Michigan Football December Signing Period Preview: 2021 Class

It has been one of the more intriguing classes in recent history for Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines. We’ve seen it all — long-standing commitments from guys like J.J. McCarthy, de-commitments from guys like Markus Allen, flips to Michigan that no one really anticipated like Branden Jennings — and there is still more to be done.

Today, we will go through some of the important facts and questions for Michigan’s 2021 class, and what you should be looking for tomorrow when the early signing period officially begins. Whether you are a devoted recruiting fan or not, you should be able to pick up a thing or two in here that you may not have known about previously.

Position breakdown for Michigan’s 2021 class

QB: 1 (Five-star J.J. McCarthy)

RB: 1 (Three-star Tavierre Dunlap)

WR: 3 (Four-star Xavier Worthy, four-star Cristian Dixon, three-star Andrel Anthony)

TE: 1 (Four-star Louis Hansen)

OL: 4 (Four-star Giovanni El-Hadi, four-star Raheem Anderson, four-star Greg Crippen, three-star Tristan Bounds

DL: 4 (Four-star Quintin Somerville, four-star Kechaun Bennett, three-star TJ Guy, three-star Dominick Giudice)

LB: 4 (Four-star Branden Jennings, four-star Junior Colson, four-star Jaydon Hood, three-star Tyler McLaurin)

CB: 1 (Three-star Ja’Den McBurrows)

S: 1 (Three-star Rod Moore)

K/P: 1 (Three-star Tommy Doman)

Which prospects are expected to sign tomorrow for Michigan?

I would anticipate almost all of the committed players to sign tomorrow. The only exceptions would be Jaydon Hood, who is on record saying he is holding off until February, and Xavier Worthy, who is making a final decision between Michigan and Alabama. So Worthy may sign with Michigan, but we just don’t know for sure yet.

Everybody else should be signing early.

Who is expected on campus in January?

I would expect there to be fewer early enrollees this year, solely because of the pandemic. But some of the guys enrolling early include J.J. McCarthy, Junior Colson, Giovanni El-Hadi, Quintin Somerville, Tavierre Dunlap, Andrel Anthony, Greg Crippen, Tristan Bounds and Raheem Anderson.

Where will Michigan’s class be ranked when it’s all said and done?

As of this writing, Michigan sits at No. 9 overall on the composite ranking. I wouldn’t expect that ranking to go drastically higher or lower than that. To me, on the team composite rankings, it looks like Michigan could go as high as No. 7. But that would factor in a lot, so at this point, I am comfortable saying anywhere from No. 7 to the early-to-mid teens.

This won’t be Harbaugh’s highest ranked class by any means, but it is a solid class nonetheless.

Are any fireworks expected this year?

There were absolutely no surprises during the early signing period for the 2020 class, but there could be some for 2021.

Donovan Edwards, a four-star running back from West Bloomfield, remains uncommitted. Last check, he still plans to sign and enroll early to the school of his choice. All the crystal balls remain on Michigan as of this writing, so it’s possible the Wolverines get him to jump on board tomorrow.

There is also the possibility of four-star cornerback Omarion Cooper to flip from Florida State. The Wolverines have been pursuing him for a while, and he has been receptive to their pitches.

Other names to keep an eye on include four-star defensive lineman George Rooks and four-star offensive lineman Drew Kendall, with the latter being extremely unlikely to land in Ann Arbor, but with recruiting, you simply never know until the LOI is signed.