Remember when people were freaking out about the state of the recruiting class in mid-May while Ohio State stockpiled all the five-stars? Well I wondered what historical classes looked like at this point, and I have a database with most of that information, so I started compiling. Then we got a flood of commits and this article sat around for a month.

Since it would create a lot more work otherwise, and our last commit was 6/1, I'm going to split the difference and show what each class from 2004 to 2021 looked like as of the end of May. Let's hope this works:

Class of 2004

What art. What heart.

COMMITS BY END OF MAY, 2003:

• 4* WR Morgan Trent (2/7)
• 3.5* HB Mike Hart (5/3)

Yeah that was all the commits at this point: an OLSM speedster who'd ultimately move to defense, and a short running back Michigan almost didn't recruit who's (mostly erroneously) still remembered as a 3-star.

STATE OF THE BOARD:

They added a few more guys in June and July but that class didn't really start to build momentum until 5-star QB Chad Henne committed to Michigan in early August. National prospects didn't come around until after Michigan went to the Rose Bowl but that January was amazing: 4.12 DT/OL Alan Branch (1/3), 4.66 WR Doug Dutch (1/23), 4.76 DE Tim Jamison (1/29), and 4.53 WR Adrian Arrington (4.53) all came onboard a few weeks before signing day.

WHAT FANS ARE FREAKING ABOUT

Other schools are already getting commitments; why does Lloyd still wait for camps like it's the 1990s?

[After THE JUMP: everything is fine]

Class of 2005

COMMITS BY END OF MAY, 2004:

• 5* RB Kevin Grady (9/8/03)
• 4* OL Justin Schifano (1/15/03)
• 4.5* WR Mario Manningham (2/4)
• 3* WR LaTerryal Savoy (5/11)
• 3* DB Johnny Sears (5/28)

Grady wrecked all the in-state records and was ticketed for the class for so long people wondered during the Mike Hart explosion if he'd be content sharing carries next year. Manningham crept up the rankings as the year progressed but he was a solid speedy 4-star. IIRC Savoy dropped a bit because he and Manningham weren't that separated at this point. Schifano was the usual: an academically minded OL who was already OL-sized. Johnny Sears was a guy DBs coach Ron English saw at a camp when he was working at Stanford.

STATE OF THE BOARD:

Yes, there was some panic about defensive back and DT going on. CB was fine as long as they got #1 CB Justin King out of Pennsylvania, because the only other elite CB in the Big Ten footprint was a Glenville 5-star ticketed for Ohio State. We were well aware at this point that the secondary needed a lot of help, especially at cornerback. And the DT situation was getting thin as well.

WHAT FANS ARE FREAKING ABOUT

Yeesh, we'd better get King, because the DB situation is bleak. Also find some gol dang DL you guys! Maybe one who can pass rush!

Class of 2006

COMMITS BY END OF MAY, 2005:

• 4.5* Brandon Graham (2/20)
• 4.5* OL Justin Boren (5/13)

This class started and ended with guys on the edge of five-stardom. Graham was the best player in the state, not related (we had to keep being reminded) to LB Chris Graham, but Michigan's by divine right. It was weird that he played for Crockett Technical, a then-failing Detroit school that usually sent players in its footprint to Cass. Boren was a legacy, and came with a bunch of Bo stories.

STATE OF THE BOARD:

What I remember most is the long, tedious trek through the summer and then the season, as the camp offers like Quintin Patilla and David Cone were head-scratchers nobody else seemed after. 5* DB Stevie Brown, who only fell back at the very end, was the big coup of the summer. Then the bad season saw a bevy of other 5-stars drift off to others. Tim Tebow was the big fish but he chose Urban Meyer and Florida. Nic Harris made a last-second flip to Oklahoma. We lost RB Beanie Wells (following Brandon Saine), TE Jake Ballard, OG Connor Smith, and LB Thaddeus Gibson to Ohio State. #1 prospect Myron Rolle, a Rhodes Scholar, chose FSU…for *academics*!!!  The class finished strong in December.

WHAT FANS ARE FREAKING OUT ABOUT

Did the Year of Infinite Pain permanently set Michigan back to a second-rate program? Do recruits think that?

Class of 2007

Little John Navarre wasn't so Navarrian in the head.

