Welp, here it is. My final 2016 Best Guess Recruiting Class prediction and though some may think it was easier with NSD on the docket, it wasn’t. This is by far the most insane recruiting cycle I’ve ever covered thanks to the #HarbaughEffect as well as the +5 win season and bowl game blowout for Team 136.

Here’s a breakdown of how I got to my final class prediction:

• While the final number is not 100% known as the staff may sign who they can land, the target number looks to be 30 as both The Michigan Insider’s Sam Webb and 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong are reporting that’s the target number.
• As for commits that are in limbo, the list has shrunk big time since last week as LB Dytarious Johnson is the only name that is definitely up in the air at the moment. From the intel I’ve received, he’ll eventually end up at Michigan but it’s not known exactly when. It looks like there’s a chance he goes the prep school route if he doesn’t sign on Wednesday.
• With 25 current commits including Dytarious Johnson and Nate Johnson, I have added 6 uncommitted players to the list below. Out of the 6, only a couple of them look like definite additions while the rest are toss ups going into their NSD announcements.

On top of this being my final 2016 class prediction, this is also the final round of the dueling class predictions between myself and Maize N Brew’s Anthony Broome. Like always, make sure to check Broome’s final class prediction and then vote at the bottom to who you believe had the most realistic list.

So, rip it apart, praise it, yell at me when I miss on a couple predictions or add your final 5-6 commitments in the comment section below. Either way, enjoy it and get ready for a wild Wednesday.

Chances Key

• Excellent – Expected to Commit
• Very Good – Definitely Possible/Top 2 Teams
• Good – Realistic Option
• Decent – Puncher’s Chance
• Low – Likely Not Happening

1. QB: Brandon Peters, 6’5” 205lbs. Avon, IN (Avon)

via Doug McSchooler/for The Star

The Avon two-sport star’s recruitment was very quiet and simple. After landing his offer from Michigan back on February 9th, most believed he was bound for the Maize and Blue, as long as they didn’t pick someone up before he got on campus. And they were right. Peters pulled the trigger within hours of getting on campus for the first time.

• Commitment Date: 4/4/2015
• Story
• First on List: March 2015
• Highlights
• Early Enrollee: Yes

2. RB: Kingston Davis, 6’1” 225lbs. Prattville, AL (Prattville) 

via Albert Cesare/ Montgomery Advertiser)

As for his recruitment, it was a very quiet one at that. He only held offers from three other Power 5 conference teams and once Michigan offered him and landed his teammate and good friend Keith Washington (2015 CB signee), things looked great. Add in a wonderful visit for the spring game and Michigan had it’s 1st running back of the 2016 class.

• Commitment Date: 4/6/2015
• Story
• First on List: April 2015
• Highlights
• Early Enrollee: Yes

3. RB: Kareem Walker, 6’1” 210lbs. Wayne, NJ (De Paul Catholic)

via John Jones/MaxPreps

There weren’t many recruitments that were as wild as Walker’s. He committed to Ohio State at halftime of their National Championship game and stuck with it for months. Then news broke of him taking an out of the blue official visit to Michigan for the Northwestern game and that’s when the fun started. I learned that Walker was likely to decommit from OSU and favor UM, and he ended up following suit.

Thanks to the relationships he built with the staff, players and recruits, as well as his fit in the offense, he saw the right fit in Ann Arbor even though both Florida State and others had him thinking twice before his decision. But at the end of the day, he stayed true to his word and committed to UM.

• Commitment Date: 12/17/15
• Story
• First on List: January 2014
• Highlights 
• Early Enrollee: Yes

4. WR: Dylan Crawford, 6’1” 175lbs. Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (SMC) 

Michael Ulatoski/U.S. Army All-American Bowl

Crawford’s recruitment was a bit of a roller coaster. Early in the process, he visited Ann Arbor with friend and teammate QB KJ Costello, and both were said to love everything they saw. However, the coaching staff change looked to put UM on the back burner until Harbaugh and company came calling again. Thanks to his official visit for the MSU game, the educational and football opportunities in Ann Arbor (it also helped that Oregon reportedly ran out of room in their class), he decided to don the Maize and Blue hat at the Army All-American Game.

• Commitment Date: 1/9/2016
• Story
• First on List: August 2014
• Highlights
• Early Enrollee: No

5. WR: Eddie McDoom, 6’0” 175lbs. Winter Garden, FL (West Orange)

via orangeobserver.com

McDoom was a later offer for Michigan but quickly jumped to the top of the board for the staff. However, that didn’t matter as he visited and committed to Oregon in December ending UM’s chances to land the Sunshine State star. But like in just about every case now-a-days, his recruitment opened back up as he decommitted from the Ducks once they were against him taking an official visit to UM. Thanks to that opening and a great visit, Michigan landed themselves the best name in the 2016 class and a top wide receiver target on their board.

