How Shea Patterson Could’ve Impacted Michigan’s 2018 Recruiting Class Ranking

Shea Patterson did not officially count towards Michigan’s 2018 recruiting class, but the class would have been boosted in the rankings as a result of it.

Patterson is still waiting to hear if he can play in 2018 or not for Michigan, as they’re pursuing an eligibility waiver allowing him to play immediately rather than sit out a full year, as NCAA guidelines would normally dictate.

Many analysts label Patterson as a potential Heisman Trophy candidate and 2019 NFL Draft prospect. Regardless of when he is cleared, he is sure to become a great asset for Michigan and one to make a major impact on the program.

His addition isn’t likely to have helped the Wolverines return to the top 10 in the national recruiting rankings, but it could’ve brought the team much closer.

According to 247Sports director of football scouting, Barton Simmons, “If we add [Utah transfer and defensive back Casey] Hughes and Patterson to Michigan’s class without adding transfers for any other school, and if we still assume that Shea Patterson is a 5-star level talent like we had him graded as a high school student, Michigan still would only move up to No. 19, jumping Tennessee and South Carolina, So while the addition of Patterson in particular is huge, I still think this Michigan class comes up short.”

Michigan’s 2018 recruiting class did not include a single five-star recruit, 7 4-star recruits and 12 3-star recruits. As a result, 247Sports ranks the Wolverines at No. 21.

Prospects such as, 5-star tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere or 4-star player Otis Reese could have also contributed to pushing Michigan into the top 15 at least. But Petit-Frere committed to Ohio State and Reese jumped to Georgia on National Signing Day.

This fall Jim Harbaugh’s first full recruiting class, ranked No. 8 by 247Sports, in 2016 will be entering its third season at Michigan. The class may not be ranked as high as many were expecting, but here’s to hoping that they get the coaching they need to develop into champions.