Monday Crootin: Michigan Hosted Top Offensive Line Recruits for Open Practice

Jim Harbaugh allowed the public to enter Michigan Stadium for an open practice this weekend, watching things like Mike Sainristil catch passes and punts and Ben Mason surprise on the defensive line.

Several recruits came to Ann Arbor, as well, including several top prospects on the offensive line. One of the more prominent ones was rising junior tackle Blake Fisher out of Avon (Ind.).

The 6-foot-6, 300-pounder is a 4-star for the 2021 class, as well as the No. 9 tackle and No. 88 player nationally. He told The Michigan Insider that he loved how the team visits places like Rome and Paris during the offseason.

“The things that stand out to me are the academics and how life after football will be,” he told Steve Wiltfong ($). “Also the trips they take as a team are outstanding when it comes to team bonding and being able to in a sense go to four different countries while I’m there for four years.”

Fisher mentioned that he expects to be back for another visit on June 21. In other quotes with Wiltfong, his praise for the program and campus came off as effusive.

He also had recently taken trips to Notre Dame, Purdue and Northwestern. His response to South Bend from a visit two weekends ago was simply: “It was a good visit.”

The Fighting Irish, as well as Wisconsin, figure to be Michigan’s biggest competition for Fisher. He also holds offers from the likes of Ohio State, Florida State and Auburn among others.

In addition, a pair of 2020 linemen were in attendance. Brandon Brown at Rivals noted that 4-star Michael Carmody made the drive from Mars (Pa.) for the second time in about a month.

He emphasized that Ed Warinner is making sure “Carmody knows he’s a wanted man.”

“The 6-6, 280-pounder has great size, length and athleticism at the tackle spot,” Brown writes ($). “He actually worked out as a jumbo tight end last year during the camp circuit and did not look out of place there.”

Warinner and company are not only fighting other Midwest powers (Ohio State and Notre Dame) for Carmody, but trying to catch up with Penn State. Carmody has been to State College seven times per his Rivals bio.

The other rising senior lineman is Jonah Monheim, who made the trek all the way from Moorpark (Calif.). The 6-foot-5, 280-pounder is a 3-star and the No. 708 player overall per 247 Sports.

Despite the fairly nondescript ranking, powers such as Alabama and Oklahoma, as well as Southern Cal, have extended offers. Maize n’ Brew has reached out to Monheim for a visit reaction.

McGregor Almost Commits to Notre Dame

In a post-visit reaction to Notre Dame, Port Huron (Mich.) 4-star defensive end Braiden McGregor told 247 Sports’ Tom Loy “he nearly pulled the trigger for the Fighting Irish.”

“I’d be lying if I said no,” said McGregor, when asked if he felt like committing this weekend. “There were a couple of times, like when I was sitting with coach Kelly at the lake house and he was just talking to my whole family, and we were getting a feel for each other. I was just thinking, ‘Yeah, I kind of want to commit.’ But, I have of visits scheduled, I have a couple of schools I’m pretty high on, like 10 of them. I can only take five officials and I’m hoping to take them soon, and then get a feel for those schools as well.”

The No. 27 player overall and the top in the Wolverine State said he previously had the same feeling on trips to Alabama and Michigan. While Michigan still heavily leads in his Crystal Balls, he put to rest rumors that his family is pushing him to Ann Arbor.

“Everyone keeps talking about how Michigan has won over my family and I don’t know if that’s the case. They obviously like it because it’s close to home, but I mean, they just want what is best for me. If that’s Clemson, if that’s Alabama, if that’s Notre Dame, they are going to support my fully,” said McGregor regarding perception that the Wolverines are the favorite for his family. “With my sister, she’s studying finals this weekend, and she made an hour-and-a-half drive to come see me at a school that’s pretty big and high on my list, I thought that was a really big deal. It showed how big my support system is.”

It’s going to be a fight. He is planning for an official visit to Michigan, as well as Ohio State, Notre Dame, Clemson and Alabama.

Final Note

• Check out Trevor Woods talking to top 2021 quarterback J.J. McCarthy.