Updated January 8th: The All-American games have been completed and the Michigan commits were amazing, especially LB Joe Bolden in the Under Armor game. Some of the biggest news on the recruiting front is that the coaching staff has really cooled on CB Yuri Wright (via Scout.com). Also, PSU has hired a new coach so we will see how the Reeves situation turns out, I still like our chances. As for the final 4 spots, I chose Reeves, Josh Garnett, Sam Grant, and a mystery commit, which I chose WR Monty Madaris, who is visiting this month.
1.RB/ATH: 2* Drake Johnson, 6\’1\’\’ 205lbs. Ann Arbor, MI (Ann Arbor Pioneer HS)
– COMMITTED. A speedy athlete that is great out of the backfield. He is so good at pass catching and in the open field that it is rumored that he could be moved to slot receiver/return man. DJ Highlights.
2.FB: 3* Sione Houma, 6\’1\’\’ 215lbs. Salt Lake City, UT (Highland HS)
– COMMITTED. Battering ram of a back, will run you over and take it to the house. Hoke is bringing back the power running, so a fullback was necessary. Houma Highlights
3.WR: 4* Amara Darboh, 6\’2\’\’ 200lbs. Des Moines, IA (Dowling HS)
–COMMITTED. A big target receiver that has the size, ability, and play making ability to become another legendary Michigan WR. Darboh Highlights.
4.WR 3* Jehu Chesson, 6\’3\’\’ 175lbs. Ladue, MO (Ladue Horton Watkins HS)
–COMMITTED. Another big and lanky receiver that is very similar to Oregon commit Dwayne Stanford. Has a big time ceiling, and could be a good one. Chesson Highlights.
5.WR 4* Monty Madaris, 6\’2\’\’ 190lbs. Cincinnati, OH (Moeller HS)
–Uncommitted and Offered. Monty is a playmaking WR that will be visiting soon. With the Stonum problems, I could see them taking another wide out. Madaris Highlights.
6.TE: 4* Devin Funchess, 6\’4\’\’ 205lbs. Farmington Hills, MI (Harrison HS)
– COMMITTED. Big, Playmaking tight end who has the ability to be another superstar player in the Al Borges pro style offense. Funchess highlights.
7.TE 3* Sam Grant, 6\’6\’\’ 235lbs. Lakewood, OH. (St. Edwards HS)
–Soft BC Commit. Teammate of OT commit Kyle Kalis. Sam has visited and seemed to like it a lot. I feel like the coaches really want a blocking and catching TE in this class and he could be it. Grant Highlights.
8.TE/OT: 3* AJ Williams, 6\’6\’\’ 260lbs. Cincinnati, OH. (Sycamore HS)
– COMMITTED. A huge blocking tight end who will be used more for running the ball or could be moved to offensive tackle if necessary which is now looking more and more likely that he could be doing that with the move of Pharoah Brown from DE to TE.
9.OT/OG: 5* Kyle Kalis, 6\’5\’\’ 305lbs. Lakewood, OH. (St. Edwards HS)
– COMMITTED. After he officially de-committed from the buckeyes and is visiting Michigan he was seen to be a Michigan lean, especially with his bestfriend DE Tom Strobel already in the class. This is an amazing pick up for this class, Kalis is a mauler and road grader that has a mean streak. AMAZING pick up. Kalis highlights.
10.OT/OG: 4* Blake Bars, 6\’5\’\’ 275lbs. Nashville, TN. (Montgomery Bell Academy)
– COMMITTED. This is a great pick up for Michigan, especially since he was offered by big name programs like LSU, Penn State, Florida and many more. Also this was big because his older brother plays at Penn State and his Dad is a former ND linebacker, so Michigan was behind from the start. Bars highlights.
11.OT: 4* Erik Magnuson, 6\’6\’\’ 275lbs. Encinitas, CA (La Costa Canyon HS)
– COMMITTED. This was a huge pickup, Mags is a great offensive tackle prospect and with his size and ability he has the chance to play either right or left tackle. Magnuson highlights.
12.OT: 3* Ben Braden, 6\’7\’\’ 300lbs. Rockford, MI (Rockford HS)
– COMMITTED. More of a project pick up, Braden has the size for Hoke and his staff to try and develop him into a good depth player.
13. OG: 5* Josh Garnett, 6\’5\’\’ 275lbs. Puyallop, WA. (Puyallop HS)
–Uncommitted and Offered: He visited for the first time for the Ohio game and LOVED it. Also, in a interview, he said that Michigan is \”definitely in the top 2\” with Stanford. Could be an All American O-lineman at Michigan. Will decide on either January 26th or 27th (via Scout) Garnett Highlights.
