Tuesday Recruiting Roundup: Crystal balls coming in for in-state DT

Welcome to this week’s Tuesday Michigan Recruiting Roundup! Today’s roundup has a double dip at the safety and defensive tackle position, including one of the top guys left at the board in 2021. So without further ado, let’s break down the latest news.

Crystal balls rolling in for four-star DT

One of the most important prospects left for Michigan in 2021 is Oak Park four-star Rayshaun Benny. Lately, Michigan has been picking up steam in this recruitment, and a number of factors including a recent trip to campus have led The Michigan Insider’s Sam Webb to lodge a crystal ball pick for the Maize and Blue ($).

Webb calls Benny’s relationships with Sherrone Moore and Shaun Nua “among the strongest he has built.” He adds Michigan “checks more boxes for him than anyone else in the race, and is the most consistent presence in this recruitment.”

This pick also has to do with most of his other contenders fading for one reason or another. Arkansas and Arizona State are far away from his mom, who is playing a major role in his recruitment. The turmoil at Iowa this offseason has negatively impacted Benny’s view of the program, and Ohio State’s contact with him has been inconsistent.

Michigan State may now be running second in this race, but Benny has had more time to build relationships at Michigan and won’t have to go through a rebuild. Adding further credence to this fact is 247Sports’ Michigan State insider also putting in a high-confidence crystal ball for Benny to Michigan this weekend.

There is no timetable set for Benny’s commitment, but it could come sooner rather than later given Michigan’s momentum.

Michigan offer means a lot for 2022 in-state DT

Michigan is making progress with another Detroit defensive tackle, this time in the 2022 class. Cass Tech junior Deone Walker received his second offer when Michigan extended one this past weekend. He caught up with 247Sports’ Allen Trieu to discuss the impact of the offer ($).

“It felt great to get the offer because as a kid, Michigan was mine and my dad’s favorite school and he’s always wanted me to go there,” Walker said.

Michigan has had a long history of success with Cass Tech prospects in the past and currently has a teammate of Walker’s committed in 2021 four-star center Raheem Anderson, who has helped build familiarity with the program.

“I heard that their program was one of the best out there and my friend and teammate Raheem Anderson helped me out a lot,” Walker said.

Walker, who is still unranked, also holds an offer from Bowling Green. He added his coaches are hearing interest about him from “LSU, Alabama and Michigan State,” as well.

Michigan makes top 6 for 2022 four-star safety

While it’s still early in the recruiting cycle for 2022 prospects, that didn’t stop the country’s No. 6 safety Braelon Allen from narrowing his list down to six schools. Allen’s list has a heavy Midwestern flavor to it with Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Florida State making the cut.

The Wisconsin native discussed his list with TMI’s Brice Marich and why Michigan was included in his list ($).

“It’s a place I could always see myself at and I have a great relationship with coach Shoop and coach Harbaugh, so it was definitely a no-brainer for me that they were one of my top schools even without visiting,” Allen said.

Allen elaborated he speaks with Shoop “weekly,” and he “loves talking to him.”

There are crystal balls in for Wisconsin and Notre Dame for Allen so far. His list is interesting because he has not announced receiving offers from Ohio State or Florida State yet, so those schools could shake up the race if they threw their hat in the ring.

Michigan monitoring 2022 in-state legacy

Another 2022 prospect at the safety position Michigan coaches are keeping an eye on is three-star Nolan Ziegler. TMI’s Marich spoke with Ziegler about his contact with the staff and how his family’s history made him a Michigan fan ($).

“I haven’t been talking to any coaches, but they have been sending mail and one of my coaches is Jalen Mayfield’s dad, so he is close with the coaching staff,” Ziegler said. “My grandpa, Fred Trosko was a running back there and Michigan is also a really good academic and football school. They also are not far away.”

However, that fact does not make Ziegler a slam dunk to Michigan if he were to receive an offer. His other grandfather also played college football, but for Notre Dame.

“Michigan is a great school and I like them, but my great grandpa played there in 1937, 1938 and 1939, and I have a grandpa who also played at Notre Dame, so I’m a fan for both.”

While the Irish have held off on offering Ziegler for now as well, he has picked up offers from Boston College, Iowa, Nebraska and others.

That concludes today’s recruiting roundup! Come back again soon for even more Michigan recruiting news and updates.