Tuesday Recruiting Roundup: Michigan sitting well for four-star DT and five-star CB

It’s time for another edition of the Tuesday Michigan Recruiting Roundup here at Maize n Brew, and we’ve got some very positive updates on the recruiting trail for the Wolverines. A top target at defensive tackle looks like he is trending toward Michigan, while a few elite 2022 prospects may have Michigan as their leaders early on!

Michigan team to beat for in-state DT?

In my midseason class prediction, I didn’t include 2021 four-star Rayshaun Benny because of my fear Ohio State could come swooping in to nab him away from Michigan. However, a recent update from The Michigan Insider’s Sam Webb has me reconsidering that possibility and liking Michigan’s chances with Benny more than ever ($).

Benny told Webb Ohio State has been “recruiting me for offense, but I haven’t been in contact with them in like a week or two. It was like once their players got back the contact stopped for me.”

Failing to stay in touch with Benny gives Michigan even more of a chance to develop their already great relationship and sell him on the program. Recruiting Benny on defense, his preferred side of the ball, is also a strong pitch.

With previous contender Iowa dropping off Benny’s list and now possibly Ohio State reducing contact, this only opens up the path further for Michigan to bring home the talented local prospect at a position of need.

Michigan in line for official from four-star WR

One of the top targets left on the board at wide receiver is Georgia 2021 four-star Jayden Thomas. Josh Gattis has been doing a great job in this recruitment, and it will be paying off in an official visit from Thomas, according to TMI’s Brice Marich ($).

If prospects are able to take visits in the fall, Thomas told Marich Michigan would definitely be one of his destinations, but he is “unsure as of now as to who else may land his other four officials.” He did, however, tell us on Future Brew a couple weeks ago he’d want to take officials to Michigan, Notre Dame and Georgia.

Thomas also noted he is talking with Gattis on a weekly basis and “I really like coach Gattis and the relationship we have established.”

To sweeten the deal further, Thomas mentioned he could make the visit with his friend and fellow Georgian MJ Morris, a top 50 quarterback in the 2022 class and one of Michigan’s top targets.

Needless to say, Michigan, along with every other school in the country, is hoping visits are allowed soon.

Michigan leading for pair of 2022 top 100 WRs?

Speaking of 2022, Michigan could give whatever quarterback they end up with a couple of elite targets if things continue on the right path. TMI’s Marich reports sources feel Michigan is leading for both Tyler Morris and Kaleb Brown at this point in time ($).

Both Morris and Brown are from Illinois, where Sherrone Moore has done an excellent job locking up the top prospects in the state. Morris was a teammate of J.J. McCarthy’s before he transferred to IMG Academy, but not before the staff built a good relationship on their own.

Brown lines up at both running back and wide receiver for St. Rita’s, and could have a Giles Jackson-type role in the offense. Both Moore and Josh Gattis are recruiting the duo and will have big plans for them at Michigan.

There are crystal balls in for Michigan for both prospects right now, although they are low in confidence. Notre Dame will be a big threat for the pair, and Ohio State could be lurking with Brown. There is a long way to go, but Michigan is off to a great start.

Numerous ties to the program helping with 2022’s No. 2 CB

Cornerback has been a position of focus the last few cycles, with the Wolverines trying to keep their line of excellent defensive backs rolling. In 2022 they could be in line for a special haul, thanks to five-star Domani Jackson’s lifetime love for the Wolverines. TMI’s Sam Webb reported another connection that could help Michigan even further in what will be a national recruitment ($).

While Jackson plays for California powerhouse Mater Dei, his father grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, where he developed his love for Michigan. Coincidentally, Michigan cornerbacks coach Mike Zordich also grew up in Youngstown before moving on to play at Penn State and in the NFL.

Jackson’s father discussed how he was familiar with Zordich before his son was recruited by the man himself.

“So, we’re both from Youngstown, Ohio. And probably 2005 to 2008 I was a ROTC instructor at Penn State. We would go back to Youngstown, Ohio, and watch Michael Zordich Jr. play at Cardinal Mooney. So I knew who Michael Zordich was. And growing up in Youngstown, Ohio playing football, you know the people that made it to the NFL.”

Add in Michigan’s growing ties to Mater Dei after landing Cristian Dixon and Darion Green-Warren, who played there before his senior season, in the last two classes, and the Wolverines are shaping up to make a splash at cornerback in 2022.

That concludes this week’s Tuesday Michigan Recruiting Roundup! Come back again soon to stay in the loop with Michigan recruiting news.