Photo Credit: MaxPreps

Crystal Ballin: Collins to Michigan

Posted onAuthorGarrett Fishaw

Could Michigan really pull off landing two 5 star wide receivers in the 2017 class? That now looks like the case more now than ever before as the coaching staff’s long and heavy recruitment of Cass Tech (MI) WR Donovan Peoples-Jones and Clay-Chalkville (AL) WR Nico Collins is clearly paying off.

Back in May, I finally felt confident enough to put in a Crystal Ball for Peoples-Jones after news broke of the talented Detroiter shadowing doctors at the UM hospital during his free time. It was that final piece of information I needed to get over the hump. And that’s what I’ve been looking for out of Collins.

Well, I’ve now reached the point of no return with the #1 recruit in Alabama as I have put in my Crystal Ball prediction for Collins to choose Michigan.

This is one I’m still not extremely confident in as Alabama will keep making him a priority up until he signs his LOI and it’s always tough to hold off the in-state power, especially when it’s the Crimson Tide and Nick Saban. But thanks to his family being from Detroit and full of UM fans, the staff’s pursuit, how his two visits this summer went, Alabama/SEC analysts putting in CBs and, now, his very pro-Michigan interviews at The Opening.

247Sports National Analyst Steve Wiltfong caught up with Collins earlier in the day and talked about Dylan McCaffrey possibly being his quarterback for his college career and the possibility of teaming up with Peoples-Jones at Michigan ($):

That might be my quarterback for three to four years,” Collins said. “He wants me in there pretty bad and I’m kind of loving Michigan.”

Wiltfong obviously felt good about what Collins was saying as well because he followed up posting the interview by putting in his Crystal Ball for Michigan.

To wrap up the day, he spoke with Scout’s Chad Simmons about his top five, which included Michigan. When UM was brought up, he couldn’t help but smile and gush about what he likes about the Wolverines ($):

Collins also told Huffman that he’s thought about committing in the past, including the trip to Michigan (which he named first).

Now, like I said, Alabama is still very much in the thick of this thing and could swoop in and land him at the drop of a hat. However, Michigan has fended them off this long and is the leader halfway through the summer. And when you look at how many receivers Bama is in on and very possibly leads for, including Devonta Smith, Henry Ruggs, Jerry Jeudy and Jeff Thomas to go along with already committed Tyrell Shavers, Michigan has the upper hand in pitching Collins as a main priority.

Though a commitment isn’t expected until NSD, it wouldn’t shock me at all to see a commitment before that. So, make sure to keep an eye on Collins throughout the cycle. No matter where he commits to, this one won’t completely be over until the ink is dry on his LOI.

Photo Credit: MaxPreps

Garrett Fishaw
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