COMMITS BY END OF MAY:

• 2* FB Vince Helmuth (1/29)
• 3* DB Artis Chambers (2/19)
• 4* DE Ryan Van Bergen (4/4)
• 5* QB Ryan Mallett (4/25)
• 3* WR/TE Martell Webb (5/2)
• 4* S/LB Jerimy Finch (5/11)

Helmuth committed at junior day. Getting Mallett was huge because Henne starting as a freshman had scared off quarterbacks from the 2005 class, and whiffing on Tebow meant David Cone and Jason Forcier were it for plausible starters in 2008. Mallett also scared off in-state QB Steven Threet, who chose Georgia Tech. Webb rose late but TE was a position of major need so having him come on was reassuring they had at least one guy. Finch remains the only Hello post in MGoBlog history to include a state senate resolution.

STATE OF THE BOARD:

Also in May Michigan sent offers out to CB Donovan Warren and NY TE Rob Gronkowski, and believed to be in good shape with DT/OL Joseph Barksdale. Top LB target Chris Colasanti chose PSU but on the horizon were a bunch of linebackers Michigan thought they could get—they would have to scramble when all of them went elsewhere over the fall.

Cornerback was dire unless you thought Chris Richards and Johnny Sears could be your opening day 2007 starters, and Michigan was looking good with Michael Williams (then considered a CB) and Doug Wiggins—MGoBlog was sounding the alarms then that they needed at least three quality guys. 5* DE Martez Wilson was considered a Michigan lock until he was suddenly an ND-USC battle. DT was considered a big need or a dire, dire need depending on if Marques Slocum could qualify and Eugene Germany could outrun the cops.

WHAT FANS ARE FREAKING OUT ABOUT

OL! They'd said they're going outside zone this year, and that meant looking at different prospects. This proved prescient: 2* OL Mark Huyge, and little Molk were the only guys Michigan could get that year.

Class of 2008

COMMITS BY END OF MAY 2007:

• 4* CB Boubacar Cissoko (2/5)
• 4* OT Dann O'Neill (3/18)
• 3.5* Elliott Mealer (4/23)
• 4* TE Brandon Moore (5/18)
• 3* OG Kurt Wermers (5/18)

Moore was the guy we were excited about, a top-100 TE from Ohio when the depth chart was a non-qualifier, a WR convert, and Carson Butler. OSU didn't offer since they had limited space and liked fellow Ohio 4-star Kevin Koger better, though Buckeye sources were pessimistic (Koger would commit 7/18).

STATE OF THE BOARD:

Quarterback didn't seem so scary with Mallett on campus. John Wienke committed in early July but Michigan seemed to lead for him all spring. Also that July, 2007 target Steven Threet transferred to Michigan, which would mean he'd be an eligible redshirt freshman by fall 2008. Terrelle Pryor listed Michigan interest but he seemed highly unlikely until Rodriguez came aboard.

The OL class was expected to get up to six but a 6'8" Muskegon mammoth, a solid Ohio high-3-star in Mealer, and a nerdy C/G kid in Wermers was a fair start. Marcus Witherspoon was supposedly a 100% lock to commit eventually. DT Mike Martin was offered mid-May and considered a lock to commit. 4* FB/TE Christian Wilson from Pennsylvania got his offer and would join the class soon.

Early on we thought Ty Law's cousin Jonathan Baldwin, a 6'6" wide receiver, was a lock. We were all obsessed with flipwizard RB Sam McGuffie. At DE it was imperative to get top in-stater Nick Perry; 5-star Shayne Hale and his cousin RB Cameron Saddler were seeming like a package deal. They were waiting forever to offer in-state ILB Kenny Demens, probably because with Jonas Mouton, Obi Ezeh, Cobrani Mixon, Quintin Patilla, Marell Evans, and Brandon Herron all with freshman eligibility in 2007 the room seemed stocked.

WHAT FANS ARE FREAKING OUT ABOUT

McGuffie flips.

