Thursday Recruiting Roundup: Big development for in-state kid’s recruitment

Welcome to today’s Michigan Recruiting Roundup!

We’ve got a lot of good stuff to cover on today’s edition, all from the 2022 class. Let’s get to the biggest development in a recruitment, however, that could shake up Michigan’s board on both offense and defense.

Decision could be soon for four-star in-state LB

Everyone thinks of five-star cornerback Will Johnson when it comes to the in-state players in the 2022 class. But let’s not forget about Joshua Burnham, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound linebacker from Traverse City. He is No. 2 in Michigan, No. 9 at the outside linebacker spot and No. 114 overall on the composite for his class, and is being recruited by the likes of Alabama, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Wisconsin, and of course Michigan.

Sam Webb from The Michigan Insider ($) recently spoke with Burnham’s father, and confirmed the new defensive coaches have been in contact with his son, including defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. He has also been in contact with Jim Harbaugh and Brian Jean-Mary recently.

But the new thing here is their recruiting pitch to him. All along, the Wolverines have wanted Burnham at linebacker. But there may be other plans in place for him as well.

“I know Josh has been in communication a couple times with the new DC, coach BJ, and Harbaugh, and they said that they’ve got him on the inside and outside linebacker boards,” Mr. Burnham said. “And they’ve put them on the tight end board. And then they even told him that he’s on the quarterback board.”

This really speaks to the versatility Burnham brings to the table. He’s play all of those positions while at Traverse City Central High School, and he’s played them all at a high level.

Mr. Burnham also told Webb that Joshua is “really thinking hard about maybe making some decisions here in the real near future,” so we may know sooner rather than later where he ends up at.

At this moment in time, all five crystal ball predictions are in on Michigan. Even with schools like Notre Dame, Alabama and Wisconsin on his tail, I think the Wolverines are the frontrunner here.

Helow connects with ATH

Michigan’s new coaches have not been afraid to pull the trigger on offering kids in the 2022 class over recent weeks. But one prospect who already had an offer who is still being recruited hard by the new staff, according to TMI’s Marich ($), is athlete Ja’Kobi Albert.

Albert recently spoke with new safeties coach George Helow and seems to have hit it off with him.

“It went well,” Albert told Marich. “Coach Helow wanted to get to know me and told me about the new defensive staff having two coaches that have coached at the NFL level. He also wanted to re-offer being part of the new defensive staff.

“Coach Helow seemed so excited to talk to me and to get to know me. He is definitely genuine about what he does.”

Marich also reports the Wolverines view the Fairfield, Alabama native as a “top target” at the safety position in the 2022 class. Other safeties they are recruiting include five-star Keon Sabb, four-star Myles Rowser, three-star Treyveon Longmire and three-star Sherrod Covil. Michigan already holds a commitment from a safety in 2022 — four-star Taylor Groves.

Albert may not be ranked yet, but he holds other offers from Georgia, Auburn, Florida State, Penn State, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Tennessee and more.

2022 four-star RB hasn’t heard from Hart

TMI’s Steve Lorenz ($) reported earlier this week that 2022 four-star running back Gi’Bran Payne has yet to hear from new running backs coach Mike Hart.

Payne was one of a handful of running backs Hart offered while he was at Indiana. He already held an offer from the Wolverines, and included them in his top seven list in the fall, so this recruitment seemed like one that could really take off. That’s not to say this recruitment still can’t take off, but it is interesting he hasn’t even heard from Hart yet.

We will certainly see what happens, but odds are if he hasn’t heard from Hart in the month that he has been on staff, it makes you wonder if he will at all. Time will tell, so stay tuned.

That is all for this week! Come on back Tuesday for another edition of the roundup.