Five Michigan recruiting storylines to watch following the end of the dead period

Five Michigan recruiting storylines to watch this fall…

1. What will Bowling Green weekend look like?

Michigan self-imposed a two-game recruiting visit ban as it continues to appease the NCAA in the aftermath of Burgergate. While Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh will still be out as the Wolverines play host to Bowling Green later this month, U-M is planning for a big recruiting weekend. It will be the first visit weekend of the fall, and the night game atmosphere should impress despite the lack of a marquee dance partner. Remember, recruits don’t interact much with Harbaugh on game days, so they won’t be missing out on much there. This weekend will be centered around the experience of The Big House and meeting with assistants. I expect plenty of big name 2025 prospects, particularly those in the Midwest, and several commits to be on campus.

2. Will the Smith twins stick?

EJ, you are so arrogant!!! Haven’t you heard that four-star defensive lineman Jerod Smith and four-star EDGE Jacob Smith have reaffirmed their commitments to Michigan??? Forget the fact that they visited Kentucky twice this summer or that they are originally from the state of Kentucky and just moved back or that they had dramatic turns in their respective recruitments in the past. They told Michigan they were sticking you clown. It’s being reported elsewhere on the Internet!!! Look guys, this is recruiting. You have to be smarter than that. I told you guys not to get too excited about that report, and here we are. The Smith twins just visited Kentucky again over the weekend, and I don’t expect this to be their last visit despite their recent conversations with Michigan. I still believe a flip is very possible, but it looks like it might drag on for a while. Michigan is aware and planning accordingly.

3. Will Patterson make an OV?

Top 100 Miami (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna safety Zaquan Patterson committed to Miami over Michigan and other last month. But that doesn’t mean his recruitment is completely over. Patterson has not used any official visits, and the expectation is that he will take a few before signing day. Michigan was slated to get Patterson back to Ann Arbor for an official visit in November. Based on everything I’ve gathered, I still expect Patterson to be on campus when the Wolverines host rival Ohio State. Michigan is not going to give up in this recruitment, especially with the door cracked open. While the Wolverines can’t — won’t? — compete with Miami’s NIL, they can offer early playing time. Patterson also has a strong bond with assistants Jay Harbaugh and Steve Clinkscale and is very close to 2025 U-M commit Chris Ewald.

4. Can Michigan flip Rudolph back?

Four-star Cincinnati (Ohio) Taft EDGE Elias Rudolph committed to Michigan in June but flipped to Miami a little more than a month later. It’s always difficult to flip a recruit back, but that’s exactly what the Wolverines are hoping to do. Again, Michigan is not playing the same game as Miami when it comes to NIL. And that’s not changing any time soon. However, Michigan can still sell EDGE production and staying close to family. On top of that, Clinkscale has been recruiting Rudolph since he was a freshman. That relationship hasn’t dropped off, and Clinkscale is going to do everything he can to win over Rudolph and his family.

5. How will WR recruiting shake out?

Michigan still has a need for another wide receiver this cycle, with the preference being a bigger body on the outside. Priority No. 1 is flipping On300 Georgia commit Nitro Tuggle. The Nappanee (Ind.) Northwood product has been committed to the Bulldogs since April but has talked about making visits elsewhere. Michigan is likely to get an official visit and will pitch him on being an immediate impact player close to home. Remember, Tuggle is a teammate of new Michigan commit Jo’Ziah Edmond, so that should help as well. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Michigan make another run at three-star North Carolina commit Jordan Shipp, a teammate of U-M commits Jadyn Davis and Channing Goodwin. Shipp spurned U-M in the summer, but Davis and Goodwin are still working on him. Michigan will also take a closer look at senior risers throughout the fall.

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