The 2016 quarterback arms race
The quarterback position will not be as big a need as it was in the 2015 class, but there is still an interesting storyline developing at the position in the 2016 cycle.
While it's absolutely possible and not out of the question that Jim Harbaugh could again take multiple signal callers, but the likely scenario is that they do just take one now that they will be getting a transfer in former Houston quarterback John O'Korn.
This has created a race of sorts for that quarterback slot in this class. The staff has offered a fair amount of prospects and The Harbaugh Effect is certainly in effect with some of the top recruits on the trail.
Michigan has some of the best 2016 quarterbacks interested in them, as they have made contact with guys like Jacob Eason, KJ Costello and Shea Patterson, as well as offering Dwayne Haskins and Brandon Peters earlier this week.
Peters looks like a candidate to commit soon with his offer, but one prospect's visit could change that.
Costello told Wolverine247 that he plans to visit Michigan in "the next two weeks or so," which could mean he's trying to sneak in before someone else pledges before him.
A commitment from Costello would be a big deal, as he appears to be the top quarterback on their board and a California kid who could help the Wolverines reestablish a pipeline out there. The previous staff's high interest in him has carried over and perhaps even grown with Harbaugh, so we'll have to see what happens here.
The timing of his visit is interesting, to say the least.
The 247 Crystal Ball still has Stanford as the team to beat, and seeing as quarterback is a huge need for them and Costello's roots in California, I would still keep an eye on them. Seeing as Stanford is the program Harbaugh built up himself, I would think Michigan would be using that pitch to its advantage here.
Costello is a four-star prospect and the fourth ranked pro-style quarterback in the 2016 class, per the 247 Composite.
Offers, offers and more offers
It was a slower week that we've gotten accustomed to recently, but Michigan has still extended quite a few 2015 offers in the past couple of days.
- Three-star offensive lineman Austin Meyers (Manvel, Texas)
- Four-star wide receiver Eli Stove (Niceville, Florida)
- Four-star tight end Cary Angeline (Exton, Pennsylvania)
- Four-star cornerback Jaylon Jones (Allen, Texas)
- Three-star tight end Jacob Mathis (Tampa, Florida)
- Three-star tight end/defensive end Landon Rice (Calhoun, Georgia)
- Four-star defensive end Justin Madabuike (McKinney, Texas)