things may have changed. According to Steve Lorenz, Michigan may “push” for the talented New Jersey tackle on this visit ($). Could be another visit to keep an eye on.

OT D’Antne Demery 

Demery confirmed with The Michigan Insider’s Brice Marich that he’ll be visiting Michigan for the spring game right after picking up his offer from the staff ($). This could be an interesting recruitment as Demery is out of a state of heavy interest and at a high position of need.

RB Stephen Carr 

According to MaizenBrew’s Brandon Justice, the USC commit will indeed be making his way across the country for a spring game visit to Ann Arbor. With the staff heavily pursuing him and rumors of him looking around, Michigan could make a real impact on Carr and possibly look to flip him during/soon after the trip.

DT/OG Popo Aumavae 

Aumavae told Wolverine247 that it’s possible that he makes it to the spring game ($). If so, Michigan could really make a move in his recruitment as he looks to be a top target for the staff.

LB Jordan Anthony

Anthony let me know that he “plans” to be at the Michigan spring game on Friday. It’s not 100% confirmed but there is a large group of IMG Academy players making their rounds this week, so it makes sense they’d stop by Ann Arbor for the game.

UPDATE: Anthony confirmed with me that he is indeed visiting Michigan this Friday.

ATH Markquese Bell 

According to both Steve Lorenz and Touch the Banner, Bell is supposed to make the trip to Ann Arbor from New Jersey. This could potentially be a very big visit as Michigan was in early on Bell and looks to be a top contender for his services.

ATH Scotty Nelson 

Nelson is another maybe visitor. He let me know that he’s trying to make it to the game but it’s not 100% confirmed just yet.

UPDATE: Nelson tweeted out that he is indeed going to the game.

ATH Allen Stritzinger

Stritzinger will be making another visit to Ann Arbor on Friday. He’ll likely be the recruit on campus that’s been there the most.

FB Chase Lasater 

Lasater confirmed with me that he’ll indeed be visiting this weekend for “everything”. And though he doesn’t 100% hold an offer just yet, he did say that Michigan would “no doubt” be his top school once it comes through. If that offer officially comes through, I believe a #CommitWatch would quickly go into effect.

LB/DE Corey Malone-Hatcher

CMH’s father confirmed with me that Corey will indeed be at the spring game and the junior day event. He’s been a top target on the board for quite awhile and has favored UM. Could this be the weekend he finally drops? We’ll see.

DT Deontre Thomas 

Per multiple reports, Thomas will make his first trip to Ann Arbor for the spring game festivities just a couple weeks after receiving his offer from Michigan.

LB James Houston

Houston confirmed with me that he’ll be visiting Michigan during his spring visit tour up north. He’s one of the top players in Florida and comes from a school UM is trying to turn into a pipeline school (signed 2016 TE Nick Eubanks).

CB Elvis Hines

According to The Wolverine’s Tim Sullivan, Hines will also be making his way up north from IMG Academy with a handful of his teammates ($).

CB Meshael Custis

Per multiple reports including The Wolverine’s Brandon Brown, Custis will make his way up to Michigan for the Spring Game on Friday. At one point, Michigan looked to lead for the Peach State standout. This visit could jump them back to the top of his list.

2018

LB Antwuan Johnson

According to Steve Lorenz, Johnson will make his first trip to Ann Arbor since committing last week.

CB Kalon Gervin

Gervin confirmed that he will be making the trip to Ann Arbor for the spring.

OG/DT Marquan McCall

McCall confirmed with me that he will be heading to Ann Arbor alongside his teammate and 2017 commit JaRaymond Hall. Michigan looks to be in fantastic shape here and this visit should only solidify their spot on his list.

TE Mustapha Muhammad 

According to his Twitter account, Muhammad is expected to be in attendance for the weekend as well.

UPDATE: Muhammad confirmed with me that he will be in town for the game on Friday.

TE/DE Leonard Taylor

Taylor is expected to join his good friend, teammate and Michigan commit Antwuan Johnson on a return trip to Ann Arbor, per Wolverine247. This could be a visit to watch closely.

ATH Justin Ademilola

Ademilola tweeted out his plans to visit Michigan with his brother and teammate, Jayson. They both look to be top targets on the staff’s board for 2018 and this could help UM solidify themselves as a leader in their recruitment.

DE Jayson Ademilola

See above.

LB Bartek Rybka

Rybka tweeted out his plans to join the Ademilola twins on the spring game trip to Ann Arbor.

CB Patrick Lupro

Lupro let me know that he’s trying to make it to town with his coach but has yet to confirm the trip. He’s a name to watch closely in the 2018 class.

DE Aidan Hutchinson 

After recently receiving his offer from Michigan, the UM legacy will make he short drive from Dearborn to Ann Arbor for the spring game. Though the Wolverines are definitely in great shape early on, he is expecting to take his time and enjoy his recruitment.

OLB Merlin Robertson 

According to The Wolverine’s Tim Sullivan, Robertson will make his first trip to Ann Arbor for the spring game and likely the junior day. He doesn’t hold an offer yet but looks to be a name to remember going forward.

OT Jackson Carman

Carman is expected to make the trip over to Ann Arbor on Friday after visiting Michigan State on Thursday. He’s one of the top players in the class and in the region so, while OSU will be a huge threat, UM will look to knock his socks off on this visit.

LB Malik Vann 

247Sports Steve Wiltfong tweeted out that Vann will be joining Carman on his trip to Ann Arbor for the spring game.

TE Trenton Gillison

According to multiple reports, Gillison will be making the short trip up north to Michigan on Friday.

ATH Xavier Henderson

Per 247Sports, Henderson is supposed to join his teammate Gillison on the trip to Ann Arbor.

2019

LB Tyrece Woods

Woods will also be making his way to Michigan on Friday. Though he doesn’t hold an offer just yet, Michigan is definitely keeping a close eye on the future recruit and is in great standing early on.

OL Nolan Rumler

Rumler is one of the top players in the 2019 class and one of the best offensive lineman in the midwest regardless of class. Michigan looks like the heavy favorite here and though a commitment this early would be a out of the blue, I’m not sure if it’s completely out of the question.

There will be more names added to the list, including just about every top in-state target, so make sure to stay tuned to MGoFish by following us on Twitter and liking us on Facebook!

Photo Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Garrett Fishaw
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