Friday Michigan Recruiting Roundup: Four-star linebacker confirms visit for season opener

Happy Friday, everyone, and welcome in to another Friday Michigan Recruiting Roundup.

By the time this is published, I have more than likely begun my 4-hour drive to Mackinac for the wedding of one of my best friends. Love is in the air, and so is college football! It begins tomorrow night with Florida-Miami (FL), but let’s get you some updates on Michigan recruiting to hold you over.

2021 in-state 4-star LB visiting for MTSU game

One of the top defensive players in the state of Michigan in the 2021 class, 4-star linebacker Jamari Buddin, confirmed with Maize n Brew he is visiting Ann Arbor for the Middle Tennessee State game next Saturday. This news was first reported by Brice Marich over at The Michigan Insider.

Buddin also told Maize n Brew he will be visiting Michigan State the day before for the Spartans’ game against Tulsa.

The 6-foot-2, 193-pounder from Belleville has visited both universities before, so he isn’t looking for anything in particular next weekend.

Buddin said he believes he would fit in at Viper in Don Brown’s defense, saying, “I’m a long, rangy player who can cover and be able to hit the running backs as well.”

Buddin knows when he wants to make a commitment by, but he did not tell me when. However, he admitted he was unsure if he’d be signing early, saying, “Good question, that’ll be something I’d have to discuss more with the family.”

Like most 2021 recruitments, I don’t expect this one to be over anytime soon.

2021 4-star OL calls U-M the ‘total package’

We have talked at length about the good recruiting efforts by offensive line coach Ed Warinner, but we would really give him some love if he is able to reel in the No. 3 player in the country in the 2021 class, 5-star offensive lineman Tommy Brockermeyer.

But in order to do that, they may have to bring along his twin brother, 4-star offensive lineman James Brockermeyer. Not-so-hot take: I think they’d be okay doing that.

James and Tommy took some visits this offseason, including to U-M, which he had good things to say about in this interview with 247Sports’ Mike Roach ($).

“It’s a great place and a great school,” James said. “Ann Arbor is a really cool town. We got to walk around in it. Really good food and stuff, and the academics are there. It’s the No. 1 public school in the country. It’s the total package for football and academics.”

James also told Maize n Brew this week he is “very high on Michigan,” and “coach Warinner and I have a good relationship.” He also said the main things he is looking for in his future school include “good academics, a good strength staff, offensive line development and a good culture.”

The twins plan on visiting Texas this season, and the Longhorns will likely be tough to beat. Their older brother Luke plays linebacker at U-T. To make matters even more challenging, their father was an offensive lineman at Texas.

This will be an uphill battle for the Wolverines, but Warinner has proved he is a great recruiter and can battle with the best of the best for top-tier recruits.

J.J. McCarthy continues to recruit for U-M

One day, we’ll all likely appreciate the contributions on the field for 2021 5-star quarterback J.J. McCarthy. But for now, we will all just have to appreciate all he is doing off the field.

McCarthy has been a force on the recruiting trail for the Wolverines. His friendship with 2020 4-star wide receiver A.J. Henning helped push him to commit to Michigan in June.

He also has developed friendships with a ton of Michigan’s top targets in the 2021 class, the most recent being with the No. 2 player in the state of Michigan, 4-star two-way lineman Rocco Spindler.

TMI’s Josh Newkirk ($) recently caught up with Spindler, and Spindler called McCarthy his “best friend.”

“J.J. is one of my best friends,” Spindler said. “He’s got a great relationship with his offensive line and that’s really what I look forward to and the character of who is playing behind me, getting the calls. I love J.J. He’s a great guy. Here at Clarkston, the quarterback takes care of the offensive linemen. We always go to linemen dinners and I could see J.J. carrying that on. He loves his offensive line cause we do most of the work up front.

“We started talking and it’s a really great relationship right now.”

Personally, I would take the “best friend” comment with a grain of salt, but the fact McCarthy and Spindler have a “really great relationship” is pretty noteworthy. McCarthy has been a phenomenal ambassador for Michigan’s 2021 class and has the attention of a lot of Michigan’s top targets, Spindler included.

Spindler is the No. 40 player overall in the 2021 class, per 247Sports’ composite.

That is all for this week! Come back on Monday for another recruiting roundup!