2021 Recruiting by Position

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 Defense:


Defensive Line - Michigan needs some guys to develop here as it looks like the team is set for the next couple years along the line. Hutch, Paye, and Kemp might all be gone after 2020, though they all would have the option to stay according to the NCAA and Big Ten Covid-19 response, but guys like Christopher Hinton, Donovan Jeter, Julius Welschof, Taylor Upshaw, and David Ojabo all appear to be ready to compete for a starting position. While whoever signs this year could have a realistic shot at winning a spot themselves, it will be tough to crack the two-deep for the foreseeable future so they will need to be patient and keep working to be ready when their names are eventually called. 

  1. Quinton Somerville (DE) 6'1"/230lbs 4-Star  Grade: 84 - Should be ready to compete early at weakside end or possibly Sam linebacker.
  2. Kechaun Bennett (DE) 6'4"/220lbs 4-Star  Grade: 82 - A slightly underrated prospect that could be a steal.
  3. T.J. Guy (DE/DT) 6'4"/240lbs 3-Star  Grade: 76 - A project that will need a few years.
  4. Dominick Guidice (DE/DT) 6'3"/250lbs 3-Star  Grade: 72 - Another project that Harbaugh thinks can gain some weight in order to slide inside as a disruptive tackle. 
D-Line Prospect Grade: C

Quick Analysis: Missed on all the real top talent but cleaned up in the second wave of talent. I see two future starters coming out of this group with others all having opportunities to contribute down the road. Only Somerville looks like a potential difference-maker at this point, though he will be limited due to his size. 



Linebackers: This position looks set with its starters for the next year or two but will need some bodies to pad the depth chart and develop for when the starters finally move on to the NFL. Michigan, it seems, has become a factory for top linebacker talent in the last few years and the overall talent level just keeps getting better. I predict that the Wolverines will have another one drafted in the first round in the next couple drafts. 
  1. Brandon Jennings (Will/Sam) 6'3"/225lbs 4-Star  Grade: 86 - A top prospect with all the gifts. Could compete right away. 
  2. Junior Colson (Viper) 6'2"/228lbs 4-Star Grade: 85 - Harbaugh has compared him to Jabrill Peppers. Enough said. 
  3. Jaydon Hood (Mike) - 6'1"/220lbs 4-Star Grade: 80 - Might not be as highly regarded as the other two prospects here, but he too could be ready to compete early in his career. 
  4. Tyler McLaurin (Viper/Sam) - 6'2"/210lbs 3-Star Grade: 76 - Instinctive player that needs to develop himself into a college player though he still has a relatively high ceiling. 
Linebacker Prospect Grade: A+

Quick Analysis: To put it simply, this is the best haul of 'backers in the Big Ten and one of the top groups in the nation. All four could be starters some day with opportunities to be something special.



Defensive Backs: While this group also looks set for the next year or two, the talent level starting at corner might not be as high as the coaches would like. There is room for a top talent to take over a spot and there are already young guys on the team that could challenge in the upcoming year. It would be nice to get one big time corner prospect to throw in that mix next season while nabbing two other guys to develop as well.
  1. Rod Moore (S) 5'11"/180lbs 3-Star  Grade: 77 - A solid safety recruit that can hit and cover but looks like he needs a year or two in the weightroom. 
  2. Ja'Den McBurrows (CB) 5'10"/160lbs 3-Star  Grade: 76 - A human highlight reel on the Florida High School circuit. Needs to add some bulk but has a high enough of a ceiling to get excited about.
Secondary Prospect Grade: C-

Analysis: On the surface this doesn't look like a great haul but it's about what was needed or expected for this cycle. The safety and corner rooms have a lot of scholarship players in them at the moment and with additional years of eligibility handed out due to the pandemic it's hard to imagine this group as whole losing much in the next couple years. Look for the team to load up on DB talent in 2022 with several top targets already in the mix.

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