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Early Signing Day Primer 2022 Comment Count

Seth December 21st, 2022 at 7:00 AM

Welcome to Early Signing Day, 2022 edition, for the 2023 class. Our annual Signing Day Livepod will be at 1pm this afternoon, with special guest Steve Lorenz from 247 Sports. Tune in on YouTube, or catch the podcast version after.

Also note: This article is stickied to remain on top most of today. Scroll down for news posted today.

THE CLASS AS IT STANDS

This section will be updated throughout the day.

OFFENSE
Pos Player State Stars In a nutshell LOI
QB Kendrick Bell MO 3.5 Ronnie's little brother ✔️
RB Cole Cabana MI 4.3⬆ Speedy receiver back ✔️
RB Benjamin Hall GA 3.5⬇⬇ Battering ram with vision ✔️
WR Karmello English AL 4.1⬇ Go Go Gadget Gallon ✔️
WR Semaj Morgan MI 3.8 Homegrown Gattis-ian slot ✔️
WR Fredrick Moore MO 3.7⬆ Crafty Roundtree 2.0 ✔️
TE Deakon Tonielli IL 3.9⬆⬆⬆ Catchy bouncy bballer ✔️
TE Zack Marshall CA 3.7⬆ 1,000-yard receiver in Cali league ✔️
OG Amir Herring MI 4.0⬇ West Bloomfield's interior mauler ✔️
OG Nathan Efobi GA 3.8⬇ Ineffable teddy bear ✔️
OT Evan Link DC 4.1 Agile OT with a Wisconsin offer ✔️
DEFENSE
Pos Player State Stars In a nutshell LOI
DT Trey Pierce IL 3.8⬆⬆⬆ Polished, rising 3-tech ✔️
DT Brooks Bahr IL 3.7 Lengthy grow-a-3-tech ✔️
SDE Enow Etta TX 4.4⬆ Poor man's Rashan Gary ✔️
WDE Aymeric Koumba FRA 3.6 Long/French athletic freak ✔️
MLB Semaj Bridgeman PA 4.1 Formerly elite, WLBish ✔️
MLB Hayden Moore CO 3.5 Versatile tackling machine ✔️
OLB Jason Hewlett OH 3.9 Hybrid S/OLB/DE ✔️
OLB Breeon Ishmail OH 3.5 LB/Edge tweener ✔️
S D'Juan Waller Jr. OH 3.6⬆ Lanky Youngstown boy ✔️
CB Jyaire Hill IL 4.2⬆⬆ Playmaking CB/S with vibe ✔️
CB Cameron Calhoun OH 3.9⬆ Polished, not-fast playmaker ✔️
PK Adam Samaha MI 3.1⬇⬇ Local #6 kicker ✔️

TARGETS SIGNED ELSEWHERE

This section will also be updated throughout the day.

TIMES OF INTEREST

All times given in Eastern

10:00 AM WR KARMELLO ENGLISH (AL, 4*). Michigan moved back in late to battle between non-Playoff teams Kentucky and Alabama for a receiver who'd be described as Nico Collins if he wasn't 5'10". Jeremy Gallon then? English decommitted in fall from Auburn but a lot of observers didn't see Michigan coming. Ron Bellamy made this guy a priority, and Michigan picked up some crystal balls yesterday after a) their fallback plan committed to Virginia Tech, and b) Alabama picked up another receiver they coveted equally, but Kentucky is still in it, and things were truly 50-50 this time yesterday. Update: Committed to Michigan.

1:00 PM The Signing Day LivePod, wsg Steve Lorenz

4:00 PM (UPDATED and UPDATED AGAIN) CB/ATH JYAIRE HILL (IL, 4*). A top target for Michigan, this has been a battle all the way with hometown Illinois for a very fun to watch playmaker who led a long moribund program into prominence. Sees Denard as a kindred spirit (!!!). Michigan was left off a final five a few days ago, but recruiting people think that's a head fake, and that Hill's lead recruiter at Illinois becoming the head coach of Purdue finally put Michigan over. Update: Committed to Michigan.

5:00 PM S AARON GATES (GA, 4*). Talented safety that Michigan tried to pry out of a Florida commitment. M put all they could into this one but reporters were told Michigan flat-out couldn't match the NIL offer. Gates is expected to stick with his Florida commitment. Update: Committed to Florida.

PLAYERS OF INTEREST, NO ANNOUNCEMENT TIME:

NT JAMEL HOWARD (IL, 3*). The other Wisconsin decommit DT from Chicago that Michigan would like to flip. Howard may hold off until February to see if he likes the new Wisconsin coaches, or sign today with the school that appears to be leading, which is Michigan. Obviously, we would like him to sign today.

===========LINE OF MORE THAN PASSING INTEREST===========

TE/DE BRENNAN PARACHECK (MI, 4*). MSU's first commit in a class that still has lots of 4-stars despite being raided by all the other Power 5 schools. There's a tiny bit of smoke that Michigan might be trying to poach Cole Cabana's teammate at the last minute, but that seems unlikely unless he's meant to be a replacement for Acheampong? Anyway, it'd be fun but it's not expected to happen unless so many other wobbly Spartan commits flip that Paracheck needs a parachute. Update: Signed with MSU.

