Budding Relationships
It's the dead of winter. There really isn't much going on in the football world. The players are working out and the coaches are either recruiting or working on schemes for next season. Most fans are still high on whatever news came out of National Signing Day and are already looking to next year's class.
Michigan started out the 2019 cycle hot, getting four commitments from players that are all highly-touted 4-Star prospects. One of them might be another true 5-Star player from Georgia like Aubrey Soloman was last year.
Michigan needs to keep that momentum moving forward. These next few months will be crucial in building relationships with these kids that they want to play football for them. Some prospects are seeing things pick up a little faster than others. And some of them could be the next players to jump on board.
So, who could be the next prospects to join the 2019 recruiting class? Here's a short list of some players to keep your eyes on over the next several months:
Isiah Williams 4-Star ATH (St. Louis, MO) Grade: 90 - Michigan has done a great job of digging up recruits in this area of the country the last couple years. But Williams, who is an elite prospect with offers from 'Bama, Clemson, Ohio State, and everybody else, would represent a very big harvest being reaped right out of America's breadbasket. He would probably play corner in Don Brown's defense, and he could be the eventual replacement for Lavert Hill, but he also has potential as a kick returner and/or a wide receiver. The interest is apparently high on both sides at the moment. Let's see if the coaches can gain some ground with him this spring.
Marcus Washington 4-Star WR (St. Louis, MO) Grade: 88 - Is a high school teammate of Williams and appears to be the top receiver prospect on Michigan's board at the moment. Things are looking good so expect a lot of attention from Michigan in regards to his recruitment. Getting a commitment from Washington and Williams before the camp season starts would be a huge boost for Michigan recruiting in 2019.
Xavier Truss 4-Star OT (Warwick, RI) Grade: 87 - Looks exactly like the type of big-bodied kid the coaches would love to have out at tackle. He's got the raw ability to become a dominant player at the next level. His relationship with the Michigan coaches is still developing, but it looks like there is strong interest on both sides to keep pursuing it. That is a very good thing. How the Wolverines handle him over the next few months will go a long way toward getting a chance to land him come signing day. Can Harbaugh get him to commit?
William Harrod 4-Star OT (Fort Washington, MD) Grade: 85 - Seems to have formed a strong relationship with the Wolverines. I expect Harbaugh to sign five or six line prospects in this cycle, possibly even seven if the right guys come together. Harrod has all the raw tools to be a starting guard or tackle in the future. Getting a commitment from him early would go a long way toward fortifying the line in this cycle. I am hoping to see him on board before the summer.
Marvin Grant 4-Star S (Detroit, MI) Grade: 82 - A legit safety prospect with offers from at least 16 other programs at the moment, including Notre Dame, Iowa, Kentucky, and Missouri. He nearly looks like a lock to stay close to home with the Wolverines, who really need to add at least one highly-touted prospect to the position. No doubt some other top program will try to make a push for his services this summer, but I would be shocked if he doesn't sign on in December. He might even be a candidate to enroll early.
Karsen Barnhart 3-Star OT (Paw Paw, MI) Grade: 77 - A rising star in the state of Michigan. Barnhardt is becoming a top tackle prospect for the Wolverines. Might be able to play left tackle at the next level. Could be a legit 4-Star prospect by February next year, depending on how the camp circuit goes for him. At any rate, keeping under-appreciated recruits like this in-state is a top priority for the Michigan coaching staff. The problem is that MSU has already been thinking the same thing.
Sam Johnson 3-Star QB (Walled Lake, MI) Grade: 76 - Johnson might not have that elite-level athleticism of the top quarterback prospects, but he is a rising in-state passer that has the height, arm strength, accuracy, and leadership skills to sculpt into a fine college quarterback. Honestly, he might be the perfect prospect for this cycle. The Wolverines are not in desperate need for immediate help at the position, so he will get a chance to learn a lot without any real risk of being thrown to the wolves.
Adam Berghorst 3-Star DE/OT (Zeeland, MI) Grade: 75 - A solid prospect from Michigan with the frame to add weight. Looks like a strongside end. Could be a left tackle on offense. At the very least, he is a big-bodied in-state recruit that could help pad the depth chart on either side of the line. Sparty could be the favorite to land him, but the Wolverines are making a strong push at the moment. It will be interesting to see how his recruitment develops over the next few months.
