Wednesday Michigan Recruiting Roundup: Targets set visits and a top RB target emerges

It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time for another edition of the Michigan Recruiting Roundup! Let’s get right to it and see what the latest news is on the trail.

Pair of targets set visits for same weekend

It looks like there’s a new weekend coming up to pencil in your calendar for recruiting news. Two Michigan targets have set up plans to visit Ann Arbor for March 22, which could grow into a bigger group as the date draws nearer.

The first prospect is Connecticut 4-star wide receiver Jaden Dottin, according to The Michigan Insider’s Brice Marich ($). Dottin just visited in December with his family, so this quick turnaround obviously indicates some serious interest.

This was before new wide receivers coach Josh Gattis was hired, but Dottin said he talked with Ben McDaniels and Roy Roundtree the most during his last visit.

Michigan has had good success with receivers from Connecticut in the recent past, and they’re looking to keep the gravy train running. All three of his crystal balls are for Penn State right now, so they’re the biggest competition.

The second player visiting will be Georgia 3-star safety Brian Branch. Branch told TMI’s Steve Lorenz he hears from the staff “almost daily, led by Chris Partridge.” ($)

Branch also holds offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas A&M. He doesn’t have any crystal ball picks yet. Given the staff’s track record with the Peach State, this recruitment could take a turn for the Maize and Blue if the visit goes well.

4-star RB emerges as a top target

One of the many St. Frances Academy players to visit Ann Arbor this past weekend was 4-star running back Blake Corum. There hadn’t been much information out before the trip that Corum was high on Michigan’s board, but that’s changed following this weekend.

Corum caught up with TMI’s Brice Marich to talk about his discussions with the coaches and his interest in the program ($).

“They plan to use me everywhere. They plan to run me up the middle, outside, catch balls and also maybe return punts. I like it a lot,” Corum said. “Me and coach Jay Harbaugh talked previously to my visit a bunch of times. I think he’s a great coach and we have a really good connection.”

Having recent commit Osman Savage as his teammate also helps out Michigan, as Corum said the two have “been knowing each other since youth.”

Virginia Tech holds the only two crystal ball picks for the 4-star right now, but I expect we’ll see Corum back on campus at some point as the staff jumps in the race.

3-star in-state LB puts Michigan in his top 4

One of the prospects I talked about yesterday in my ranking of in-state players most likely to go to Michigan was linebacker Jordan Turner, who recently talked to TMI’s Sam Webb about how his process is going ($).

Turner said the Michigan offer “caught me by surprise.”

He also relayed it stands out because it’s his first offer from close to home.

“I was happy (because) Michigan State didn’t offer, so it was like all of my offers were out of (state),” Turner said. “But now I’ve got my in-state (offer), so it really impacted my recruiting process.”

Because of that impact, Turner said Michigan, along with Kentucky, Purdue and Northwestern, are the schools he’s looking at most closely right now.

Turner said he is planning to visit campus next month, but won’t be deciding for a little while.

“I’d say right before football season starts,” said Turner. “If not, then right after football season.”

Turner is ranked No. 450 in nationally, and 15th in the state of Michigan.

Michigan ramps up contact with Massachusetts 3-star

The coaching staff is dipping back into the Northeast well for the 2020 class, this time for 3-star athlete Eamonn Dennis.

After offering last month, Dennis told TMI’s Steve Lorenz he’s “been hearing a lot from coach Zordich and coach Brown” ($).

Dennis said he’s looking to visit campus in April and his interest in the program is “really high.” He also relayed the staff is recruiting him on offense as someone “who could play running back or wide receiver in their system.”

Ranked as the No. 5 player in his state, Dennis also holds offers from UConn, UMass, Mississippi State, Rutgers, Syracuse and Tulane.

That wraps up this version of the Wednesday Michigan Recruiting Roundup, see you back here next week!