RB/ATH JEREMIYAH LOVE (MO, 4*). A top-100 Notre Dame commit who's signing with Notre Dame but Michigan made a late run. Update: Signed with Notre Dame.

NOT SIGNING TODAY

ATH NYCKOLES HARBOR (DC, 5*). The freakiest freak of freaks, Michigan adores this guy and has been recruiting him hard all cycle, but hometown Maryland believes they're in good shape. South Carolina and LSU have also been after Harbor just as hard. He wants to take a couple more visits and plans to commit on Feb 1.

Comments

TyWheatley6

December 21st, 2022 at 9:01 AM ^

I've been asking myself what Michigan's ideal recruiting niche is..and I think we are seeing it.  A combination of talented recruits that fit our system and actually want to be Michigan Wolverines along with proven players at positions of need from the transfer portal.  Recruits come here to compete, get a great education, and win championships. Transfers join a better team, get NFL coaching from the best former NFL coach in the college ranks, and improve their draft stock/ future beyond football.  We are almost becoming a college model of the New England Patriots.  

Joined: 09/18/2020

MGoPoints: 1050

JonnyHintz

December 21st, 2022 at 9:27 AM ^

I have a distant connection to someone close to his family (friend of a friend type deal) and what I was told was that Michigan kicked the tires on him as a DL/Edge but he wants to play offense. So the conversation didn’t progress much further than the initial reaching out. 
 

I have no way to really confirm that as the truth, so take it with a grain of salt. 

Joined: 01/11/2015

MGoPoints: 48403

njvictor

December 21st, 2022 at 9:36 AM ^

Etta signing was my only worry and it looks like he just did. Really excited for him as a player and this edge class overall. I think Koumba is the sleeper of this class for me. His measurables combined with his fluidity are insane

Joined: 07/20/2017

MGoPoints: 65151

ShadowStorm33

December 21st, 2022 at 10:01 AM ^

Michigan moved back in late to battle between non-Playoff teams Kentucky and Alabama

But but but Saban said they only had two close losses on the last play to top-10 teams on the road and are one of the four best teams...

Joined: 07/22/2008

MGoPoints: 23063

Tom in AnnArbor

December 21st, 2022 at 11:11 AM ^

I love it when a plan comes together.  

Compared to how we thought this would go, the class has shaped up to be quite strong even without considering the transfer portal additions.  Nabbing Mr. Hill at 3:00 would really put the whip cream on top (cherries are overrated).

Joined: 06/12/2018

MGoPoints: 2374

njvictor

December 21st, 2022 at 11:27 AM ^

Nabbing Mr. Hill at 3:00 would really put the whip cream on top (cherries are overrated)

I wouldn't say that Hill would be extra. He's been one of the biggest targets in our class for a long time at a position of need. We may need Hill to play not insignificant snaps next year. Harbor would be the cherry on top when he inevitably decides

Joined: 07/20/2017

MGoPoints: 65151

ih8losing

December 21st, 2022 at 11:24 AM ^

I've really dropped off the recruitment following in detail over the past years but looks like the class is well balanced but is missing that top end talent. Not a 5 star gazer but important to highlight the difference guys like that make, specially to continue runs at a national championship.

Joined: 12/29/2013

MGoPoints: 15738

Venom7541

December 21st, 2022 at 11:31 AM ^

That line about not matching NIL does and doesn't bother me. On one hand, we are losing out on top talent because of NIL, but on the other hand, if the players that come to Michigan regardless of NIL are great culture guys and keep the team winning attitude going. It's really an equation of if the talent of the culture guys is close enough to the top talent guys that having a winning team culture overcomes individual talent deficits. So far, it's worked out that good individual talent with amazing winning culture is beating great individual talent with mediocre winning culture.

Joined: 10/06/2016

MGoPoints: 3706

bronxblue

December 21st, 2022 at 11:43 AM ^

Michigan's seeming shift in transfers makes this class look like the perfect mix for what Harbaugh wants to do.  Lots of guys with high floors and then some flyers.  Feels good.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171767

mgobaran

December 21st, 2022 at 4:10 PM ^

Looks like posters of him wearing Illinois, Kentucky, and Purdue uniforms are on the front of the announcement table. No clue what hats are on the table. Not feeling great for Michigan. If I placed a bet, I'd say he follows his guy to Purdue. 

(edit) the stream is horrible quality. Watching Sam's stream on youtube now with a difference angle. The Kentucky poster might be Florida, the Purdue one might be Mizzou. For sure no Michigan poster on the table.

(Double edit) There are 5 posters. Upper Left: Kentucky, Upper Right Purdue, Lower Left Illinois, Lower Center Florida, Lower Right Mizzou. No Michigan representation. Why are we even watching this? Just announced 5 min warning.

Triple Update: IT'S MICHIGAN NEVER A DOUBT!

Joined: 09/12/2012

MGoPoints: 22811