Today’s Michigan Recruiting Roundup will focus on defensive backs in the 2022 class, with Michigan looking to flip a couple prospects and add to its already solid class at cornerback.
Three-star DB target re-opens recruitment
Even with defensive backs Will Johnson, Kody Jones and Myles Pollard on board, Michigan is still looking to add a couple more to the 2022 class. One of the options is California three-star Zeke Berry, who decommitted from Arizona and former defensive coordinator Don Brown last week.
247Sports’ West Coast recruiting expert Brandon Huffman handicapped the race for Berry following this development ($).
Huffman explained Berry only has one official visit remaining and “it will likely be to Michigan,” according to Berry himself. However, it looks like Oregon may be in the best position here after Berry took an official visit to Eugene this season.
“At this point, we think Oregon and Michigan are in the best position for Berry, with Cal and UCLA both hanging on for him and Arizona hoping to get him back on board,” Huffman said.
Berry isn’t going to decide until signing day, though, and Huffman said Michigan is making a “huge push” to land him.
247Sports is especially high on Berry, ranking him as a four-star in their top 150. He plays for De La Salle, who has one of the best relationships with Michigan out of any high school in the country.
Crystal Balls roll in for three-star safety
Another 2022 defensive back Michigan is battling Oregon for is three-star safety Damani Dent. At this point, it looks like Michigan is going to win this battle, with 247Sports’ Director of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong logging a Crystal Ball for Dent a few days ago ($).
Wiltfong included some comments from Dent in his reasoning for lodging the prediction.
“They love me, and think I can be a big part of the program playing nickel, safety and DB,” said Dent. He also added the tradition of Michigan is what stands out to him.
Another Crystal Ball from The Michigan Insider’s Sam Webb quickly followed Wiltfong’s, giving Michigan all three picks. With Dent planning to announce his commitment next Monday, Oct. 18, it’s looking good for the Wolverines here.
Four-star recruitment has the potential to heat up again
Finally, Michigan’s hot start has also caught the attention of 2022 four-star safety and current Clemson commit Keon Sabb, confirmed by our own Von Lozon.
Sabb told Lozon he has been in contact with Michigan coaches all season long, which may not be surprising following Clemson’s lackluster start to the season by their standards.
For now, this is in the very early stages. Clemson doesn’t allow prospects to visit other schools while they’re committed, so Sabb would have to re-open his recruitment if he’s truly thinking of looking around.
Back in June, Sabb surprisingly took an official to Ann Arbor after it seemed like the ship had sailed for the New Jersey prospect by way of IMG Academy. While the Wolverines couldn’t pull off the commitment then, there is definitely still mutual interest here.