Jack Dunaway joins the 2015 class as a preferred walk-on
The 2015 class of incoming freshman got a little bit bigger over the weekend as Michigan received a verbal commitment from Birmingham Brother Rice (Michigan) defensive end Jack Dunaway, who will join the program as a preferred walk-on.
A "preferred walk-on" means that a player is assured a spot on the team, but that they cannot extend a scholarship offer.
He committed while on an unofficial visit for the game against Miami (Ohio) with teammates Alex Malzone, who is a quarterback commit, and Grant Perry, who is a target looking for a Michigan offer.
Dunaway, who is 6-4, 212 pounds, is unranked by the major recruiting services, but there has been a lot of mutual interest between himself and the Wolverines for quite some time now. Dunaway has ties to the university, as his father Craig played tight end under Bo Schembechler.
I spoke with Dunaway after the visit took place and he told me he is very excited to be joining the program.
"I'm thrilled to be a part of it," Dunaway told me. "Michigan is a special place and it's where I have always wanted to be."
He said the visit went well and that he was happy to meet some of his future teammates.
"It was great," he said. "I met some of the guys already committed (Darrin Kirkland Jr. and Tyree Kinnel) and seeing the team win was great as usual."
Dunaway will report to the Wolverines "as soon as possible" after he graduates high school.
The rival Spartans offer two top 2016 targets
With Michigan State's arrival as one of the top football programs in the country, the Wolverines are going to be fighting even more recruiting battles with them than ever before.
Last week, the Spartans offered 2016 offensive lineman Ben Bredeson (Hartland, Wisconsin), one of Michigan's top targets at the position. MSU was the first team to recruit him, so a scholarship offer was just a matter of time.
Yesterday, an offer went out to four-star running back Elijah Holyfield (Atlanta, Georgia), the son of famous boxer Evander Holyfield. He is another guy that Michigan is taking a hard look at.
Whether people like to admit it or not, MSU is a legitimate program and coming off of their first Rose Bowl win in quite some time, these recruits are starting to notice that. I still like Michigan's chances with both of these players but they will be in for a fight, like always, when going toe-to-toe with one of their rivals.
Donnie Corley offered by the Sun Devils
Yesterday, four-star 2016 wide receiver Donnie Corley (Wyandotte, Michigan) picked up a scholarship offer from Arizona State, according to Terel Patrick, assistant coach at Detroit Martin Luther King HS.
Congrats to Donnie Corley on his offer from Arizona State SunDevils #PAC12
— Coach Terel Patrick (@KC_CoachTP) September 14, 2014
Corley is having a nice season after transferring to King from Wyandotte Roosevelt HS. He does not yet hold an offer from the Wolverines, but if he keeps up what he is doing to start the year, one should come in time.
Corley is the 43rd ranked receiver in the 2016 class and eighth ranked player in the state of Michigan.
Two more players set OV dates for Under the Lights III
A pair of 2015 prospects have joined the tentative party that will take place on the weekend of Oct. 11 for the night game against Penn State.
Offensive lineman Zach Robertson (Bellflower, California) and athlete Javarius Davis (Jacksonville, Florida) will take their official visits to Michigan for Under the Lights III, according to their respective profile pages on 247 Sports.
Robertson is the 14th ranked offensive guard in the class according to the 247 Composite. UCLA looks like the favorite for him. Davis is currently committed to North Carolina, but it looks like Florida could be where he ultimately ends up.
That's it for Monday. Check back in with us Wednesday for the latest in Michigan football recruiting news.
Be sure to follow Maize n Brew's Anthony Broome on Twitter, @anthonytbroome