With only a couple weeks left in the regular season, it is crucial for every team to take advantage of the precious few home dates they have left on their schedules to have prospects on campus. While Michigan likely had their biggest visit weekend of the year in early October for the Wisconsin game, they will not let their last two home games go to waste.
Here’s who will be on campus this weekend when the Wolverines host DJ Durkin’s Maryland Terps:
Commits
The first of two 2017 commits expected on campus this weekend will be 3-star Florence (AL) Florence HS safety J’Marick Woods. The rangy prospect is making his first visit to Michigan since June, and despite October OV to Arkansas, his pledge seems to be a pretty solid one, according to TMI’s Sam Webb.
3-star Darien (CT) Darien OT Andrew Stueber will join Woods as the other 2017 commit officially visiting Michigan this weekend. Stueber committed to the Wolverines after a strong showing at this summer’s “Big Man Camp” netted him an offer from the staff, and his commitment has never been in any doubt since then. This weekend’s visit will be first first since the BBQ, and should be a good opportunity for him to get to know his future campus and teammates a bit better, while also doing a little recruiting for the staff. Stueber is a really intriguing prospect, and is someone I’d be very excited to work with, if I were Tim Drevno.
Officials
Just a few weeks ago, not many would have expected to see former Michigan commit and 4-star Lee County High School (Leesburg, GA) DL Aubrey Solomon back on campus for an OV. But, thanks to a little persistence, the Michigan staff has been able to convince the talented peach state product to make his way back up north for a visit. More crucially, however, is that unlike his first visit, he’ll be taking this one with his mother. According to 247’s Isaiah Hole, having his mother on campus is a big deal, and could go a long way in Michigan’s chances at a re-commitment ($).
Michigan knows that if they have any chance of getting Aubrey back in the fold, they’ll have to make big impression on his mother. With the likes of Alabama, Georgia and Ole Miss in heavy pursuit, UM’s staff will likely pull out all the stops here because they probably won’t have another chance to make an impression on him.
WR Nico Collins
Pinson (AL) Clay-Chalkville’s Nico Collins has been at the very top of UM’s WR board for a very long time, and has seemed like a Michigan lean since the spring. With Darboh and Chesson moving on after the 2016-17 season, Harbaugh and co. are looking to replace their top two options at the position. The tall and sure-handed prospect is a perfect fit for Michigan’s pro-style attack, and, to pull him from Alabama’s backyard would make a commitment from Collins that much sweeter.
Nico has been a regular on Michigan’s campus over the past year and his visit this weekend will mark his fifth visit overall – an unusually high number for someone coming from so far. This will be Collins’ first OV, and is expected to take others to schools like Clemson, FSU, Georgia and Alabama. However, Scout’s Allen Trieu believes that Michigan still leads for him, and will use this visit to put some distance between them and their competitors.
Slaton is another expected official visitor that Michigan looks to lead for but not isn’t a lock. He’s visited Ann Arbor multiple times during his recruitment and, though he’s very quiet on the recruiting front, has given all of the signals to say the Wolverines are his top school.
But will Michigan sign him?
That’s a big question at this point. Slaton is taking longer than some have thought to make his decision and it looks like it could end up coming closer to the new year. If that happens, it’ll be interesting to see where Michigan’s OL commitment list stands since the UM coaches have several top tier prospects looking likely to join the class.
OL Aaron Banks
There was a sentiment that a strong visit for the BBQ in August put UM near the top for El Cerrito (CA) El Cerrito Senior OL Aaron Banks. That, however, was a while ago and as recruiting often goes, boards shift and recruits start feeling strongly about other schools.
Much has been made of Michigan’s vast and ever-shifting OL board, and, at this point, nobody really knows how it’ll shake out in the end. The one thing we do know, though, is that this staff will leave absolutely no stone unturned in their pursuit of quality offensive linemen to replace the seniors they’ll lose for next year. So, while it may have seemed that UM was no longer in the running for Banks, this visit would suggest otherwise. Scout, most recently, has a different Midwest school with a slight edge for Banks ($), but we should know a lot more about where he stands with Michigan after this weekend.
OL Mekhi Becton
Of all prospects slated to be on campus this weekend, 3-star Highland Springs (VA) Highland Springs HS Mekhi Becton is by far the least known to the Michigan fan base. The Wolverines, who are competing with the likes of Virginia Tech, Virginia, Penn State and Pitt, offered Becton back in May, but not much was made of that offer. This will be Becton’s first visit to campus, and not much is known about his current standing with Michigan. According to Scout’s Michael Clark, however, Becton has been in contact with Tim Drevno – a coach he is a fan of. Plenty more should be known about the 6’7 Virginian following his trip this weekend.
First reported by MaizenBrew’s Evan Petzold, Bateman will make his official visit to Michigan this weekend. And is a name to watch closely.
He hasn’t shied away from letting people know where Michigan sits for him right now. Question is, will he be academically eligible for the staff to accept his commitment? Also, will the staff see him as a take with the other top lineman still very much in play? Both question should be somewhat answered this weekend as the recruiting board looks to be tightening up more and more.
Unofficials
DB Josh Jobe
According to 247Sports’ Ryan Bartow, Jobe made his way up to Michigan for the game ($). And with at least 2-3 cornerbacks needed in this class, look for the staff to try and make a move with the Miami commit during the trip.
Photo Credit: 247Sports
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