Class of 2009

COMMITS BY END OF MAY, 2008:

• 5* DT Will Campbell (6/28/2007)
• 5* CB J.T. Turner (3/28)
• 3* RB Teric Jones (3/29)
• 3.5* S Isaiah Bell (3/31)
• 3.5* RB Fitzgerald Toussaint (4/18)
• 4* QB Kevin Newsome (4/24)
• 4* QB Shavodrick Beaver (4/30)
• 4* WR Bryce McNeal (5/17)

The important thing for the school that put all its eggs in the Ryan Mallett basket was there were two Pat White-alikes committed at the end of April to give Rodriguez the option quarterback he didn't get in an all-out pursuit of Terrelle Pryor. Newsome seemed by far the more likely Pat White, while there was next to nothing out there on Beaver, who oddly for a top-200 guy seemed ticketed for TCU. Neither was top target Geno Smith, but we were satisfied, even if that meant there was no room for Jason Forcier's little brother Tate. They'd also just picked up the best WR in the Midwest, Bryce McNeal, for them to throw to. And worry about DT was less since 5-star Will Campbell had been committed since before Lloyd announced his retirement.

STATE OF THE BOARD:

Turner made us feel the warm fuzzies given the state of the secondary going into Rich Rod's first season—we needed a lot more. Bell wasn't considered a safety but a Spur (hybrid) linebacker—his rankings would fall over his senior year. The RBs were considered luxurious spread luxuries what with SAM MCGUFFIE!!!! signed on and expected to be the beesiest knees immediately, not to mention snake oiled fellow freshman Michael Shaw and another year for Carlos Brown and Brandon Minor. But letting 4* in-state RB Edwin Baker slip to MSU seemed criminal anyways. 5* LB Jelani Jenkins seemed like a good shot.

We would have liked more OL, even with six commits the previous year. IL 4* Michael Schofield seemed like a very good bet, and Hawaiian Stan Hasiack seemed the most likely second OT (Taylor Lewan was a late blow-up after transferring to Craig Roh (a USC-Michigan battle)'s school and switching from DT). Michigan seemed to lead a number of SEC schools for Quinton Washington. DE was a huge need after getting 1 guy in two classes—top-50 Sam Montgomery was close to joining the class, and Roh seemed 50/50 to lure from USC. Fringe 4* LB Jordan Barnes would commit in late June after Bama lost interest, and would decommit from Michigan too in December when the staff ghosted him. K Anthony Fera had Michigan leading over Penn State.

WHAT FANS ARE FREAKING OUT ABOUT

3-9!

Class of 2010

Little Vince Young could have been Younger.

COMMITS BY END OF MAY, 2009:

• 4* WR Ricardo Miller (9/29/08)
• 3* WR Jeremy Jackson (10/1/08)
• 3* WR Jerald Robinson (2/9)
• 3* WR D.J. Williamson (3/14)
• 3* LB Antonio Kinard (3/14)
• 2* APB Tony Drake (3/29)
• 4.5* QB Devin Gardner (4/3)
• 3* RB Stephen Hopkins (4/11)
• 3.5* HSP Marvin Robinson (4/17)
• 3* WR Drew Dileo (4/30)
• 3* DE/TE Jordan Paskorz (5/27)

Ricardo Miller was a Florida five-star expected to be the next #1 at Michigan when he committed, but most of a year later he was playing tight end at Pioneer in a triple-option offense, and his star was fading for it. Marvin Robinson was another early bloomer who had all the big offers as a junior but saw a lot of those dematerialize before committing to Michigan, where he had his best camp. Gardner was Elite after exploding as a junior at Inkster, and expected to climb to five-star after showing out at some camps.

The rest were middling three-stars not particularly likely to climb, especially Paskorz and the three Ohioans. Williamson didn't even play football; he won the state championship in track in the 100m. He and "Spinner" (the 3-3-5's DE/OLB or SAM) LB Antonio Kinard committed on junior day together and tiny RB/Slot/CB/Smurf Tony Drake was the junior backup of an elite starter; Michigan was his first offer. Jackson was Fred Jackson's kid and felt like a quasi-walk-on.

STATE OF THE BOARD:

The Free Press didn't throw shit into a fan until right before the season so we were in deep "this is going to work" mode. GERG was recruiting specifically for the 3-3-5 so defensive recruits were expected to be system finds not high stars. The recruitment of DT Johnathan Hankins, especially given the terrifying state of the DTs, was infuriating: Michigan didn't like that he was overweight, said they needed to see him at camp to offer, and that opened the door for Ohio State to a Michigan kid who should have been an easy pickup at a position of high need. Hankins was teammates was DE Will Gholston, who was trending to MSU or OSU but might have been swayed to Michigan if Hankins was secured early.

