Tuesday Recruiting Roundup: Four-star DT plans to make decision soon

Welcome to this week’s edition of the Tuesday Recruiting Roundup at Maize n Brew. Today’s roundup features an update on a top 2021 target that is set to decide this week and notes on a couple of 2022 prospects.

Four-star DT ready to make decision

Michigan still has a need at defensive tackle in the 2021 class and one of the top candidates to fill that spot is New Jersey four-star George Rooks. Rooks told 247Sports’ Brian Dohn he plans on announcing his commitment before his senior season starts this Friday ($).

Rooks is deciding between four finalists, which include Michigan, Penn State, Boston College and Pitt.

“With me and my family, it’s really now where I feel the most comfortable,” Rooks said. “It’s not really about the research or anything like that because I have done my research. It’s really hard because I didn’t have any official visits, but I think we will make the right decision. Any school I choose, I think it will be a good decision for me.”

However, Rooks did leave a window open to push back his decision a bit if he didn’t feel comfortable.

“I am trying to get it over with,” he said. “I am trying to get it over with before the season because I have to get focused for the next game, but I don’t see it that far off from the start. It wouldn’t be two weeks after the season starts. It would be right after.”

It appears Michigan and Penn State are ahead of the pack right now, but neither is a sure thing. Michigan has held a couple crystal balls for a while, but Penn State has picked up steam recently.

Michigan in frequent contact with 2022 four-star CB

So far, the cornerback board for 2022 looks really promising, but Mike Zordich keeps adding names to the list as possible targets. One guy he is contacting regularly is Nevada four-star Fabian Ross. The Michigan Insider’s Brice Marich spoke with Ross to discuss his Michigan interest further ($).

“Yes, I’ve been keeping in touch with coach Zordich at least once a week, so it’s been going well,” Ross said. “He’s just been checking in with me and informing me about (how) their season is going, and we’ve created a great relationship. He’s a great guy and it’s great keeping in touch with him.”

Ross said he planned on visiting Michigan, but wasn’t able to because of the recruiting restrictions. However, the Wolverines remain “one of my top interests.”

Aside from Michigan, Ross also listed “Arizona State, Colorado, Nebraska, Oregon, Notre Dame, USC, Washington” as the schools going after him the hardest. There are no crystal ball predictions for Ross yet.

Michigan pushing for 2022 three-star DE

Jim Harbaugh has personally taken the reins in recruiting Pennsylvania three-star DE Keon Wylie, according to 247Sports’ Dohn ($).

“I talk to Michigan and Jim Harbaugh. He talks to me a lot. It’s big because he’s the head coach and he is taking time because they are so busy,” said Wylie.

He also outlined some of the factors that will play a role in his decision.

“When it comes to picking a college, first I will look at who else is committed there,” he said. “If they are over recruiting at my position. I don’t duck from competition but I don’t want to go somewhere where they over recruit. I want to go to a place where they want me to be their guy and they have a good coaching staff and you can get a good education.”

He also admitted it would be tough to get out to schools that are far away from him unless he could take official visits, which could help out Michigan. Wylie said that Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Pitt, Rutgers, Penn State, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Maryland were among the first schools to contact him when the communication period opened up for his class.

That’s it for today’s Michigan Recruiting Roundup! Check back again soon to find out more from the Michigan recruiting trail.