Crystal Ball Prediction: Elite Defensive Tackle Rashan Gary Will End Up at Michigan

The recruitment of 2016 defensive tackle Rashan Gary (Paramus, New Jersey) has been one of the bigger storylines on the trail so far in this cycle. A commitment from him would give Jim Harbaugh and company their biggest fish to date and an elite defender that could play right away.

Gary is a consensus five-star prospect and the top-ranked overall player in the class of 2016.

The Wolverines have a lot going for them here. He is from an area of the country that has become a pipeline for the program in recent years. In 2013, Jabrill Peppers and Juwann Bushell-Beatty, both from Paramus Catholic, Gary's school, signed with Michigan.

In the 2016 class alone, Michigan has nabbed commitments from three players in the Garden State in wide receivers Brad Hawkins and Ahmir Mitchell, along with defensive end Ron Johnson.

Add in that Chris Partridge, his former high school coach, is now on Michigan's staff and that is a recipe to feel really good about here.

But that's not all.

Gary's visit over the weekend was a grand slam in his recruitment. He is looking to major in business and U-M has a great program for that career path. Michigan has a pretty large alumni base on the East coast, and as a source pointed out to Steve Lorenz ($), that was eye opening.

His mother is a pretty significant factor here, as well. According to a few that I have spoken to, she was incredibly impressed and took to Ann Arbor very nicely. It does not seem like there would be any issues with her son ending up at Michigan.

I have been contemplating pulling the trigger on this prediction for awhile, but once guys like Lorenz, Steve Wiltfong, Shannon Terry, and even Scout's Sam Webb saying a lot of the same things, it is becoming more and more apparent that this is a legitimate possibility.

It is going to be tough to hold off teams like LSU and Alabama, but Michigan has positioned themselves to do so and they should be able to get Gary on campus again prior to National Signing Day 2016.