Michigan started out the 2019 cycle hot, getting four commitments from players that are all highly-touted 4-Star prospects. One of them might be another true 5-Star player from Georgia like Aubrey Soloman was last year.
Michigan needs to keep that momentum moving forward. These next few months will be crucial in building relationships with these kids that they want to play football for them. Some prospects are seeing things pick up a little faster than others. And some of them could be the next players to jump on board.
So, who could be the next prospects to join the 2019 recruiting class? Here's a short list of some players to keep your eyes on over the next several months:
Isiah Williams 4-Star ATH (St. Louis, MO) Grade: 90 - Michigan has done a great job of digging up recruits in this area of the country the last couple years. But Williams, who is an elite prospect with offers from 'Bama, Clemson, Ohio State, and everybody else, would represent a very big harvest being reaped right out of America's breadbasket. He would probably play corner in Don Brown's defense, and he could be the eventual replacement for Lavert Hill, but he also has potential as a kick returner and/or a wide receiver. The interest is apparently high on both sides at the moment. Let's see if the coaches can gain some ground with him this spring.
Marcus Washington 4-Star WR (St. Louis, MO) Grade: 88 - Is a high school teammate of Williams and appears to be the top receiver prospect on Michigan's board at the moment. Things are looking good so expect a lot of attention from Michigan in regards to his recruitment. Getting a commitment from Washington and Williams before the camp season starts would be a huge boost for Michigan recruiting in 2019.
Xavier Truss 4-Star OT (Warwick, RI) Grade: 87 - Looks exactly like the type of big-bodied kid the coaches would love to have out at tackle. He's got the raw ability to become a dominant player at the next level. His relationship with the Michigan coaches is still developing, but it looks like there is strong interest on both sides to keep pursuing it. That is a very good thing. How the Wolverines handle him over the next few months will go a long way toward getting a chance to land him come signing day. Can Harbaugh get him to commit?
William Harrod 4-Star OT (Fort Washington, MD) Grade: 85 - Seems to have formed a strong relationship with the Wolverines. I expect Harbaugh to sign five or six line prospects in this cycle, possibly even seven if the right guys come together. Harrod has all the raw tools to be a starting guard or tackle in the future. Getting a commitment from him early would go a long way toward fortifying the line in this cycle. I am hoping to see him on board before the summer.
Marvin Grant 4-Star S (Detroit, MI) Grade: 82 - A legit safety prospect with offers from at least 16 other programs at the moment, including Notre Dame, Iowa, Kentucky, and Missouri. He nearly looks like a lock to stay close to home with the Wolverines, who really need to add at least one highly-touted prospect to the position. No doubt some other top program will try to make a push for his services this summer, but I would be shocked if he doesn't sign on in December. He might even be a candidate to enroll early.
Karsen Barnhart 3-Star OT (Paw Paw, MI) Grade: 77 - A rising star in the state of Michigan. Barnhardt is becoming a top tackle prospect for the Wolverines. Might be able to play left tackle at the next level. Could be a legit 4-Star prospect by February next year, depending on how the camp circuit goes for him. At any rate, keeping under-appreciated recruits like this in-state is a top priority for the Michigan coaching staff. The problem is that MSU has already been thinking the same thing.
Sam Johnson 3-Star QB (Walled Lake, MI) Grade: 76 - Johnson might not have that elite-level athleticism of the top quarterback prospects, but he is a rising in-state passer that has the height, arm strength, accuracy, and leadership skills to sculpt into a fine college quarterback. Honestly, he might be the perfect prospect for this cycle. The Wolverines are not in desperate need for immediate help at the position, so he will get a chance to learn a lot without any real risk of being thrown to the wolves.
Adam Berghorst 3-Star DE/OT (Zeeland, MI) Grade: 75 - A solid prospect from Michigan with the frame to add weight. Looks like a strongside end. Could be a left tackle on offense. At the very least, he is a big-bodied in-state recruit that could help pad the depth chart on either side of the line. Sparty could be the favorite to land him, but the Wolverines are making a strong push at the moment. It will be interesting to see how his recruitment develops over the next few months.
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