Friday Michigan Recruiting Roundup: Updates on Midwestern recruits and Harrison Bailey

Happy Friday, folks, and welcome in to another edition of the Friday Michigan Recruiting Roundup!

Let’s end our work week on a good note, how about? We don’t have a ton of recruiting news to report, but what we have is pretty interesting at the very least. Let’s get into it.

The never-ending recruitment of 5-star DE Zach Harrison

It is really starting to feel like this recruitment will never truly end, but now after reading this story from Bleacher Report, I can kind of understand why Harrison still has not decided on his future school.

Even he admitted it’s been a long ride: “I can’t wait for it to be over.”

It doesn’t appear to be close to being over.

His final three schools are likely Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State. He was originally planning on committing two days ago — his birthday — but those plans changed, even before Buckeyes’ head coach Urban Meyer was put on administrative leave.

“I just have to wait and see how this all plays out,” he said of the OSU investigation.

It seemingly will have an affect on his recruitment if that investigation turns ugly for Meyer and the school, but maybe the below snippet of the BR story can provide some context as to why Harrison is ready for his recruitment to end:

At a high school basketball game, a stranger holding his infant stopped Harrison to see if he would hold his child so he could snap a photo of the two. Harrison politely obliged, while his friends looked on in bewilderment.

”I asked him if this is something that happens a lot,” Zach’s friend and Olentangy Orange senior quarterback Robbie Dayhuff says. “I was shocked that he said it did.”

Well then...

The article did say Harrison wants to sign with his school during the early signing period in December so he can practice during the winter. Read the full article for more, because it is really worth the read.

Quick update on 2019 4-star OT

Bryce Benhart, a 2019 4-star offensive tackle from Minnesota, is a big dude at 6-foot-7 and 285 pounds. He attended the BBQ at the Big House last month and told TMI’s Steve Wiltfong ($) how he enjoyed his time.

““It’s a nice place,” Benhart said. “The (offensive line) guys that are committed, I talked with them and they’re great guys. I got to know them.”

Wiltfong also mentioned Benhart’s father played in the NFL for a little bit and has a relationship with Jim Harbaugh. Despite that, Benhart does not have an official visit scheduled for Michigan, or for any school for that matter.

All six crystal ball predictions are in for Wisconsin right now, with Michigan, Tennessee, Minnesota and Nebraska all close behind.

2020 in-state DE will see Michigan play a couple times in 2018

Just outside of 4-star range, in-state defensive end Braiden McGregor of Port Huron is set to see U-M play on more than one occasion in 2018, as he told TMI’s Allen Trieu ($).

“I have one scheduled right now for Michigan and Notre Dame on Sept. 1,” McGregor said.

He went on to say he is still planning out the specifics of a game visit to Michigan and Michigan State. He also is trying to “get down to a couple other schools like Ohio State and Purdue.”

Ranked as the No. 8 player in Michigan, No. 17 strong-side defensive end and the No. 346 player overall in the 2020 class, McGregor is listed at 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds. All four crystal ball predictions are in favor of Michigan.

The fact McGregor is going to see Michigan play twice in 2018 is a great stepping stone to furthering a relationship with the staff and players, and possibly securing an early commitment, as well.

Quick update on top 2020 QB target

Harrison Bailey is Michigan’s top quarterback target in the 2020 class, and he recently made some comments that may excite Wolverine fans.

Speaking recently with 247Sports’ Rusty Mansell ($), from the Georgia Bulldogs 247 affiliate, he realizes Sept. 1 is an important date, one in which college programs can begin contacting high school juniors.

“We’ll see who really wants me,” he said.

One school that wants him, and he knows it, is Michigan.

“Michigan, they have been recruiting me hard,” Bailey said. “Coach (Pep) Hamilton is a great coach. I can definitely see myself playing for them. I took a (recent) visit, great visit. It was all I expected and more. Good vibes.

Bailey also mentioned Tennessee and Florida State as other schools who are very high on him.

Ranked as the No. 9 player from Georgia. No. 4 quarterback and No. 54 overall player in his class, I would imagine Michigan is recruiting him hard, if not the hardest out of all the schools. This is an important recruit for Michigan in the 2020 class, so we will have to wait and see, probably a while, where Bailey takes his talents.

That’s all for this roundup! Be sure to stay locked in to Maize n Brew as we continue to provide all the recruiting information you need as we inch our way closer to the start of the 2018 season.