Gardner's commitment was the death knell for MI QB Robert Bolden, who didn't want any competition.

OL was another area of considerable fretting, given the 2008 sixsome wasn't working out and they'd settled on three the previous year. Molk-like center Christian Pace was a likely candidate (he would surprise us by committing to Michigan at the BBQ on June 1) but they needed four or five more and were in good shape for zero. #1 OL Seantrel Henderson visited Michigan in March but that recruitment was expected to go the distance (it would go a month after).

The 3-star WRs needed a 5-star but #1 national WR Kyle Prater had legit interest. Michigan's #1 offensive prospect was Marcus Lattimore, the South Carolina RB. With that fading however Michigan seemed likely to get mooseback Stephen Hopkins out of Texas soon.

Safety, given the immediate need, was getting a ton of attention. They were in on a lot of national prospects: #10 overall Keenan Allen was their top target as a Dax Hill-ian mix of elite talent and academic interest. Top-100 S Dietrich Riley gave an interview to TomVH on this site that sounded encouraging. After them were a pair of opposites—Sean Parker was short, quick, intelligent, and seemed likely to join the class, and Denard's cousin Demar Dorsey was fast, athletic, committed to Florida, and rumor had it his grades might not get him in there.

Other big-time defensive prospects Michigan was hard after were OH LB Trey Depriest, the #1 Ohio prospect, who grew up a Michigan fan, Sharrif Floyd, a DT from Pennsylvania, and Khairi Fortt, a Connecticut LB they thought could start right away at Spur, OH S Ron Tanner and CB Doran Grant, and Caleb Lavey, a legacy, had grown to 6'4" and seemed a shoe-in for a half-competent staff to land. There were a million more cornerbacks because anyone who came was going to play. Most likely was Cass Tech tiny corner Dior Mathis.

The 2011 class was already in full swing—FL RB Demetrius Hart was expected to be its first commit, if not actual moose MI OL/DE Anthony Zettel.

WHAT FANS WERE FREAKING OUT ABOUT

CB and DT. I wonder if this will leave us scarred?

Class of 2011

COMMITS BY THE END OF MAY, 2010

• 3* CB Greg Brown (9/2/2009)
• 3* CB Delonte Hollowell (1/17)
• 2* WR Shawn Conway (2/20)
• 3.5* DE Brennan Beyer (4/15)
• 3* DE Chris Rock (5/28)

This class had some major 5-stars it was after but commitments were tentative as everyone waited to see if the Rodriguez thing was really going to take (or did their best to make sure it wouldn't). Hollowell was considered talented but we had reservations by this point about tiny Cass corners. Brown and Rock were fliers their local papers didn't even cover. Conway, who was at my siblings alma mater Seaholm, was completely off the radar before he committed on the offer. Beyer was slowly crawling up the rankings from nondescript LB to solid DE prospect; he was from Plymouth and ticketed for Michigan from birth.

STATE OF THE BOARD:

They were also after some major dudes—this primer from August 10, 2009, is extremely depressing in retrospect—only Justice Hayes, Greg Brown, and Delonte Hollowell would commit. WR Sammy Watkins was a Michigan/Clemson battle. LB/WR Kris Frost seemed to have Michigan leading forever. Hart-like RB Dee Hart was supposedly close to a commitment (he'd fall in October), and working hard on 5* start-immediately safety HaSean "Ha-Ha" Clinton-Dix. Georgia S Avery Walls was considered a more likely, albeit almost as elite, answer to the open FS job. Dee Hart's other safety teammate LaQuentin Smith was an option as well. OH 3* Jonathan Aiken got his Michigan offer and was close to a commitment. 5* LBs Trey DePriest of Ohio and Lawrence Thomas of Michigan grew up Michigan fans, though Thomas was doubtful due to  Renaissance's head coach pulling funny business to undermine Michigan recruitments. Barring a coaching change, Anthony Zettel seemed ticketed for Michigan eventually.

With Hart seeming a lock Michigan didn't go full throttle after WI RB Melvin Gordon, whom the sites didn't like but scouts did.

