Michigan Monday Crootin: Harbaugh makes push for 4-star in-state DE

A host of college coaches made trips up I-696 to see four-star Port Huron (Mich.) Northern defensive end Braiden McGregor this past weekend.

The junior is a big man for the Huskies basketball team. Friday’s night contest against crosstown rival Port Huron High gave Jim Harbaugh and company reason to make the drive.

Tight ends coach Sherrone Moore and new defensive line coach Shaun Nua joined Harbaugh in attendance.

Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio also joined the festivities, as did Notre Dame defensive line coach Mike Elston and defensive coordinator Clark Lea. Irish head coach Brian Kelly made the trip to the Michigan-Canada border town earlier in the week.

McGregor ranks as the No. 324 overall prospect nationally per the 247 Sports Composite. He also ranks sixth in-state and No. 18 at his strong side end position.

While the 6-foot-5, 248-pounder also holds offers from the likes of Alabama, most insiders see him sticking in the Midwest. Michigan holds 40 percent of his Crystal Balls, which is tied with Notre Dame. The remaining 20 percent is undecided/foggy.

McGregor would be the Wolverines’ first 2020 pledge along the defensive line, and seventh overall. He has yet to announce a timeline for a decision.

Preferred walk-ons wrapping up 2019 class

With the final signing day on Wednesday, Michigan is putting the finishing touches on the 2019 class.

Over the weekend, a pair of preferred walk-ons announced their intentions to play in Ann Arbor. First, Trevor Woods reported former Michigan Tech commit Zonterio Weekley switching his decision after a conversation with the coaching staff.

On Super Bowl Sunday, Oxford (Mich.) tight end/defensive end Evan Brunning pledged to Michigan.

The 6-foot-5, 235-pounder helped Oxford finish 8-3 last fall, including a win over defending MHSAA Division 1 champion Clarkston.

Earlier in the week, the special teams numbers were bolstered by the additions of five-star long-snapper William Wagner and Dexter (Mich.) kicker Karl Kerska.

Kornblue Kicking, a national ranking service for kickers, ranks Kerska 22nd nationally in the class of 2019. He is one of six kickers from the state of Michigan ranked in the top 50.

Insider Notes

Steve Lorenz of The Michigan Insider posted a bunch of updates ($) for highly-regarded 2020 recruits:

• Michigan remains a “top overall school” for Massachusetts four-star Kalel Mullings.
• Josh Gattis is focusing on a slew of elite junior receivers, including Illinois four-star A.J. Henning, Pennsylvania five-star Julian Fleming and in-state four-star Rashawn Williams, among others. The latter is seen as a “when, not if” recruitment.

Michigan three-star Devell Washington told Von Lozon last weekend about he and Williams’ possibility of playing together in Ann Arbor.

• Lorenz handicaps the pursuits of several top 2020 running backs, including Folson (Calif.) four-star Daniyel Ngata. Speaking of...

ICYMI

• Ngata spoke with Maize N’ Brew this past weekend after he put the Wolverines in his top-11.

• Arlington (Tex.) three-star defensive back Jalen Kimber put Michigan in his top-10.

Michigan expects two final letters of intent Sunday from Washington (D.C.) four-star safety Quinten Johnson and Leawood (Kan.) three-star athlete Amauri Pesek-Hickson.

Stay tuned for a final cornucopia of Signing Day content from your good friends at Maize N’ Brew.