• Commitment Date: 1/27/16
• Story
• First on List: January 15th, 2016
• Highlights
• Early Enrollee: No

6. WR: Nate Johnson, 6’0” 180lbs. Thompson’s Station, TN (Independence)  

(via ANDY COLLIGNON/FranklinHomepage)

Johnson is a commitment by name only right now. He committed to Michigan back in December but after taking an official visit to Notre Dame in January and tweeting out his plans to make a “final decision” on NSD, most, including myself, expected him to flip. However, it looks like Harbaugh was able to re-secure his commitment during an in-home visit and now Johnson’s expected to sign with the Wolverines on Wednesday.

• Commitment Date: 12/12/15
• Story
• Michigan’s Chances: Excellent
• Announcement: 7am (EST) NSD
• First on List: December 2015
• Highlights
• Other Options: Keyshawn Young

7. TE: Nick Eubanks, 6’5” 225lbs. Plantation, FL (American Heritage)

Photo Credit: 247sports.com

Out of all of the commitments in the 2016 class, Eubanks may go down as the most out of left field commitment. He held an offer from the staff since March but looked likely to stay in SEC territory and play for Alabama or Florida. However, the staff reached out to him in mid-January and set up an official visit for a couple days later. Thanks to that visit and the possibilities in the Michigan offense, Eubanks is a Wolverine.

• Commitment Date: 1/28/16
• Story
• First on List: Now
• Highlights
• Early Enrollee: No

8. TE: Sean McKeon, 6’5” 230lbs. Dudley, MA (Shepherd Hill)

via Linda Flibbert/ESPN

McKeon’s recruitment like several of Michigan’s summer commitments as it completely changed once he received the offer from the Wolverines. He landed his offer on June 1st and decided to pull the trigger right after having a standout performance at the ExposureU camp in front of the coaching staff.

• Commitment Date: 6/15/2015
• Story
• First on List: July 2015
• Highlights
• Early Enrollee: Yes

9. TE: Devin Asiasi, 6’4” 265lbs. Concord, CA (De La Salle)

via Scout.com

After going out on a bit of a limb and adding Asiasi to the list last week, I feel much better about Michigan’s chances just days before NSD. Though he is no where near a lock, the momentum is definitely in the Wolverines corner. Asiasi and teammate DT/OL Boss Tagaloa are known to want to play together in college which makes UM and UCLA look like the top options but the staff will have to sway them off of the west coast. But if they can only get one, the safer bet is the talented tight end.

• Offer: Yes
• Visit: Yes
• Michigan’s Chances: Very Good
• Announcement: 3pm (EST) on NSD
• First on List: March 2015
• Highlights
• Other Options: Keyshawn Young, Jordan Fuller

10. OL: Ben Bredeson, 6’5” 295lbs. Hartland, WI (Arrowhead)

via Scout.com

As for his recruitment, Michigan looked to be a legit landing spot for him since about day one. Though most had him pegged to stay home and play for the Badgers, the mix of the new coaching staff, the possibility to play early and his brother being a member of the Wolverines baseball team, Michigan was the right place for him.

• Commitment Date: 6/17/2015
• Story
• First on List: April 2014
• Highlights
• Early Enrollee: No

11. OL: Stephen Spanellis, 6’5” 325lbs. Baltimore, MD (Gilman)

Photo Credit: Scout.com

Spanellis was offered by Brady Hoke early on in his high school career but didn’t seem to give Michigan much of a look. However, once Harbaugh and Drevno came calling, offered him a scholarship and brought him on campus for an official visit in mid-January, it looked likely that he’d be a Wolverine as long as he was a take by the staff. Well, those questions were answered when he decided to flip his commitment from Virginia to Michigan with the help of his teammate and former UM commit OT Devery Hamilton. 

• Commitment Date: 1/21/16
• Story
• First on List: Now
• Highlights
• Early Enrollee: No

12. OG: Michael Onwenu, 6’3” 365lbs. Detroit, MI (Cass Tech)

via MaizeAndBlueNews.com

Though “Big Mike” is a local product from Michigan’s (previous) super pipeline, his recruitment was a bit of a roller coaster. He was extremely high on Ohio State during the fall of his junior year but after the coaching change and the addition of Harbaugh, he became a top target and quickly started falling in love with the Maize and Blue. That admiration grew enough that he made a surprise visit to Schembechler Hall and gave his pledge to the Wolverines.

