Michigan Monday Crootin’ recaps Junior Day, plus Jay Harbaugh’s visit with Daniyel Ngata

Michigan made some major in-roads with several Midwestern prospects this weekend at “Junior Day” on Saturday.

The event saw a bevy of underclassmen — spanning the 2020, 2021 and even 2022 classes — visit frigid Ann Arbor.

First, in-state wide receivers in 2020 four-star Rashawn Williams and 2020 three-star Devell Washington intimated that there’s “a very high chance” that they both come to Michigan.

“I spent a lot of time with Rashawn Williams,” Washington told Von Lozon this weekend. “We talked about playing together.

“Yeah (Williams) was super cool. Yeah, we spent the whole day together, and then we went to a showcase in Brighton after the Junior Day. We talk, but we promised to talk more.”

The 6-foot-4 Washington attends Bay City (Mich.) Central, and ranks as the No. 451 overall prospect per 247 Sports. Meanwhile, the 6-foot-1 Williams is a Detroit King product that’s a near top-150 recruit per the 247 Sports Composite.

The pair met extensively with new offensive coordinator Josh Gattis, who plans to emphasize wide receiver talent in his new pass-happy offense.

“He talked about getting the best players the ball in space,” Washington said. “He also talked about how important it is for us receivers to block...to have explosive plays.”

Both hold offers from the Wolverines, as well as Michigan State and Ohio State.

ICYMI, here’s 2020 four-star PA linebacker Nikhail Hill-Green previewing his Junior Day with Jonathan Simmons.

Isaiah Hole of Wolverine Wire compiled a full set of Twitter reactions from the visit. Here’s 2020 three-star Ohio tackle Trey Leroux braving the cold in gym shorts.

Maize n’ Brew reached out to the 6-foot-8, 320-pounder out of Norwalk for comment. Stay tuned for the interview.

Michigan “in it strong” for four-star RB Daniyel Ngata of CA

Jay Harbaugh, Michigan’s primary West Coast recruiter, did major work in California last cycle by reeling in Zach Charbonnet and Giles Jackson.

The younger Harbaugh is looking to bolster his running backs room again. He visited Folsom (Calif.) four-star Daniyel Ngata last Thursday.

“Me and him are just cool,” Ngata said of Harbaugh to The Michigan Insider’s Sam Webb ($). “I talk to him just like I talk to my friends. He’s just a real cool, real chill guy.”

The 5-foot-9, 194-pounder holds offers from a who’s who of college football — Alabama, LSU, Notre Dame, and also northwest programs such as Washington and Oregon.

Webb talked with Ngata about how Gattis’ new offense and a Michigan education will play factors in his eventual decision — which won’t come until at least the middle of next season.

Unlike many California natives, the Ngata family is not tied down to the Golden State. Daniyel’s oldest brother Ariel is a sophomore linebacker at Washington. His other brother Joe is a 6-foot-3 former four-star receiver that enrolled at Clemson this past month.

He played 7-on-7 football with 2019 four-star quarterback Cade McNamara last summer, and played in the same league as Jackson. While he’s struck up relationships with the two, neither of them have been pushy.

“I met (Jackson) through other friends and stuff,” Ngata said, “and then when he committed to Michigan me and him started getting a little contact. Not much. He doesn’t really push the issue like that. (He’s trying) not to get annoying, so that’s good.”

In fact, Jackson told Maize n’ Brew that he’s really only communicating with Brentwood (Calif.) four-star quarterback Jay Butterfield.

Side note, Butterfield’s head coach Ryan Partridge assured that the recent commitment of Arizona three-star J.D. Johnson won’t deter a future pledge.

“He’s a competitor, he doesn’t care,” Partridge said. “We were told they would be taking two in the 2020 class. Still a viable option.”

Final Notes

• 7-foot Ohio center Zach Loveday says Michigan “really appeals” to him.
• ICYMI: 2020 linebacker Cullen Coleman “would love to visit Michigan ASAP.”
• ICYMI: 2020 tackle Jeffrey Persi calls Michigan offer “a true honor.”