14.OG/C: 3* Caleb Stacey, 6\’4\’\’ 280lbs. Cincinnati, Ohio (Oak Hills HS)
– COMMITTED. Another good pick up, and the only legitimate interior offensive lineman committed in this class.
15.NT/DT: 4* Ondre Pipkins, 6\’3\’\’ 320lbs. Kansas City, MO (Park Hill HS)
– COMMITTED. Finally landed the big man. Pipkins commitment was released and he will be a Wolverine. Expect BIG BIG things from this kid. Pipkins highlight.
16.DT/DE: 3* Matt Godin, 6\’6\’\’ 265. Novi, MI (Catholic Central HS)
– COMMITTED. Brought in to be a strongside defensive end, but he has the size and frame to put on the weight and muscle to become a disruptive DT/DE like Van Bergen. Godin highlights.
17.DE: 4* Chris Wormley, 6\’5\’\’ 250. Toledo, Ohio (Whitmer HS)
– COMMITTED. One of the top players in Ohio and easily one of the top prospects to both the Michigan coaching staff and Michigan fan base. Has that \”it\” factor be a another great Wolverine defensive lineman. Wormley highlights.
18.DE: 4* Tom Strobel, 6\’6\’\’ 245. Mentor, Ohio (Mentor HS)
– COMMITTED. An amazing pick up, and force to be reckoned with. Strobel will be a great player under Mattison and Hoke. Strobel highlights.
19.OLB/DE: 4* Mario Ojemudia, 6\’2\’\’ 220. Farmington Hills, MI (Harrison HS)
–COMMITTED. A perfect outside rush linebacker for Mattison to work with if he does in fact use a mix of the 34 defense along with the 43 defense. He reminds me of Baltimore LB Sergio Kindle. Ojemudia highlights.
20.OLB: 4* Kaleb Ringer, 6\’1\’\’ 225. Clayton, Ohio (Northmont HS)
–COMMITTED and Early Enrollee. . Another great linebacker that has the size to be a tackling machine in college, especially with the coaching of Hoke and Company. Ringer highlights.
21.LB: 4* Joe Bolden, 6\’3\’\’ 230. Cincinnati, Ohio (Colerain HS)
–COMMITTED and Early Enrollee. . Bolden is a instinctive field general that could be the leader and coach on the field. Plus he has the tools to be a great linebacker. Was named team captain and one of the best players in the UA All American game. Bolden highlights.
22.LB: 4* James Ross, 6\’1\’\’ 215. Orchard Lake, MI (St. Marys HS)
–COMMITTED. One of the best linebackers in the country and top players in the state of Michigan, which was why he was an even bigger get for the Wolverines. Could be a absolute stud and superstar. Ross highlights.
23.LB: 4* Royce Jenkins-Stone, 6\’2\’\’ 215. Detroit, MI (Cass Tech HS)
–COMMITTED. Has that ability and instincts to be a first round NFL draftee, and really leave his legacy at Michigan as one of the best linebackers to wear the winged helmet. RJS highlights.
24.CB: 4* Terry Richardson, 5\’10\’\’ 165lbs Detroit, MI (Cass Tech HS)
–COMMITTED. Another member of the fab freshmen class, T-Rich has the playmaking ability to change the outcome of any game. Richardson highlights.
25.CB/S: 4* Armani Reeves, 5\’10\’\’ 185lbs. West Roxbury, MA (Catholic Memorial HS)
–Soft PSU Commit. He was big on Michigan before we landed Standifer and the spots were taken up, but not Standifer is out of the class and Armani is looking around to the Wolverines. He is expected to visit AA soon. Could be a great DB pick up. Reeves Highlights.
26.FS: 4* Jarrod Wilson, 6\’2\’\’ 190lbs Akron, Ohio (Buchtel HS)
– COMMITTED and Early Enrollee. Another play maker in the secondary, Wilson could have the chance to come in right away and compete for a starting job.This is a great pick up for Hoke and the Wolverines. Wilson highlights.
27.FS: 3* Jeremy Clark, 6\’4\’\’ 195lbs Madisonville, KY (Madisonville North Hopkins HS)
– COMMITTED. Now a scholarship player for this class after switching from his grayshirt. He is a play making free safety. Could be a impact player a couple years down the road after gaining experience and strength. Clark Highlights.
28. SS/WR. 3* Allen Gant, 6\’2\’\’ 205. Sylvania, Ohio (Southview HS)
–COMMITTED. A legacy Michigan player, his father was a defensive back for the maize and blue and now his son will have a chance to follow in his footsteps. Gant highlights.
- The First 2025 Best Guess Recruiting Class - Jun 28, 2024
- The First 2024 Best Guess Recruiting Class - Mar 24, 2023
- 2023 Best Guess Recruiting Class: Early Signing Day - Dec 20, 2022