With the class of 2014 close to being finished for the Michigan Wolverines, focus has been shifted toward the class of 2015. Questions about the class area already abundant despite signing day being more than a full year away for high school juniors. Who would get Michigan's second quarterback scholarship? When would the Wolverines come through with an offer for five-star defensive tackle Tim Settle?
Both of those questions were answered late in the week when the coaching staff offered both Settle and USC quarterback commitment David Sills, who plays for the same high school as Michigan commitments Freddy Canteen and Brandon Watson. The staff had been rumored to have narrowed its focus down to four passers in the junior class, but it's now apparent that Sills is their top priority. California product Josh Rosen is the only other signal caller to hold a Michigan offer and remains a pipe dream.
Why the coaching staff decided to hold off on offering Settle until now remains a mystery. The young defensive tackle is the most talented player at his position in the class of 2015, being rated as high as number one overall by Scout and as a five-star prospect by the other major scouting services. Michigan has been in contact with him for quite some time now; Settle is close friends with Da'Shawn Hand, who had talked to Settle about Michigan on more than one occasion.
These two offers could prove to be two of the most important offers in the class -- especially the offer to quarterback David Sills. Sills is an excellent fit for Al Borges' west coast passing scheme, and his crystal ball is already turning in favor of the Wolverines. His favorite target in high school, Freddy Canteen, just happens to be committed to Michigan in the class of 2014. His commitment to Southern California was made long ago when the program was still under the control of Lane Kiffin, who has since been fired and replaced with Washington's Steve Sarkisian. A flip to the Wolverines could be inevitable.
The decision to offer Tim Settle shouldn't be underestimated, either. Michigan clearly still needs help in the interior of its defensive line after poor showings against Iowa, Ohio State and others, and there isn't a better defensive tackle prospect in the class than Tim Settle, who is also athletic enough to help put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Both Virginia and Ohio State have worked their way toward the front of the pack for Settle's commitment, but he won't make a commitment until the end of his recruiting cycle. The Wolverine have time to make up ground, and they have the academics and atmosphere that Settle wants in a school.
Expect more major recruiting news in the coming weeks. Brady Hoke and his staff are all hopping on and off of planes to see recruits, so more offers and interesting quotes are bound to come out before Michigan plays in its bowl game.