Michigan 2023 Recruit List

 Now that the Harbaugh drama is officially over, it's time to start taking a look at the 2022 season, and that means recruiting as well. Michigan currently has four verbal commitments highlighted by four star and top 100 prospect linebacker Raylen Wison out of Tallahassee, Florida. Michigan's prospect list looks like a list you'd expect from a team just coming off of a playoff birth with seven five star recruits high on the Wolverines. We'll look at some targets that I feel would be the biggest gets for Michigan.

Verbal Commits

#73 4 Star - LB Raylen Wilson, Tallahassee, Florida
#332 4 Star - TE Andrew Rappleyea, Milton, Massachusetts
#341 3 Star - WR Semaj Morgan, Blooomfield, Michigan
#595 3 Star - K Adam Samaha, Ann Arbor, Michigan (#1 kicker in the country)

Key Targets

#4 5 Star - CB Cormani McClain, Lakeland, Florida. The Florida native is getting crystal balls to Florida and FSU early in the year, however Michigan did great work not only recruiting Florida with the 22 class but also with DBs. Coach Clink is a heck of a recruiter and if this years DB group ends up being as good as I think they can be then Michigan should end up in the thick of McClain's commitment.

#8 5 Star - QB Dante Moore, Detroit, Michigan. Quarterback isn't a huge need in the immediate future with former 5 star JJ McCarthy entering his Sophomore season. However Moore is an in state 5 star and would help build depth for that position in the future. Not to mention that two of his top 4 programs right now are Michigan and Michigan State, keeping him out of East Lansing would be a huge win for the Wolverines. 

#7 5 Star - OT Francis Mauigoa, Bradenton, Florida. You want a great selling point for a 5 star quarterback? Bring in a 6'6" 325 tackles to block for him. That's just what the IMG talent would give Michigan going forward. When we think of Michigan, you think of the great tackles over the years and Mauigoa would be next on the list if Michigan can keep him from the west coast and power house Bama.

#24 5 Star - CB Jahlil Hurley, Florence, Alabama. Obviously keeping the Alabama native away from the Crimson Tide is a huge ask. Especially since all signs point to Hurley winding up in Tuscaloosa. However, if Clink can manage to pull him north and sell him on the pairing of McClain and Hurley then Michigan might get the dynamic duo in the secondary that we were hoping for this year with Will Johnson and Domani Jackson (ended up at USC). 

#29 5 Star - ATH Nyckoles Harbor, Washington, DC. The large framed, 6'5" 225 athlete out of DC would be a huge get for the Wolverines, the speedster ran a 10.38 100 meter in track and has the explosive ability that would be perfect as the next great edge for the Wolverines or as a wide tight end. 

#34 5 Star - WR Jalen Brown, Miami, Florida. It will be hard to keep the Florida native away from Miami and Florida State, and Texas A&M with their elite NIL program are high on Brown's list as well. But Coach Ron Bellamy is putting in work on Michigan's top WR target for the '23 class. The speedster would bring some much needed vertical threat to Ann Arbor. Considered as one of Michigan's top targets in the 2023 class, getting him in the fold, especially early, would be huge on building momentum with this class. 

#157 4 Star - EDGE Enow Etta, Colleyville, Texas. Etta has the size (6-4, 235), speed and athleticism to be the next great edge rusher in Michigan's defense. Has David Ojabo like potential, and edge is a huge need for the Wolverines in this class. Highest ranked 4 star on my list for that reason. Also high on MSU so keeping him out of EL would be a huge W. 

#335 4 Star - EDGE Trey Wilson, Garland, Texas. Wilson and Etta seem to be trying to set up a packaged deal if their twitter posts are any indication. Securing both of them would automatically make Michigan's class 10 times better. Edge rushers are, again, a huge need for the Wolverines for the '23 class and I could see them taking four or five in this class. Getting Wilson on board would be a big deal alone, but if it also secures Etta then that would make his commitment that much bigger. Fingers crossed for both of these guys adding their name to the legacy of great edge rushers in A2.

#63 4 Star - OT Luke Montgomery, Findlay, Ohio. There's nothing better than wandering into the worst state of Ohio and bringing a talented player north. Montgomery doesn't have the size of an instant impact lineman, sitting at 260 lbs right now. But he has the talent of a future start. Michigan signed a few high end three stars at OT in the '22 class. But beefing up the line and getting some future key contributors is a big deal for this class. Coming off having the offensive line of the year award and the success Coach Sherron Moore has had at Michigan already, that should be a huge selling point for Montgomery. Stealing him from the Buckeyes would be icing on the cake.

#68 4 Star - OT Cayden Green, Lees Summit, Missouri. A big bodied tackle, already at 6'5" 310 lbs, Green is the type of recruit who could have an impact earlier in his career. One crystal ball is in for him to Oklahoma, but with the coaching change there and Moore's ability to spin straw into gold on the offensive line should keep Michigan high on Green's list going into the season. 

#82 4 Star - CB Caleb Presley, Seattle, Washington. The Washington native has already been to Bama and MSU, the Spartans are high on his list as is Michigan. Coach Clink is the lead recruiter for the Wolverines, you can't count Clink out of any recruiting race, and building on the successful '22 DB class would be huge for depth. But if you're sensing a theme, keeping Presley out of EL = W. 

#105 4 Star - EDGE Anthony James, Wylie, Texas. The Texas A&M commit is still in play for the Wolverines, he becomes less of a need if Wilson and Etta go maize n blue. But would still be a huge pull from the Aggies. A&M absolutely killed it in the '22 class, especially along the defensive line. Using that as a recruiting tool, and harping on playing time and edge success at Michigan in recent memory should be a huge selling point.

#155 4 Star - LB Jordan Hall, Bradenton, Florida. Another IMG talent, Hall brings size and speed that would give him an opportunity to be an instant impact guy for the Wolverines defense similar to Junior Colson did this season. Hall should be a major target for the Wolverines to give Colson that partner in the middle that Josh Ross was this past season.

#363 3 Star - RB Cole Cabana, Dexter, Michigan. The Michigan native is committing this Saturday at his high school. The speedster is projected to Go Blue, after his MSU visit with their RB coach allegedly didn't go so well. Cabana is a 4.3 burner in the 40 yard dash that would be the explosive back we will need to replace Corum when he leaves Ann Arbor. Michigan wanted two backs in the '22 class and only managed to sign one. So unless they're able to snag someone in the portal, I expect the running back position to be a big target for Michigan going forward. 

#204 4 Star - IOL Amir Herring, West Bloomfield, Michigan. Coach Bellamy's old school has been good when it comes to Michigan signings of late, production has been another story. Herring may be able to change that narrative if he commits to the maize n blue as expected. Keeping in state talent not only in state, but in A2 should always be a big priority for the Michigan staff. 

This list is far from comprehensive, obviously there are a lot more targets that the Wolverines will be going after to try and fill out the 20+ man class. This is just a list of guys who I think should be the highest of priorities for the staff.