Tuesday Recruiting Roundup: Making moves with top 2022 defensive targets

It turns out there was still some staff shakeup to happen, but with most of the coaches settled, they’ve continued to build relationships with 2022 prospects. Today’s Michigan Recruiting Roundup has news on some prospects near the top of the board at their respective positions.

Four-star DL enjoys chat with Michigan coaches

This weekend, defensive line coach Shaun Nua hopped on a Zoom call with one of his priorities, Indiana four-star Joe Strickland. Strickland talked with The Michigan Insider’s Brice Marich about how it went ($).

“It went pretty good overall. I liked that it was short and brief, just checking in and talking about everything in general,” said Strickland. “I’m looking forward to the Zooms I’ll have every week on Thursday for sure.”

Setting up recurring calls with Strickland indicates there is significant interest on both ends, which he later confirmed.

“It stood out because how he laid out the rest of the process with Michigan,” Strickland said. “They established that I am higher on their board after the whole staff watched my film.”

According to Strickland, Michigan views him as a defensive end/tackle hybrid.

Penn State has the lone crystal ball pick for Strickland, but Michigan is setting very well so far for one of the Midwest’s top prospects.

Michigan going hard after Tennessee three-star CB

After landing a four-star linebacker out of Ravenwood Academy in 2021, Michigan got a good look at his younger teammate, 2022 three-star cornerback Myles Pollard. And while his standout junior campaign landed him offers from Alabama, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Florida State, Oregon and several others, it took until Mo Linguist arrived in Ann Arbor to give him an offer.

Despite that delay, Pollard’s father tells TMI’s Sam Webb Michigan has come after him strongly since and will play a major factor in his son’s recruitment ($).

“Very impressed with him,” Mr. Pollard said about Linguist. “It’s obvious that he is a coach that knows exactly what he’s doing, developing defensive backs. There’s no doubt about that. He is aggressive in what he’s trying to put together, and that comes across in a good way.”

Having Junior Colson at Michigan will also help give Pollard some familiarity with the program, but he may have to wait to learn more while Colson gets settled.

“Last year, obviously, Junior (went) to Michigan,” said Mr. Pollard. “I think that Junior and Myles have had a few conversations about what the coaching staff is like and what (the school) is like. But Junior only been up there a month. He can only tell Myles so much.”

Moving forward, Mr. Pollard said his son plans on releasing a top schools list and then they can start planning visits. From there, “I would say that by the end of June is probably a good time to say by then he should be committed.”

Michigan should make Pollard’s cut, and then it will be up to his visit to help determine how good the Wolverines look in this race.

Florida DT has Michigan high on his list

While he is still unranked, one of Michigan’s top targets at defensive tackle in 2022 is Jordan Phillips. He holds several offers from other Power 5 schools so he will get updated soon, but his father spoke with TMI’s Webb to explain how he’s flown under the radar so far ($).

“He has been to a few camps that aren’t far away from home,” said Mr. Phillips. “He’s just a very independent person. I kind of stay out of his way because all his (plans) revolve around training. Whatever he’s doing (not school related) is a training thing.”

Still, Michigan noticed his tape and offered back in December. To the Phillips’, the distance from Florida is actually a positive.

“I think Michigan is high on his list. As far as he could get away from us, he’ll be fine with that. (Laughter),” said Mr. Phillips.

Mr. Phillips went on to say if his son doesn’t stay in state, he would prefer his son “leaves the south altogether,” according to Webb.

Miami is the only in-state school to offer Phillips so far and is a major contender. Auburn, Iowa State, Missouri and Pittsburgh have also offered.

That concludes this week’s Michigan Recruiting Roundup here at Maize n Brew. Check back again soon for more of the latest Michigan football recruiting news and updates!