Recruiting Roundup: The latest with Rocco Spindler decision coming this weekend

Hey everybody and welcome to another edition of the Michigan Recruiting Roundup.

We have updates on a few targets today, but let’s start off with the most important news heading into the weekend.

2 days away from Rocco Spindler’s decision

This Saturday is a very big day in the world of football recruiting, as 2021 four-star offensive lineman Rocco Spindler is set to make his decision at his high school in Clarkston at 6 p.m.

The 6-foot-4.5, 315-pounder is considering Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, Ohio State and LSU as his final landing spot. However, the two schools out front are Michigan and Notre Dame. The crystal balls are nearly split 50/50 among the two schools, which have been the two constants in this race for a long time now.

Spindler has visited both schools several times now and has formed good relationships with members of both coaching staffs. He has also developed good relationships with commits for both Michigan and Notre Dame, including J.J. McCarthy and Giovanni El-Hadi, and Notre Dame offensive line commit Blake Fisher.

As of today, it really seems like a tossup as to where he will go. Some have compared this recruitment to Braiden McGregor’s from the 2020 cycle, but I don’t see it too much like that. McGregor always seemed like a U-M lean to me back then, but with Spindler, I really wouldn’t be surprised if he picked Michigan or Notre Dame. I would only truly be shocked if he picked one of the other three schools.

Wherever Spindler decides to go, Michigan will be just fine at the position. Of course, you never want to miss on an elite prospect in your backyard, but Ed Warinner and company are still in it for Drew Kendall, another four-star guard prospect in 2021. Should Spindler commit elsewhere, Kendall could very well commit to the Maize and Blue not long after Spindler’s decision. As I said on this week’s Future Brew podcast, that would be no consolation prize, and would still be a good way to cap off the haul at offensive linemen in this class.

2022 TE continues talks with U-M

If the Wolverines aren’t able to reel in Thomas Fidone to pair with Louis Hansen in the 2021 class, odds are they will look to take more than one tight end in 2022. One of their top targets early on is four-star Atlanta, Georgia native Holden Staes.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder is talking to coaches at Michigan “at least once a week,” he recently told The Michigan Insider’s Steve Lorenz ($).

Michigan was actually the first school to offer a scholarship to Staes, back on March 4. Since then, schools like Alabama, Georgia, LSU, USC, Oregon, Ohio State, Penn State and more have come in with an offer.

It’s going to be a tough given how much his recruitment has blown up over the last few months, but the Wolverines should have a decent chance here if they keep at him. It’s very early, so keep your expectations low for now.

Lorenz also notes Michigan’s other top targets at the position early on include top 100 four-star Donovan Green, and Marlin Klein, who does not currently have a composite score.

Staes is the No. 4 tight end and No. 172 overall player on the composite for the 2022 class.

2022 in-stater may not make move to IMG after all

This goes without saying, but the COVID-19 pandemic has made us all adjust to doing things a different way. That also goes for 2022 four-star safety Myles Rowser, the younger brother of current Michigan cornerback Andre Seldon.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder from Belleville had plans to transfer to IMG Academy in Florida. But those plans are on hold now, Rowser recently told TMI’s Josh Newkirk ($). It’s all riding on whether or not football can be played this fall. If football cannot be played this fall, Rowser will stay in Michigan.

Meanwhile, despite decommitting from Michigan back in April, Rowser also told Newkirk he continues to hear from Michigan often.

“I still like Michigan, I just wanted to open my recruitment to see more schools,” Rowser said. “I’m talking to more schools now.

“Me and coach (Bob) Shoop have a good relationship. We’ve been talking like, every other week. We follow up on each other.”

The way things are playing out now for defensive back recruiting in 2022, Michigan is going to have a lot of good players to choose from, Rowser included. As of today, I’d expect Rowser to be back in the class eventually, but I don’t anticipate it happening anytime soon. And, with recruiting, things can change on the fly, so we’ll have to wait on this one a while.

That’s all for this week! Be sure to follow us on Saturday for when Spindler makes his commitment, and be sure to come back on Tuesday for another edition of the roundup.