Friday Michigan Recruiting Roundup: Predicting commitments from the BBQ at the Big House

Hey folks, and welcome to the first Friday Recruiting Roundup of the 2018 season! We’re vamping up our coverage as the first game draws nearer and the recruiting dead period is finally over.

As many of you know, dozens of top recruits will be flocking to Ann Arbor this weekend for the BBQ at the Big House. The staff looks to be trying to lay down some foundation with a bunch of 2020 targets. However, there are still a few prospects that could pull the trigger this weekend and commit to the Wolverines.

Let’s look at the prospects most likely to give their verbal while on campus this weekend.

CB Mike Sainristil, Everett (MA)

Sainristil is committed to Virginia Tech, but has been trending towards Michigan after his under the radar official visit in June. The 3-star had kept Michigan’s interest in him pretty quiet, but making two visits in about a month shows that he is a serious target.

Although he is listed as a cornerback, word is the staff is recruiting him to play on both sides of the ball. The 5-foot-10, 175-pounder would likely line up as a slot receiver on offense.

This recruitment is also notable because Sainristil plays at the former high school of 4-star safety Lewis Cine, who lined up in the secondary with Sainristil before transferring to play his senior year in Texas. While getting Sainristil on board probably won’t convince Cine to commit to Michigan, it certainly can’t hurt.

OLB Kalel Mullings, Milton Academy (MA)

Even though he was never on campus, Mullings spent a lot of time with the Michigan coaching staff last month. He attended two Michigan camps in three days while they were on a northeast swing. During those camps, he developed a strong relationship with Don Brown, bonding over life in Massachusetts.

Mullings is currently ranked in the top 50 for the 2020 class, and Michigan holds six out of his seven Crystal Balls. Brown also impressed Mullings’ dad, which is important in getting a prospect to sign. After spending so much time with Michigan’s staff, he might feel comfortable enough to commit during his trip.

DE Bryce Mostella, East Kentwood (MI) and Braiden McGregor, Port Huron Northern (MI)

These two 2020 prospects are very similar in nature. Both of them are from Michigan, with mostly midwest offers. They’re both very long (Mostella is 6-foot-6, McGregor is 6-foot-5) with room on their frames to pack on weight (both listed at 235 pounds). They’re also grouped near each other in the rankings, with Mostella as the seventh-ranked player in Michigan, and McGregor the eighth. Most importantly, they both have four crystal ball picks in for the Wolverines.

Mostella has stated Michigan is in his top three already, along with Penn State and Northwestern. He’s also said he wants to wait until late in his junior season to decide, which is already an early date to commit. Given this will be one of several visits to Michigan in the past couple of months, and teammate Mazi Smith also recently committed, I think the staff could possibly nudge him to move up his timeline and verbal this weekend.

McGregor has also been on campus a couple of times. He won 2020 defensive line MVP honors at Michigan’s camp in June. Originally, McGregor planned to head down to Alabama this weekend, but decided to visit Ann Arbor again. This is turning into a Michigan-Notre Dame battle, as the Irish are also pushing hard for the versatile athlete. From where it stands now, Michigan looks to be in the lead, and with a good visit could convince him to commit. But the Notre Dame interest may give him pause.

Top 2020 tight end target to visit this weekend

Michigan is adding to its long list of visiting prospects this weekend. tight end Lukas Ungar is set to be in Ann Arbor this Friday ($).

Ungar is a 4-star prospect, and ranked as the fifth-best tight end in the country in this early juncture. Michigan has given him a lot of love lately, especially after losing a couple of other targets at the position to Notre Dame.

The New Jersey native also holds offers from Maryland, UNC and West Virginia. There are no crystal ball picks in yet, but Michigan is the only school that is warm on his 247 profile. Look for the Wolverines to surge ahead in this race this weekend, if they weren’t leading already.

Now that you’re all caught up on the Michigan recruiting world, make sure to kick back, relax and wait to see all of the developments this weekend. Whatever happens, Maize n Brew will be there with the latest news and information!