Though he visited Michigan State right before NSD, it would be a complete shock to see him sign with the Spartans on NSD.

• Commitment Date: 6/3/2015
• Story
• First on List: March 2014
• Highlights
• Early Enrollee: No

13. DT: Michael Dwumfour, 6’2” 285lbs. Wayne, NJ (DePaul Catholic)

Robert Kirkham/Buffalo News

Like a couple other “flips” during the Harbaugh era, the recruitment between UM and Dwumfour happened pretty quickly. The staff had been keeping an eye on him for quite awhile but held off on offering him. But as time started to run out on the cycle, Michigan made sure to get him on campus for an official visit. Thanks to that visit going off as well as possible, the De Paul Catholic standout decided to join his high school teammate, RB Kareem Walker, in Ann Arbor and commit to the Wolverines.

• Commitment Date: 1/25/16
• Story
• First on List: January 15th, 2015
• Highlights
• Early Enrollee: No

14. DL: Rashan Gary, 6’4” 295lbs. Paramus, NJ (Paramus Catholic)

via MaxPreps

Gary, the #1 overall player in the class, has been a member of almost every BGRC of mine since August of 2014 so it’d be fair to say I would be shocked if he ended up committing to anyone but Michigan on NSD. However, there’s no such thing as a lock in the recruiting world and his last couple official visits have very likely given UM some scares. Thanks to this last weekend’s visit, Clemson looks like a legit contender but I have yet to read or hear anything that points him to signing with the Tigers over the Wolverines.

• Offer: Yes
• Visit: Yes
• Michigan’s Chances: Very Good
• Announcement: 1pm (EST) on NSD
• First on List: August 2014
• Highlights
• Other Options: Boss Tagaloa

15. DE: Connor Murphy, 6’7” 250lbs. Phoenix, AZ (Brophy Prep)

via maxpreps.com

Murphy has received a couple USC Crystal Ball predictions right before NSD but I’m sticking with the Wolverines. According to Wolverine247’s Steve Lorenz, it still looks like it’ll be UM for Murphy though it will be close ($). This one truly is a toss up right now as Michigan, USC and Arizona State all look to be in it until the ink is dry. But thanks to his connections to Jim Harbaugh, I’ll be optimistic and include him in the final class.

• Offer: Yes
• Visit: Yes
• Michigan’s Chances: Very Good
• Announcement: 3pm (EST) on NSD
• First on List: February 2015
• Highlights
• Other Options: Boss Tagaloa

16. DE: Ron Johnson, 6’4” 240lbs. Camden, NJ (Camden)

via Lori M. Nichols/NJ.com

Ever since he visited back in March, most believed Michigan was the favorites and he didn’t hide his admiration for the Maize and Blue. Once he planned on making a return trip, a commitment looked inevitable, and it was as he decided to be the first New Jersey target to join the class over the summer.

• Commitment Date: 6/25/2015
• Story 
• First on List: March 2015
• Highlights
• Early Enrollee: No

17. DE/OLB: Joshua Uche, 6’3” 215lbs. Miami, FL (Columbus)

Photo Credit: VINCENT DEVRIES/The Miami Herald

As for his recruitment, this was another one that happened quickly for Michigan. He added his offer from the Wolverines right after Don Brown took the defensive coordinator position and became a priority for the staff. He officially visited Ann Arbor two weeks before NSD and saw everything he needed. Thanks to the opportunities in Ann Arbor and his friendship with LB Elysee Mbem-Bosse, Uche committed to the Wolverines with Mbem-Bosse on January 24th.

• Commitment Date: 1/24/16
• Story 
• First on List: January 25th, 2015
• Highlights
• Early Enrollee: No

18. DE/OLB: Carlo Kemp, 6’4” 250lbs. Boulder, CO (Fairview) 

via Karl Gehring/The Denver Post

In UM’s defense, the BUCK linebacker/hybrid defensive end position is one of the most important. And that is where Kemp is projected to play. He has the size, athleticism and instincts that should fit that position perfectly. Whether he starts off there or starts at defensive end or another linebacker position, there’s a good chance he sees the field early on in his career.

• Commitment Date: 11/8/2015
• Story 
• First on List: August 2015
• Highlights
• Early Enrollee: Yes

19. LB: Devin Bush Jr, 6’0” 228lbs. Pembroke Pines, FL (Flanagan)

via Greg Oyster/247Sports

As for his recruitment, as soon as the new staff took over, he became one of their top targets at linebacker. But most didn’t believe he would leave the state as his father (and coach) is a former standout Florida State Seminole. However, thanks to the staff’s pursuit, multiple visits to Ann Arbor and his two teammates (LB Devin Gil and S Josh Metellus) already being committed, he stuck with his silent commitment even with tons of rumors of him choosing FSU in the end.

