Five things we learned about Michigan recruiting in April

The Wolverine takes a look at the five things that Michigan fans learned about the team’s football recruiting efforts during the month of April.

Momentum hasn’t reached its peak this cycle

This is certainly a fun time to be following Michigan football recruiting with the team landing five commitments in the month of April alone, which is a third of its 15 total pledges that’s also tied for first across all of college football. Four of the five commits are listed as four stars, according to On3, including Top 100 tight end Brady Prieskorn, On300 offensive tackle Andrew Sprague and On300 offensive tackle Blake Frazier.

All of this coming even before the official visit slate gets underway.

This upcoming summer should see another wave of commitments for Michigan, who will be able to shift more focus to the 2025 class this fall and the 2024 targets who decide to extend the process into December and possibly into February. At this time last year, Michigan had six verbal commits with one eventually flipping to Georgia. But for this cycle, the Wolverines are seeded No. 5 overall in the On3 Industry National Team Recruiting Rankings.

First come, first serve on the offensive line

The commitments of Sprague, Frazier and three-star center Jake Guarnera in April have put Michigan at five total offensive linemen for 2024. As The Wolverine has reported on numerous occasions, the minimum taken was going to be five but likely no more than seven. The more realistic scenario is six but seven isn’t out of the question. Knowing that Texas natives and four stars Bennett Warren and Max Anderson are slated to officially visit Michigan next month provides more clarity on who could be the next targets at the position to join the group. Keep in mind that Michigan just hosted a pair of California four-star linemen as well in Brandon Baker and DeAndre Carter. There’s also On300 tackle Michael Uini, Top 100 tackle Jordan Seaton and On300 interior William Satterwhite. But that’s the result of back-to-back Joe Moore Awards – telling prospects no as opposed to finding new athletes to put on the board. A good problem to have.

Kirk Campbell is a valuable addition to staff

Discussing Michigan’s quarterbacks coach and his ability to connecting with recruits on a personal level is feels like a broke record at this point. But Kirk Campbell absolutely deserves the praise that he’s received this offseason. From the March visit taken by 2024 commit Jadyn Davis and his family where Campbell successfully helped spurned the Top 100 signal caller to pledge on ESPN’s SportsCenter, to bringing in five 2025 offered quarterbacks on campus for spring practice, as well as hosting five-star Bryce Underwood more than once, Campbell has done his job with making Michigan a bonafide destination for the nation’s best gun slingers.

More of a presence being established in Florida

On300 cornerback Chris Ewald Jr. just went on record with The Wolverine stating that he’s locked in with Michigan and doesn’t have plans of changing his mind. Not only has U-M successfully kept Ewald in the fold without concern this offseason, there’s confidence that the program will keep their cornerstone piece of the 2025 class up until National Signing Day. Especially with how much Ewald has been assisting the Michigan coaching staff with recruiting other top athletes in the Sunshine State, such as 2024 Top 100 defensive back Zaquan Patterson and 2025 four-star safety DJ Pickett, the No. 8 overall prospect in the country.

There’s also Jake Guarnera from the Northeast section of the state as he told The Wolverine after committing that he’s beginning to reach out to other in-state players in order to give Michigan’s 2024 recruiting class and beyond more of a Florida vibe. Since the start of the spring evaluation period, the staff has offered double-digit underclassmen from the state with area recruiter Steve Clinkscale, wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy, linebackers coach Chris Partridge and pass rush specialist Dylan Roney leading the way.

Michigan not out of it for five-star DL Justin Scott

Justin Scott has the ceiling, raw talent and dominating technique to potentially go on to be the best football player Chicago has produced this century. In a city that annually churns NFL-bound athletes, Scott is in a category of his own and Michigan will get another shot to convince him, his mother and mentors that Ann Arbor is home. Scott told The Wolverine that his was going to set an official visit to the two-time reigning Big Ten Champions and that’s now confirmed with Michigan (June 9th) slotted in-between Georgia (June 2nd) and Miami (June 16th). Ohio State will get the final visit (June 23rd) with Notre Dame, even though Scott will cap the officials at four, is very much a strong contender. The development of the defensive line under Mike Elston, watching the growth of Mazi Smith and his first-round selection in the NFL Draft, a commitment to academics and close to home are playing in Michigan’s favor for Scott. But to be in pole position will require daily communication leading up to an official visit that can be nothing short of perfect.

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