Wednesday Michigan Recruiting Roundup: Junior day reactions

Michigan football recruiting had an eventful weekend, receiving a commitment from four-star quarterback Cade McNamara on Friday. Following that, the Wolverines hosted a boatload of elite national prospects for their junior day.

Let’s check out how Michigan did during these visits on this week’s Michigan Football Recruiting Roundup!

Four-star offensive tackle has Michigan No. 1

The prospect who many believed would be the most likely to commit last weekend is four-star offensive tackle William Harrod. While that didn’t come to fruition, Michigan maintained a healthy lead for the 6-foot-5, 305-pounder out of Maryland.

In an interview with The Michigan Insider’s Steve Wiltfong ($), Harrod explained what has made Michigan stick out to him.

“Michigan definitely is my top school. Especially since every evaluation period they were able to get on the road they were there. Coach Pep also came to my basketball game. Seeing the facilities and campus today sold me,” he said.

Harrod stated he wants to take other official visits before officially deciding where he’ll play ball.

Currently, there are 11 crystal ball predictions for Harrod, all of them for the Wolverines.

Michigan pushing hard for five-star safety

Another esteemed visitor for junior day was Daxton Hill, a five-star safety from Oklahoma. Michigan has been one of the schools going after Hill the hardest, and getting him to campus is a big step forward.

Hill told TMI’s Steve Wiltfong ($) that he enjoyed meeting coaches and seeing how the team trained.

Hill added he “felt at home as soon as I got there.”

Safety is a point of emphasis for this recruiting cycle, so this is good news for the Michigan staff. Michigan’s main competition for Hill are the Oklahoma schools, Alabama and Ohio State.

Elite defensive end recaps Michigan visit

One of the most sought after prospects in the 2019 class is five-star defensive end Zach Harrison, from Ohio. Michigan got another chance to impress him this past weekend.

Harrison told TMI’s Steve Wiltfong ($) he met with Michigan’s defensive coaches, including Don Brown and Greg Mattison, during the trip, as well as area recruiter Al Washington.

”They just wanted me to have a good time. All three of those guys are great guys,” Harrison said.

Harrison has been very reserved about his recruitment so far, not showing his hand much. Good sense tells you Ohio State will be the team to beat here, but Penn State and Notre Dame also seem to be schools he is interested in. Harrison said he doesn’t have set plans for more visits yet.

Four-star offensive guard already making return plans

Another highly touted offensive lineman that Michigan is making great strides with is Texas four-star EJ Ndoma-Ogar.

Michigan put themselves firmly in the running for Ndoma-Ogar during his visit to Ann Arbor. In an interview with TMI’s Steve Wiltfong ($), he said he “had a great time at Michigan,” and that “me and my family were very impressed.”

Ndoma-Ogar previously attended IMG Academy, where he was teammates with Michigan center Cesar Ruiz. This relationship has helped Michigan’s case in his recruitment. “Reconnecting with Cesar Ruiz was a lot of fun,” Ndoma-Ogar stated.

The nation’s sixth-ranked guard said he and his family are already planning on going back to see Michigan’s campus more.

Michigan offers four-star tight end

As one of the most featured positions in Jim Harbaugh’s offense, tight ends are always a priority on the recruiting trail.

Michigan offered one of the nation’s top at the position this past week, four-star Ethan Rae from Orange, California.

Rae recapped his interactions with the Michigan staff with TMI’s Isaiah Hole ($).

“I was really excited and happy that I received that offer,” Rae said. He has been getting to know new tight ends coach Sherrone Moore, who “really likes the player that I am and the man I am. He’s just been stressing on getting me out there for a visit as soon as possible.”

Hometown UCLA has the only two crystal balls in for Rae so far, but he is not ruling out anywhere in the country. What is important to him is “just how it is being a college athlete there and the people surrounding me and the community.”

That’s all the news to know for Michigan recruiting this week. Come back next week, as recruiting season is just about to heat up!