Best Bets to Finish Out the 2016 Recruiting Class

Posted onAuthorGarrett Fishaw

With WR Brad Hawkins commitment, the 2016 Michigan recruiting class is nearly complete but that doesn’t mean the fun is over. There are about 7 spots available (and possibly more if/when decommitments take place) and tons of top targets that look like legit options to fill those final slots. But who will it be?

Here are the best bets to join Harbaugh’s first full class at Michigan:

TE Naseir Upshur

  • The top tight end on the board set his announcement date (August 8th) just days after leaving Ann Arbor. Add in his good friends, Ron Johnson, Brad Hawkins and Ahmir Mitchell, joining/probably pledging to the Wolverines and I believe this is a sure get for Michigan.
    • Probability: 99%

OG Terrance Davis

  • Davis is the odds on favorite to be the last member of the elite offensive line haul in the class. Not only has he been showing his affinity for the Maize and Blue, there are several rumors out there that he’s been silently committed for awhile now.
    • Probability: 90%

WR Ahmir Mitchell

  • Like Upshur, Mitchell left Ann Arbor with Michigan standing out among the rest. He told Rivals’ Adam Friedman that Michigan and Ohio State were on top ($) but most believe he’ll choose the Wolverines, including me.
    • Probability: 85%

LB Devin Bush Jr

  • Bush Jr is one of the top players on the board and it just looks like a matter of time before his pulls the trigger for Michigan. I’ve been hearing and reading rumblings of his commitment/silent commitment for awhile now so I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see him join the class in the not-so-distant future.
    • Probability: 85%

DT Rashan Gary

  • The #1 player in the country recently visited Ann Arbor for his 2nd time but this time he brought his mom. And according to her interview with TheMichiganInsider’s Sam Webb, Michigan looks to be a heavy favorite moving forward ($). While his recruitment will probably go to the end of 2015/start of 2016, the staff will wait as long as possible to add Gary.
    • Probability: 75%

DB Tony Butler

  • The Pitt commit is looking around and Michigan looks to be the most likely team to flip him at this moment. He’ll be visiting either July 15th or 16th, and if a spot is still available, I believe he could be apart of the class during that trip or not too long after.
    • Probability: 50% (depends on available spot)

LB Jonathan Jones

  • Jones is a name that most Michigan fans have been waiting to drop for awhile now. He visited Ann Arbor for the first time at the end of June and looked to have a fantastic time. But he didn’t pull the trigger like I thought he would and is looking to hold off on making a decision. Because of that, there’s a chance a spot is unavailable.
    • Probability: 50% (depends on available spot)

WR Donald Stewart

  • Stewart looked like a sure-get for Michigan after landing an offer from his former high school coach. However, he held off and now it looks like Stanford could be the favorites after their offer. This one will be interesting, but things still look pretty good for the Wolverines, especially with his teammates and east coast friends joining the class.
    • Probability: 50%

DE Connor Murphy 

  • Murphy is the younger brother of former Stanford standout Trent Murphy and his family is extremely close with Harbaugh. He was one of the first 2016 offers for the staff and looks to be high on Michigan. However, will he leave the west coast? We’ll see. It could be a two team race between Michigan and USC.
    • Probability: 50%

LB Dontavious Jackson

  • Jackson is one of the most wanted recruits in this class because of his playing style and potential, and Michigan fans just get their wish. He is very high on the Wolverines and hasn’t hid that fact. His recruitment will likely go much longer than most targets on the board but, as long as a spot is still available, things looks good for him to don the Maize and Blue in college.
    • Probability: 45%

OLB Caleb Kelly

  • Kelly is the top pure outside linebackers on the board and has been very high on Michigan since Harbaugh took over. It looks like a two-horse race at the moment between Michigan and Oklahoma, and I’ve heard there’s a staff shake up at OU that could be big for UM. He’s another target the staff will likely always have a spot for in the class.
    • Probability: 45%

OLB/DE Xavier Kelly

  • Kelly is quickly becoming a fan favorite and one of the top players on the board. His dad is a fan of the Wolverines and from Detroit, and that could be one of the biggest factors in his decision. This recruitment will likely go on for awhile with every top program taking a run at him.
    • Probability: 35%

CB Chris Brown

  • Teammates with LB Dontavious Jackson, Brown looked to be close to committing to Michigan after his spring game visit. However, he held off and, like Lucas, his spot may be in question. The staff already has 2 corners committed and will likely take one, maybe two, more. The quicker the decision, the better the odds of him being apart of this class IMO.
    • Probability: 25%

K/P Quinn Nordin

  • The top kicker in the country and state of Michigan product is expected to make his decision in the near future. It looked like the Wolverines were the favorite here, especially after he said he wanted to visit Ann Arbor again before pulling the trigger. However, most analysts believe he’s headed elsewhere (Penn State is the 247Sports crystal ball favorite).
    • Probability 25%

DE/OLB Terrell Lucas

  • Lucas was another player that looked like a sure-get after landing his offer during the satellite camp tour. However, he has held off and the longer it goes on, the less likely a spot is available. We’ll see if he jumps on board with the class almost filled up but with higher names on the board, it may have been too late.
    • Probability: 20%

Off the List but to Keep an Eye On:

  • ATH Keyshawn Young
  • WR Dredrick Snelson
  • OT Jean Delance
  • OG JonCarlo Valentin
  • OL Michael Eletise
  • OL Landon Dickerson
  • CB David Long
  • WR Dez Fitzpatrick
  • CB Lavert Hill
  • WR Donnie Corley
  • LB Camilo Eifler
Garrett Fishaw
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