Wednesday Michigan Recruiting Roundup: Official visits being set

Welcome back, everyone, to the Michigan Recruiting Roundup. Remember football recruiting? It’s the place where Michigan just landed a 5-star quarterback of the future!

I’ve done some sifting through all of the basketball coaching search speculation to find the latest news and updates from the trail, so keep reading to forget your basketball woes.

Top S target sets official visit date

Michigan’s safety board is stocked with potential candidates, but the player the staff may have the best chance of landing is 4-star Jordan Morant.

After recently narrowing down his list and declaring his intentions to declare at the All-American Bowl on Jan. 4, Morant has set his official visit date to Ann Arbor.

According to The Michigan Insider’s Brice Marich, Morant will be taking his official visit on June 21 ($).

There will be more coming about that weekend in the near future, but once again, remember the date.

This early official visit also gives the staff a chance to get Morant up for a game in the fall, which shouldn’t be difficult since he is from New Jersey. Michigan has taken over the crystal ball for Morant, and just has to hold on until he decides.

3-star WR details official visit plans

Speaking of official visit dates, another top target also announced his attentions to visit Ann Arbor again.

After recently taking a trip to campus, Nebraska wide receiver Xavier Watts will be on hand again for Michigan’s game on Aug. 31, according to TMI’s Marich ($).

This will be the first game of the season, against Middle Tennessee State. It’s strange to see someone eschew one of the main three rivalry games, but this may have fit his schedule best or he might want more individual attention, like Daxton Hill last year when he visited for the SMU game.

Watts’ latest visit obviously went well for him to set this date so soon afterwards. The Wolverines will be battling in-state Nebraska and Notre Dame for his talents.

Top 100 OG says Michigan will receive an official visit

One highly-touted prospect that really hasn’t been mentioned at all in regards to Michigan is 4-star offensive lineman Myles Murao out of California powerhouse Mater Dei. However, while talking to 247Sports’ Greg Biggins, he revealed there has been plenty of interest ($).

Murao mentioned Michigan is one of the schools he’s talking to the most right now, and that “I haven’t set up any official trip dates yet but I know I want to see LSU and Michigan.”

“With Michigan, they do a great job developing linemen and getting them to the next level. My dream has always been to play in the NFL so where I can get developed the best is big for me,” he said.

Of course 100 percent of the crystal balls are on USC right now, but Murao says he’s not planning on deciding until the All-American Bowl in January. So if the Trojans implode, he could be up for grabs. If an official visit happens, preferably during the season, then it’ll start getting real.

3-star DE excited to make first visit to campus

One target that seemed like a foregone conclusion to join the class at one point is Utah 3-star defensive end Van Fillinger, who has ties to the Detroit area and received several crystal balls to Michigan after he was offered.

He planned a visit for this weekend a while ago, and while he’s looking forward to it, the staff has apparently not been in much contact, he told 247Sports’ Blair Angulo ($).

”It’s always been a dream for me since I was little, just watching their games since I was like 4, so I’m really excited to check them out,” said. “I haven’t talked to the coaches much since they offered me in early March, so I want to see if they’re really interested.”

In the meantime, Fillinger’s recruitment has picked up a bit and he’s taken visits to some West Coast schools like Oregon, UCLA and USC. If some of those crystal balls go cloudy after this weekend, it may mean the coaches have him farther down their board than before.

This could be because of their good standing with Antwaun Powell and Braiden McGregor, but Fillinger was thought to be seen as a defensive tackle option, so who knows.

Leaving off with that note on the fun of recruiting, that’s everything for this week! Check back again for more recruiting tidbits soon.