QB was coming down to 3* Kevin Sousa, who would commit in late June, after 4* QB Marquise Williams was trending away. Glenville's Cardale Jones was getting a ton of interest from Sam and local media; he wanted to go to OSU but seemed likely to fall to MSU because he wasn't a good fit for a spread offense. QB/ATH Tanner McEvoy from New Jersey was also on the board, though Michigan probably expected to turn him into a tight end. Speedy WR Devin Smith was expected to join Michigan's class if he didn't get an Ohio State offer. Leapy in-state 4* WR DeAnthony Arnett was a mercurial battle then favoring MSU, USC, or ND. TE was struggling with legacy (basketball) Jeff Heuerman committing to Ohio State and MA 4* Brian Miller choosing to stay home and play for BC. Thoughts turned to OH 3* Ray Hamilton, for whom this was news. top-50 CB Dallas Crawford had visited often and seemed a good bet.

Further down the options, in-state CB Raymon Taylor, a 4-star at the time, committed to Indiana because he didn't have any better offers. RB Justice Hayes, another 4-star without the offers to match, seemed ticketed for Northwestern or Notre Dame—weirdly he wanted to play in a pro-style offense. FL CB/S Wayne Lyons visited but didn't get an offer.

WHAT FANS ARE FREAKING OUT ABOUT

Death secondary, DT.

Class of 2012

COMMITS BY THE END OF MAY, 2011

• 3.5* OT Ben Braden (3/24)
• 3* C Caleb Stacey (3/26)
• 3.5* LB Kaleb Ringer (4/12)
• 4* LB Royce Jenkins-Stone (4/16)
• 3.5* TE/WR Devin Funchess (4/22)
• 3.5* TE AJ Williams (4/22)
• 4* LB Joe Bolden (4/29)
• 4* LB James Ross (5/2)
• 3* DE Mario Ojemudia (5/7)
• 4* DE Pharaoh Brown (5/7)
• 3.5* DE Matthew Godin (5/12)
• 4* CB Terry Richardson (5/19)
• 3.5* S Allen Gant (5/31)

We were giddy.

Bringing Greg Mattison back instantly gave Hoke some recruiting credibility, and "Swag Mattison" immediately helped them penetrate John Herrington's powerhouse Farmington Hills Harrison for Funchess and Ojemudia (with Aaron Burbridge expected to join too if his grades qualified). RJS was going to commit to whoever was coaching Michigan, and fellow Technician Terry Richardson was the tiniest albeit the highest ranked of the tiny Cass corners. But Bolden and Ross were big pickups for a program badly in need of linebacking. And signing two TEs with very different profiles was important given there were soon to be none available. DE Pharaoh Brown said he wanted to play TE though Michigan was recruiting him on defense; he committed at the same time as Ojemudia and Ross.

Only Caleb Stacey of the above looked like a swing; his best offer after M was Illinois or BC. Maybe Ojemudia, but he was a weird, weird prospect. Also on May 10 they got their first 2013 commit, QB Shane Morris.

STATE OF THE BOARD:

QB was a concern, even if Morris was a 4.5* at the time, because Gardner's redshirt had been burned and Denard's eligibility was up after 2012, and anyway didn't Borges want a QB to run his pro-style system? They were after lots of them—Gunner Kiel, Ben Coney, Maty Mauk, Jake Rodrigues, Devin Fuller, and Zeke Pike had offers, and secondary options who might commit if offered included Jameis Winston and Tyler O'Conner.

The staff was hard after 5* Dorial Green-Beckham, high 4* WR Stefon Diggs seemed likely to join the class after a long recruitment, and OH 2* Dwayne Stanford was ready to commit if an offer came. IL DT Tommy Schutt and IN DT Sheldon Day seemed likely to be the two DTs in the class, with Michigan also after 3* Ondre Pipkins (he'd blow up late), OH 2* Greg Kuhar and CA 2* Aziz Shittu. OT prospect Erik Magnuson was choosing between Michigan and Notre Dame on June 10 and that was going to be a big deal. IL 4* Jordan Diamond would be the next test and MA OL Eric Olson had visited.

Fallout from the OSU scandal made a bunch of Buckeye locks seem plausible: 5* OL Kyle Kalis, 5* RB Brionte Dunn, 4.5* DEs Se'Von Pittman and Adolphus Washington. Pittman tried to commit to Michigan but was told he had some academic work to clean up first. OSU was losing their lead for 4* Tom Strobel, and Michigan seemed likely to get Toledo 3.5* Chris Wormley, and were in good shape for academically inclined 2* Ifeadi Odenigbo.