• Commitment Date: 12/16/15
• Story
• First on List: June 2015
• Highlights
• Early Enrollee: Yes

20. LB: Elysee Mbem-Bosse, 6’3” 235lbs. Ellenwood, GA (Cedar Grove)

Photo Credit: Scout.com

As for his recruitment, Michigan had been targeting him for awhile but looked to be a forgotten offer by most as he looked to be favoring Auburn and NC State when he was expected to decide in December. However, he held off on those plans and the Wolverines jumped on their opportunity.

With time running out on the cycle and linebacker being a big need, the staff ramped up their pressure and got him on campus for an official visit. Thanks to that visit, the staff wanting him as much as they did and his budding friendship with DE Joshua Uche, Mbem-Bosse committed to the Wolverines along with Uche just hours after leaving campus.

• Commitment Date: 1/24/16
• Story
• First on List: January 25th, 2015
• Highlights
• Early Enrollee: No

21. OLB: Devin Gil, 6’1” 205lbs. Hollywood, FL (Flanagan)

via Hudl.com

As for his recruitment, he committed to Miami back in January and looked to be very solid on that commitment. That was until Michigan got involved. They quickly made him and his teammates, Devin Bush Jr and Josh Metellus, priorities, and once they got the trio on campus, it looked like just a matter of time. Especially after Gil decommitted from Miami while in Ann Arbor.

• Commitment Date: 6/19/2015
• Story
• First on List: June 2015
• Highlights
• Early Enrollee: No

22. CB: David Long, 6’0” 185lbs. Los Angeles, CA (Loyola) 

(via David Long)

Washington analysts believed they were destined to land the Loyola star but it was UM that took the lead when it mattered and Long showed it by wearing Michigan arm bands at the Army All-American game. UW didn’t give up the fight but thanks to a well documented in-home visit with Coach Harbaugh, having family in the state and childhood friend WR Dylan Crawford already joining the fold, Long decided to publicly commit to the Wolverines on ESPNU just a week and some change before NSD.

• Commitment Date: 1/21/16
• Story 
• First on List: February 2015
• Highlights
• Early Enrollee: No

23. CB: Lavert Hill, 5’10” 175lbs. Detroit, MI (King)

Lavert Hill. (via Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press)

Like a couple other top targets left on the board, Hill looks very likely to choose the Wolverines but until the ink is dry on his LOI, anything could happen. Michigan State made a bit of a run after him right before NSD but after visiting Ann Arbor twice in the last two weekends, all signs continue to point towards the Wolverines. Though this is not a lock and will be one to watch until he signs on Wednesday.

• Offer: Yes
• Visit: Yes
• Michigan’s Chances: Very Good
• Announcement: 9am (EST) on NSD
• First on List: February 2015
• Highlights
• Other Options: Jordan Fuller, Isaiah Simmons, Keyshawn Young

24. S: Josh Metellus, 6’0” 195lbs. Hollywood, FL (Flanagan)

via @SleeperAthletes

Metellus is another underrated defensive stand out the staff loved after seeing in person. Quickly after receiving the offer, he decided to decommit from Georgia Southern on his visit to Ann Arbor and join the Wolverine’s 2016 class a couple days later.

• Commitment Date: 6/17/2015
• Story
• First on List: June 2015
• Highlights
• Early Enrollee: No

25. ATH: Ahmir Mitchell, 6’3” 206lbs. Egg Harbor City, NJ (Cedar Creek)

via Andrew Mills/The Star-Ledger

As for his recruitment, he is a name that most Michigan recruiting fans know well as he was offered back in the Hoke era (as a safety) and was actually pretty high on the Wolverines. I even included him in my Best Guess Recruiting Class from September 2014. However, he went from a possible addition to a likely one once Harbaugh and the new staff made him a priority. Add in the New Jersey connections and Michigan has one of the best pure athletes in the 2016 class.

• Commitment Date: 8/27/15
• Story 
• First on List: September 2014
• Highlights
• Early Enrollee: Yes

26. ATH: Chris Evans, 5’11” 186lbs. Indianapolis, IN (Ben Davis)

via Doug McSchooler/Indy Star

While he didn’t have the longest offer list, as soon as Michigan got into the game, it was over. The staff quickly made the Ben Davis star a priority and made sure to get him on campus as soon as possible. After seeing what the program truly had to offer and receiving his offer, he went home and came to the conclusion that he wanted to be a Wolverine.

