With six weeks until National Signing Day, Michigan has its 2017 class just about wrapped up. However, there are still players that Jim Harbaugh is recruiting that are currently uncommitted.
Quarterback
- Jackson Gibbs, Charlotte (NC) Hough
A potential walk-on candidate that has visited Michigan after the regular season.
Running Back
- Najee Harris, Antioch (Calif.)
Everybody wants to know about Najee. Right now he is not talking to anybody about his recruitment so it is a wait and see type of recruitment. My take is if he was firmly going to Alabama, he would come out and make it public so rumors did not spread. With Harris keeping quiet, speculation certainly is growing now a week after his official visit to Ann Arbor. I say that Michigan has a good chance to land Harris based on his low key behavior following the Michigan visit.
- Sione Lund, Salt Lake City (Utah) Brighton
Lund is a longtime Stanford commit but has consistently been open to Michigan. He’s still expected to officially visit Ann Arbor before NSD and could be a potential running back/full back target for the staff.
- Eno Benjamin, Wylie (Tx.) East
Benjamin is one of the top running backs in the class but looks like plan B for the Michigan staff if they miss on Najee Harris. After decommitting from Iowa, Arizona State and Texas look to be the top options.
Fullback
- Tory Carter, Lee County (GA)
Carter has been a longtime commit to LSU but looked like he could flip to Michigan after his official visit to Ann Arbor at the end of the season. However, with Ed Orgeron sticking with the Tigers, it looks like Carter will stay as well.
Wide Receiver
- Nico Collins, Pinson (Ala.) Clay
Collins has had a quiet fall. He is expected to announce on National Signing Day. All fall and now early winter Michigan has been in good position. However, as Michigan fans just saw with Isaiah Wilson, a little window of time can be filled by another school. Michigan seems to be the favorite now, but could Alabama, Auburn, or another school come into play late in the process? We’ll see as he’s expected to take multiple official visits in January.
- Oliver Martin, Iowa City (Iowa) West
Martin was a top target for the staff through the fall but seems to have waited too long for a spot in the Michigan 2017 class. He likes likely to end up elsewhere as UM focuses on Collins to finish up its wide receiver recruiting.
Tight End
- Josh Falo, Sacramento (Calif.) Inderkum
Falo was a name that came up a lot during the summer but has been quiet since. It is not imperative for Michigan to take a tight end this class, but if they really want one, Falo is likely their top target.
Offensive Tackle
- Chuck Filiaga, Aledo (Tx.)
Filiaga seems to be the most popular name in the time following Wilson’s commitment to Georgia. He is not the flashiest or biggest name player, even though he’s a top 100 recruit, but one that has as much upside as any. Michigan is in very good position here with his announcement expected at the Army All-American game on January 7th.
- Tedarrell Slaton, Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage
Slaton is a well known target as he’s a top recruit and high school teammates with Michigan commit Kai-Leon Herbert. He was also a player that looked likely to end up in Ann Arbor but academic issues have him looking like he’ll play his college ball elsewhere. If he cleans up those issues and UM still has a spot for him, he’s definitely a guy to keep an eye out for. If not, it looks like he’ll stay down south.
- Mekhi Becton, Highland Springs (Va.)
Much like Filiaga, Becton is a name that has risen since the Wilson commitment to Georgia. Right now, it is just talk. Look for Becton to be visited by the Michigan coaches once the dead period ends. If the staff wants him, it looks likely that they’ll beat out Virginia for his commitment.
Defensive Tackle
- Aubrey Solomon, Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County
The one time Michigan commit has been pretty low key outside of a couple official visits since reopening his recruiting. Since he really liked Michigan when he committed in June, there is that part of him that still likes Ann Arbor. It’s just a matter of if that is enough to win over his mom and secure a re-commitment. But Alabama and Georgia will be tough to beat.
- Jay Tufele, South Jordan (Utah) Bingham
Tufele has been quiet after his official visits to Michigan and Ohio State, but is still a top priority for UM. The staff made an in-home visit to him prior to the dead period which looks to have slowed down the OSU hype. With Utah still firmly in the mix, this is an interesting recruitment. At this point, I think he stays out west.
Linebacker
- Jordan Anthony, IMG (Fla.) Academy
Anthony will announce tomorrow (Thursday) and it looks extremely likely that Michigan is the pick.
- Willie Gay, Starkville (Miss.)
Gay is not the highest rated linebacker in the country and doesn’t have the number of offers as Anthony Hines. But none of that matters. He is a very good prospect and one that Michigan has been working on since he decommitted from Ole Miss. Thanks to his official visit to Ann Arbor and his chance to play right away for the Wolverines, I like Michigan’s chances here to beat out Mississippi State.
- Drew Singleton, Paramus (N.J.) Catholic
Singleton could very well be one of Harbaugh’s silent commits. At the beginning of the season it seemed to be between Michigan and Clemson, but Michigan seemed to buoy itself to the top of his list. He could announce his commitment at any time before the new year.
- Antjuan Simmons, Ann Arbor (Mich.) Pioneer
The one time Ohio State commit had a rough start to his recruitment because Michigan did not identify him as a member of the “Pipeline Nine.” Now that he is decommitted from Ohio State, he is staying low key, but I expect the Michigan coaches to at least find out if he has any interest, especially if they miss on Gay.
Cornerback
- Darnay Holmes, Calabasas (Calif.)
Holmes’ interest has faded throughout the fall and he never made it in for an official visit. Unless something drastic changes and he makes his way to Ann Arbor before NSD, I do not think he will end up at Michigan.
- Elijah Hicks, La Mirada (Calif.)
Hicks’ name has been up and down. He seems to really like Michigan after officially visiting for the Indiana game but his Notre Dame commitment is still intact. If the staff pushes for him, a flip looks very possible.
- Brandon Sebastian, Cheshire (Conn.) Academy
Sebastian is a Boston College commit and high school teammate of Michigan commit WR Tarik Black. Could definitely be a name to watch closely if the staff wants another defensive back in this class.
Michigan looks to wrap up the 2017 class in style. Which of the names above do you believe will sign with UM? Let us know in the comment section below!
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