Friday Michigan Recruiting Roundup: Defensive targets excited to visit

Hey everyone, and welcome in to another Michigan Recruiting Roundup!

On today’s roundup, we’ve got updates on a top cornerback target in the 2020 class, a new target emerging in the 2021 class and ...

Let’s get right to it!

Top 2020 CB target looking forward to U-M visit

One of the final targets at cornerback in the 2020 class for Michigan is four-star Darion Green-Warren. The 6-foot, 187-pounder from Harbor City, California is taking an official visit to Michigan the week of Dec. 6 alongside his close friend, four-star quarterback CJ Stroud.

247Sports’ Greg Biggins ($) caught up with Green-Warren ahead of his official visit schedule, with Michigan coming up next month.

“On Dec. 6 I’ll be going to Michigan and my boy CJ Stroud will be coming with me,” Green-Warren said. “He’s been my guy since 7th grade so that’s going to be a lot of fun, not just because I have a lot of interest in Michigan but because I’m going out there with a close friend.”

Green-Warren has already officially visited USC, and has other visits lined up for Nebraska (this weekend, his second official visit here) and Penn State (Dec. 13). He plans on making his commitment at the All-American Bowl on Jan. 4.

“Right now, I’m open to all of these schools and still figuring everything out. The trips will be big for me and I’m just looking for the place where I can get developed, where I have a great relationship with the coaches, hopefully play early and compete for a championship.”

After de-committing from Oklahoma back in March, Green-Warren has been very open about his recruitment. It doesn’t seem like distance is a factor here, since he is visiting a bunch of Big Ten schools, so Michigan is right in the thick of things here. If things go well in Ann Arbor on Dec. 6 with Stroud, Michigan could end the 2020 class very strong.

2021 DT likes U-M’s style of defense

Maize n Brew recruiting writer Jon Simmons, as always, will have his full visitors recruiting list out later today, but for now let’s chat about one guy in particular who will be on campus this weekend — 2021 defensive lineman James Gillespie.

The 6-foot-2, 300-pounder from Woodbridge, Virginia will be on campus this weekend, and also got to check out Michigan in action during the White Out game at Penn State. Despite the loss the Wolverines took that night, Michigan still managed to impress him on the defensive side of things, according to The Michigan Insider’s Brice Marich ($).

“I’ve been told that when he attended Penn State’s White Out game against Michigan, he really liked the style of defense they played and the multiple fronts they used for their defensive line play,” Marich wrote.

It’s one thing to have a recruit come away impressed with things when they are visiting your campus, but to have a recruit come away from a visit and like what the opposing team did on defense is certainly interesting. Michigan could use some beef on the interior defensive line in the 2021 cycle, and Gillespie could be one of those guys the Wolverines go hard after moving forward.

Gillespie is the No. 21 defensive tackle and No. 298 overall player in the 2021 class, per 247Sports’ composite. He holds other offers from Penn State, Pittsburgh, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland and others.

Quick update on top C target in 2020

Finally, let’s end on a basketball crootin’ note.

The top target for Juwan Howard at the center position in 2020 is four-star Hunter Dickinson. Michigan received two crystal ball predictions on Nov. 13 for Dickinson after his girlfriend, track star Ziyah Holman, signed her letter of intent to play at U-M.

Sam Webb over at TMI ($) further elaborated on this, saying, “I was told that this is not being looked upon as a package deal, but that it has added to the confidence emanating from Ann Arbor about landing the four-star big man.” Webb also went on to say, “I can say that Dickinson has a Michigan (letter of intent) in his possession and my gut tells me at this point Michigan thinks its going to land him.”

This is an huge development for the Wolverines. If Michigan could get a signature from Dickinson before the early signing period ends (Nov. 20), you’d have two of your three guys signed, with five-star forward Isaiah Todd being the lone man out. We will provide further updates on this as the early signing period progresses.

That’s all for this week! Come back Monday for more Michigan recruiting!