NJ 4* Elijah Shumate led the likely safety prospects. Top CB targets were 4* Armani Reeves and 3* Wayne Morgan; Michigan led for both. Also 3* Anthony Standifer would commit the day after my cut-off (6/1), another win over ND, and an important step in the recruitment of his 5* 2013 WR teammate Laquon Treadwell. S/CB Jeremy Clark was considering a grayshirt offer after NY CB/S Wayne Morgan delayed his decision that was supposed to go Blue's way. Jarrod Wilson seemed the next most likely safety prospect.

The 2013 class was also well underway; Michigan led for OH S/RB Dymonte Thomas, cousin of coveted Bri'onte Dunn. For unknown reasons they hadn't offered Brother Rice LB Jon Reschke, a high 4* many out-of-state schools wanted and MSU was moving in on.

WHAT FANS ARE FREAKING OUT ABOUT

When can they get their guys in?

Class of 2013

COMMITS AS OF MAY, 2012

• 5* QB Shane Morris (5/10/11)
• 4.5* S Dymonte Thomas (9/11/11)
• 3* TE Khalid Hill (2/6)
• 4* OG Kyle Bosch (2/18)
• 4* OG David Dawson (2/18)
• 4* OT Chris Fox (2/18)
• 4* CB Jourdan Lewis (2/18)
• 4* DE Taco Charlton (2/18)
• 3.5* ATH Wyatt Shallman (2/18)
• 4* OT Logan Tuley-Tillman (2/19)
• 4* TE Jake Butt (2/19)
• 3* WR Jaron Dukes (2/22)
• 5* C Patrick Kugler (2/25)
• 4* LB Mike McCray (3/6)
• 3.5* CB Gareon Conley (3/10)
• 4* RB De'Veon Smith (3/17)
• 4* LB Ben Gedeon (4/10)
• 3* WR C'sont'e York (5/9)

As you can see by the dates, this was the class with the Greatest Weekend in the History of Mid-Februraries, when Ace decided about half-way through eight Hello posts in two days it was a point of pride to do them all. In the aftermath Michigan had added four 4* OL, a top-flight cornerback, another corner they thought should be a high 4* (Conley was a late riser sick of waiting for an OSU offer), and two catchy-blocky weapons to a class that already had an intriguing FB/TE and blue chips at quarterback and safety.

In the next few weeks they'd add a couple of long and leapy WRs, the nation's #1 center, two high 4-star LBs, and a 4* bruiseback.

STATE OF THE BOARD

Entering the summer they really only needed DTs and another couple of defensive backs, and could otherwise start to set up 2014 while pressing for elites. The DT thing was solved in a day with Mo Hurst committing on 6/2 and then top-25 DE/DT Henry Poggi, who came with a connection to his father's national prospect-hoarding Gilman School, two days after that. In light of all that it raised some eyebrows that the first week of June ended with a long snapper offer (especially when K/P J.J. McGrath was aiming to be part of the class), but okay, really, who can complain?

They were in on two 5* RBs, Virginia's Derrick Green and Ty Isaac from Illinois, the former more likely. The early OL commits short circuited elite OL recruits like Ethan Pocic, Laremy Tunsil, in-state star Steve Elmer and several other guys who'd end up playing for Notre Dame who only frustrate because of the fate of Michigan's OL class.

The elite prospect our eyes now turned to was 5* WR Laquon Treadwell, who was giving every indication Michigan was his destination. Another was CA 5* S Su'a Cravens. For cornerback Michigan was staying in it for MD 4* Kendall Fuller, Blake Countess's former Good Counsel teammate, despite strong VT vibes, and was in a top group for high 4* Leon McQuay was among the schools after CA 3* John Ross, and found 2* Channing Stribling at their June camp. For a second DE they were close to getting one of two high 4*s: Joe Mathis (cousin Su'a Cravens), or Wyatt Teller.

In 2014s, Michigan had thrown in their hat with massive, heartwarming RB Leonard Fournette, offered S Montae Nicholson and top 2014 OL targets Alex Bars and Tommy Doles, and were in pole position for TX CB Nick Watkins, son of the former Detroit Lion.

The big thing we were dealing with in May 2012 was Logan Tuley-Tillman burning his offer from Ohio State. Also back then Steve Lorenz was known as "Tremendous" which was a change from "Aquaman" on the board, and by his blog thisismichiganfootball.