Though Ohio State and others tried to take a run at him, he wanted to stick with the Wolverines.

• Commitment Date: 6/7/2015
• Story
• First on List: June 2015
• Highlights
• Early Enrollee: No

27. ATH: Khaleke Hudson, 6’0” 205lbs. McKeesport, PA (McKeesport)

via Ken Reabe Jr./Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

ike a couple late cycle commits for Michigan, Hudson is a player who the staff jumped on later in the process. UM offered him at the beginning of November and quickly became a main player for his commitment along with longtime favorite Penn State and nearby Pittsburgh. Commits WR Brad Hawkins and DE Ron Johnson really helped the Wolverines chances with their pitches during the Semper Fi Bowl and then the staff took it from there on his mid-January official visit. Thanks to that trip and the opportunities in Ann Arbor, the McKeesport star left the Keystone State and joined UM’s 2016 class.

• Commitment Date: 1/27/16
• Story
• First on List: December 2015
• Highlights
• Early Enrollee: No

28. WR/ATH: Brad Hawkins, 6’2” 205lbs. Camden, NJ (Camden)

via David Gard/NJ.com

Michigan didn’t look like a very realistic option for Hawkins until the new staff took over and made him a top priority. Add in his fantastic trips to the Ann Arbor and most of his New Jersey buddies choosing the Wolverines and Michigan had this one in the bag for quite awhile.

• Commitment Date: 7/3/2015
• Story
• First on List: April 2015
• Highlights
• Early Enrollee: No

29. ATH: Victor Viramontes, 6’0” 215lbs. Norco, CA (Norco)

Photo Credit: David Bauman/The Press Enterprise

Viramontes was one of the biggest fan favorite commits in the class for the 6 months he was committed. However, some misinformation from his camp led to a decommitment. While it looked like he was likely to end up on the outside looking in on this class on NSD, it looks like things have been patched up between himself and the staff. If he’s indeed a take, it looks like he may end up rejoining the class on NSD.

• Offer: Yes
• Visit: Yes
• Michigan’s Chances: Very Good
• Announcement: NSD
• First on List: July 2015
• Highlights
• Other Options: Jordan Fuller, Keyshawn Young, Isaiah Simmons

30. K/P: Quinn Nordin, 6’1” 200lbs. Rockford, MI (Rockford)

via Bruce Nordin/SI.com

Nordin is now famously known as the recruit who committed to Penn State with a private jet video and had a sleepover with Jim Harbaugh. He’s also a priority recruit for Michigan in this class and though the official visit to USC on the last weekend before NSD makes things a little cloudy, it still looks very likely to choose to stay in-state and sign with the Wolverines.

• Offer: Yes
• Visit: Yes
• Michigan’s Chances: Excellent
• Announcement: 11am (EST) on NSD
• First on List: April 2015
• Highlights
• Other Options: Jordan Fuller, Keyshawn Young, Isaiah Simmons

Projected Class Score: 284.74 (per 247Sports)

This score would be 3 points behind LSU’s current class and only 2 points ahead of Ohio State’s current class. So if they do end up finishing the class like this, while the #1 overall class looks to be out of the picture (on 247Sports), a top 5 finish is very likely.

Just Off 

• ATH Jordan Fuller
  • Fuller decides tonight and it has gone from OSU being a near lock to it now being a toss up between the arch rivals. While I definitely think Michigan could land his commitment, I’ll stick with the Buckeyes here though will happily be wrong.
• DT Boss Tagaloa
  • Tagaloa was the last player I removed from the list. He’s the other half of the De La Salle duo and looks like a real option to join the class, however, there have been plenty of reports mentioning his family not wanting him to leave the west coast. So, unless they have a change of heart or Boss and the UM staff can talk them into it, it looks like he’ll play in the Pac12.
• ATH Keyshawn Young
  • Young was a normal member of this list for quite some time but after UM added multiple wide receiver commits and the Miami star pushed his decision back to NSD, the chances of an open spot being available looked slim. While I’m not completely ruling him out with spots possibly opening between now and Wednesday, it looks like he’s more likely to play his college ball at Louisville or USC.
• S Isaiah Simmons
  • Simmons is a name to watch up until he makes his final decision. According to TMI’s Sam Webb, while Clemson still looks like the favorite, Michigan made up a lot of ground during his official visit two weekends ago ($). At this point, he’s a guy I feel like UM could steal at the last second but I’m sticking with Clemson here.

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Photo Credit: David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire

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Garrett Fishaw

Marketing Manager and Communications Director by day, Owner and Managing Editor of MGoFish.com by night. Detroit resident. Played soccer and graduated from Seton Hill University.

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