Casey Brooke Lawson/IMG Academy

Rivals.com: How Michigan Lands the Top 2016 Recruiting Class

Posted onAuthorGarrett Fishaw

In the latest series of articles showing how Michigan could end up with the top ranked class per recruiting site, I took a look at what Jim Harbaugh and the UM staff would have to finish the class with the #1 ranking. And, well lets just say they have as good of a shot on Rivals as any other site.

To fit the 9 new additions to the class mentioned below, I had to subtract a couple of the lower rated players that have been rumored to be question marks to sign with Michigan. As for the names listed, to try and make it as realistic but highly ranked as possible, I only added players that UM at least has a “Good” chance to land on my chance’s scale:

  • Excellent – Expected to Commit
  • Very Good – Top Two/Definitely Possible
  • Good – Real Option
  • Decent – Puncher’s Chance
  • Low – Likely Not happening

Here are the top ranked players on Rivals that Michigan has a real shot with:

  1. DT Rashan Gary
    • 5 star, #1 overall, #1 DT, 6.1 rating, +250
      • Michigan’s Chances: Very Good to Excellent
  2. TE Isaac Nauta
    • 5 star, #18 overall, #1 TE, 6.1 rating, +212
      • Michigan’s Chances: Good to Very Good
  3. CB David Long
    • 4 star, #94 overall, #8 CB, 5.9 rating, +154
      • Michigan’s Chances: Very Good
  4. WR Dylan Crawford
    • 4 star, #115 overall, #25 WR, 5.9 rating, +150
      • Michigan’s Chances: Excellent
  5. OT Jean Delance
    • 4 star, #155 overall, #10 OT, 5.9 rating, +144
      • Michigan’s Chances: Very Good
  6. CB Lavert Hill
    • 4 star, #194 overall, #13 CB, 5.8 rating, +119
      • Michigan’s Chances: Excellent
  7. DE Connor Murphy
    • 4 star, #198 overall, #15 DE, 5.8 rating, +118
      • Michigan’s Chances: Very Good
  8. LB Dontavious Jackson
    • 4 star, NR overall, #9 ILB, 5.8 rating, +105
      • Michigan’s Chances: Good
  9. ATH Jordan Fuller
    • 4 star, NR overall, #21 S, 5.8 rating, +105
      • Michigan’s Chances: Good

Final Score: 3,270 (+1,357)

Following the Rivals rankings system and comparing it to previous classes, this final score would have given Michigan the best final score in Rivals history and, obviously, the #1 class in every class in the site’s history (est. 2002). So, I think it’s very safe to say that if Michigan finishes with the list above, they will have the #1 class on Rivals.

Chances of Exact Class Happening: Decent

Photo Credit: Casey Brooke Lawson/IMG Academy

Garrett Fishaw
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