WHAT FANS ARE FREAKING OUT ABOUT

Ahhhhh look at all these croots! Should I name my new child Hoke?

Class of 2014

The 12-minute highlight reel is gone.

COMMITS AS OF MAY, 2013

• 4* LB Michael Ferns (8/9/12)
• 3.5* QB Wilton Speight (2/6)
• 4* DT Bryan Mone (2/12)
• 4* OL Mason Cole (2/25)
• 4* WR Drake Harris (4/15)
• 3.5* TE Ian Bunting (4/23)
• 3* WR Maurice Ways (4/25)
• 3.5* OT Juwann Bushell-Beatty (4/29)
• 4* DE Lawrence Marshall (5/11)
• 5* DB Jabrill Peppers (5/26)
• 5* Pig Dr. Hamlet III (5/31)

Peppers was the big deal, and didn't blow all of our minds only because rumors of a silent commitment had leaked for weeks (the drama with James Franklin's late attempt to flip him wasn't until Signing Day). Wilton Speight appointed himself head icebreaker and had organized a core group of classmates into what is still, I'm told, one of the closest intra-class friend groups among alumni, even if many of them went different directions over their college careers.

Lawrence Marshall was committed to Ohio State at one point and gave us the "Michigan players go to Michigan" quote, but was not going to be of much help with his new teammate, 5* Malik McDowell, who reportedly hung more with friends from his old school. Mason Cole and Bryan Mone were both within striking range of 5-stars.

They'd had IL OT Denzel Ward in the class but let him go when he moved to IMG Academy without telling them in January (Ward would commit to Purdue and ultimately sign with Syracuse).

STATE OF THE BOARD

I'll just quote from the "Upshot for the rest of the class" section from the Peppers commitment.

Peppers accounts for one of what should be two cornerback spots in the 2014 class; at this point, it looks likely that Peppers will be joined by IL CB Parrker Westphal whenever the latter makes his decision, though the Wolverines will also pursue five-star CA CB Adoree' Jackson and four-star DC CB Jalen Tabor, among others. Other remaining needs include strongside linebacker, a third offensive lineman, and a couple of three-tech/SDE types.

The biggest upshot from Peppers' commitment, though, may be the impact it has on the decision of other top recruits—namely #1 overall prospect Da'Shawn Hand, whom Peppers has told his fellow Michigan commits is his top recruiting priority as a member of Team 135. There's no question that Michigan landing a prospect of Peppers' caliber will send waves through the recruiting community and catch the attention of top national prospects, and with the way Brady Hoke is recruiting that could be enough to vault the Wolverines into serious contention for the top recruiting class in 2014—the only mitigating factor may be the small projected size of the class (currently slated to be 15 players but likely to approach 20 when all is said and done).

Take it away, drum major:

Indeed.

WHAT FANS ARE FREAKING OUT ABOUT

Peppers has a rap video.

Class of 2015

"Little Brees" didn't turn out so Drewish.

COMMITS AS OF MAY, 2014

• 3* K Andrew David (6/24/2013)
• 3* OL Jon Runyan Jr. (6/25/2013)
• 3.5* S Tyree Kinnel (8/24/2013)
• 4* CB Garrett Taylor (3/24)
• 4* QB Alex Malzone (5/12)
• 4* LB Darrin Kirkland (5/18)

This class at one point had commitments from 4.5* RB Damien Harris (7/29/2013 – 1/21/2014), who left it when Michigan fired Al Borges; #1 national WR George Campbell (6/27/2013-12/17/2013), then still a teammate of 2014 early enrollee Mason Cole; and 4* CB Shaun Crawford (8/23/2013-5/24/2014), who bolted suddenly for Notre Dame right about this time. Garrett Taylor would last until 10/27.

STATE OF THE BOARD

At this point it was more about whether they could hold onto any recruits, not whether they could convince any more to come here. The big exceptions were super-level-headed 4* OT Grant Newsome (6/11) and super chill 4.5* ATH Brian Cole, a viable receiver or safety, who would commit in late July but nearly flipped to Wisconsin in late October. Three more guys who would commit over the summer but drop out as the program ate itself over the latter half of 2014 were 4* TE Chris Clark (committed 6/19), 4.5* RB Mike Weber (8/7) and 4* DT Darian Roseboro (8/29). 2016 QB Messiah deWeaver committed June 18, 2014. USC transfer RB Ty Isaac announced his move on June 5 but that stuck.

