Hot N Ready: Two On300 midwest prospects planning fall visits to Michigan
A pair of priority Michigan prospects in the 2025 class who are each ranked in the Top 300, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media services, are planning visits to Ann Arbor this season.
The Wolverine gives the latest on where things stand for Michigan with each midwest star.
On300 CB Mark Zackery, Indianapolis (Ind.) Ben Davis
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 172 Overall, No. 19 Cornerback, No. 1 in Indiana
Michigan Visit Plans: November 4 vs. Purdue
The Skinny: Michigan running backs coach Mike Hart, who has connections in Indianapolis and throughout Indiana, delivered an offer to Mark Zackery during the spring evaluation period. An early November appearance from Zackery at The Big House for the night spectacle against a program pushing hard for the 6-foot-0, 155-pounder is enormous for the Wolverines. Games with the stadium lights turned on present a unique and memorable experience for recruits, so letting Zackery see it for the first time is pivotal when fighting for momentum in this race. Outside of a June visit to Georgia, Zackery’s travels have occurred within the confines of the Midwest. However, Zackery is expected to check out Tennessee on October 14 for the Texas A&M game. He’s been to Notre Dame three times with the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM) heavily favoring the Fighting Irish. He’s also been to both Purdue and Ohio State twice. With Zackery expanding his sights to the south and the in-state schools making exorbitant efforts to keep him home, Michigan has to impress him on the visit to create noise. The idea would be to have him return in the offseason to sit down individually with the entire coaching staff, get the full tour of the academic and student-life opportunities, meet with advisors and understand how Michigan football players are set up to succeed once entering the professional world. All of which will be essential to Zackery’s future commitment.
On300 TE James Flanigan, Green Bay (Wisc.) Notre Dame de la Baie Academy
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 197 Overall, No. 7 Tight End, No. 1 in Wisconsin
Michigan Visit Plans: September 23 vs. Rutgers
The Skinny: Michigan tight ends coach Grant Newsome landed both of his targets in the 2024 class before the summer, so he’s gotten a head start next cycle, with James Flanigan among those taking precedence on the top of the board. Like Zackery, Notre Dame holds a commanding lead on the RPM for the Wisconsin native because of Flanigan’s father, former Chicago Bears defensive lineman Jim Flanigan, graduating from South Bend. The younger Flanigan has also visited Notre Dame three times and has visited Ann Arbor once. The Wolverines are facing further competition for Flanigan from the Badgers, who’ll host the 6-foot-6, 220-pounder in Madison on October 28 against Ohio State, as well as Stanford. Flanigan made his first-ever appearance at Michigan on July 27 during the open period. Newsome showed Flanigan and his family around the facilities plus how tight ends become a focal point in U-M’s offense. The next step is allowing Flanigan to soak in the game day atmosphere inside The Big House for the team’s first conference game this season. He’s not in a rush to announce a verbal commitment, but how the fall visits transpire will significantly impact a decision. In each of the two recruiting cycles that Newsome has been an assistant coach, he’s landed two commits at the position, so expectations are that he does the same in the 2025 class.
On3’s Blue & Gold reporter Kyle Kelly contributed to this report
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