Thursday Recruiting Roundup: 2 versatile prospects being recruited hard by U-M

Happy Thursday and welcome in to today’s Michigan Recruiting Roundup.

It has been a bit slower on the trail over this past week, but we still have a few updates to throw your way on a couple of Michigan’s top targets in 2021. Let’s get to it.

2021 four-star WR discusses recruitment on podcast

The Wolverines continue to recruit the wide receiver position as hard as any other position in the 2021 class. One of their top targets is Georgia four-star Jayden Thomas. The 6-foot-1, 198-pounder from Atlanta has offers from the best of the best, and Michigan appears to be in good standing with him.

Appearing on the Straight Outta Ann Arbor podcast, Thomas admitted what Michigan is bringing to the table intrigues him, especially recruiting him to play football and baseball.

“I’m definitely considering (playing) two sports (in college),” Thomas said. “Michigan said I could play (both sports). Notre Dame, Georgia Tech says I could play both. Some schools are open to it and some schools haven’t asked yet.

“I definitely love (Michigan). I had a Zoom (last Thursday) with the main person who does academics for the athletes, and then also coach Gattis was on there with my family. We just went over the blueprint if I were to come there. Definitely just that home vibe I’m getting with coach Gattis and that relationship we’re trying to establish. And also I love coach Harbaugh. And it’s just Michigan, the No. 1 public school in America, which is kinda crazy. It’s Michigan.”

Thomas also said he is looking to narrow down his list sometime in August, and the current plan is for him to commit on his mom’s birthday, Dec. 22. As far as his thoughts on Michigan, he admitted he “loves” it.

Michigan seems to be in a good spot with Thomas. They have recruited kids to play both baseball and football before — an example of a player who is currently at Michigan and does that is Joey Velazquez — so it will be interesting to see if they have Velazquez recruit him at all. Whenever Thomas decides to put out his top list, I think Michigan will be on it.

Thomas is the No 184 overall player in the class and the No. 36 wide receiver.

U-M has unique pitch for 2021 three-star ATH

A player our own Jon Simmons boldly predicted to be in Michigan’s 2021 class when it’s all said and done is three-starn athlete Kamonte Grimes. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Floridian is really taking his time sorting through his offer list, which includes Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Utah, Nebraska, Miami (FL) and more.

Some of the reason he may be taking a little longer than some of the other players in the 2021 class is due to where he will end up playing in college. Some are recruiting him to play offense, while some are recruiting him on defense.

As The Michigan Insider’s Sam Webb reports ($), it may be Michigan’s unique defensive pitch that is keeping the Wolverines in this recruitment.

“The plan they’re pitching would call for him to play safety and VIPER in addition to corner,” Webb wrote. “Call it the Jabrill Peppers plan minus the offense. But that’s where it gets interesting. Grimes told me he likes playing wide receiver more than defensive back, but he is so intrigued by Michigan’s plan and has connected with the staff so much that he still has the Maize and Blue high on his list.”

In addition to that, Grimes also told Webb he speaks with Jim Harbaugh, Mike Zordich and/or Don Brown “every day.” Because of this development, Webb believes they will pitch both offense and defense to Grimes because that will put them in a better position of eventually landing him.

Michigan needs another defensive back in its 2021 class, and I believe Grimes would be a nice addition. With options running slim, I’d try to get a commitment from him sooner rather than later with how quick kids are beginning to commit.

That’s all for this week! Come back on Tuesday for another roundup.