Weirdly Hoke's Michigan didn't pursue Malzone's favorite target Grant Perry. TE Tyrone Wheatley Jr. was holding off until he knew the program was stabilized, committing on Signing Day and moving to Ann Arbor after Sr. was brought back for a season.

After the 31-0 slaughter in South Bend recruiting all but stopped until Harbaugh was hired shortly after Christmas.

Class of 2016

Little Brady didn't turn out so Tomish.

COMMITS AS OF MAY, 2015

• 4* OL Erik Swenson (11/25/2013)
• 3* LB Dele Harding (11/4/2014)<—Yes, during Dave Brandon's resignation presser!
• 4* QB Brandon Peters (4/3)
• 4* LB David Reese (4/4)
• 3* RB Kingston Davis (4/6)
• 4* RB Matthew Falcon (4/8)

Harbaugh had only been on the job a few months, and still had a couple of very long-term Hoke recruits hanging on.

STATE OF THE BOARD

Most of this class wouldn't come together until late January, but the shape of it was visible by late May. Two days into June Mike Onwenu joined the class, and IN 3* RB Chris Evans was expected to commit as soon as his track meet was over.

They were also just about to launch the Satellite Camp tour. That tour collected 3* RB Kiante Enis (6/4), 2017 OLB Dytarious Johnson (6/7), 3* DB Antwaine Richardson (6/12), 3* DT Rashad Weaver (6/14), 3* TE Sean McKeon (6/14), and 3* QB/ATH Victor Viramontes (6/14). They also went home with hooks in 4* WR Josh Imatorbhebhe, 5* TE Isaac Nauta, and various others.

Only one of the above would enroll at Michigan. As the stars piled in, many of the 3-stars were nudged out the door, some more willing than others. Falcon was offered a medical scholarship but left mid-November to see if he couldn't find a school willing to risk an athletic one. Viramontes dropped out of the class on 12/7 Reese decommitted on December 9. CB Sir Patrick Scott, on January 13, was the next to go. Antwaine Richardson bailed two weeks before signing day to join D.J. Durkin, his original recruiter, with Enis and Weaver doing the same in short order. Michigan also lost two guys they very much didn't want to: 4* OT Devery Hamilton (6/24/15-1/20/16) and DT Jordan Elliott (11/28/15-1/27/16), too late to scramble for equivalents at offensive and defensive tackle when Michigan needed both badly. Also at that time Swenson's dad made a stink about Michigan ghosting Erik out of the class.

Much of their recruiting was pipeline-centric for this class, and in May we were just starting to understand where those pipes were being laid. Kingston Davis and Dytarious Johnson were from AL power program Prattville, where the big prize was 5* Auburn legacy SDE Marlon Davidson. In Florida, both of Flanagan's 3* safeties, Josh Metellus and Devin Gil, were offered during the camp tour and that helped them lure Devin Bush Jr., while DC DJ Durkin got them in with South Floridian prospects like LB/DE Josh Uche, TE Nick Eubanks, and slots Eddie McDoom and Pie Young. Hiring former Paramus coach Chris Partridge let them clean up in New Jersey, with high interest from 3* OT WIll Fries, 3* WR Donald Stewart, 4* DE Ron Johnson, 4* WR/S Ahmir Mitchell, 4.5* RB Kareem Walker (an OSU decommit who'd been the class's #1 RB at one point), 3.5* WR Brad Hawkins (who took a prep year), PA 3* TE Naseir Upshur, 3* DT Michael Dwumfour, and 2017 5*s LB Drew Singleton, and C Cesar Ruiz, each a string to the 2016 #1 national recruit Rashan Gary. Harbaugh's NFL contacts got him in with Carlo Kemp, and the old Stanford connection to California power programs got visits from De La Salle besties Devin Asiasi and 4* DT Boss Tagaloa, and Rancho Santa Margarita teammates 4.5* KJ Costello, 4* WR Dylan (Kekoa) Crawford, 4* WR Theo Howard, and 4* CB David Long, though Peters's commitment hurt them with Costello. Michigan also tried to parlay the early Indiana success to pilfer 5* WR Austin Mack from Ohio State and 4* DE Auston Robertson from MSU.

CBs coach Mike Zordich pushed McKeesport's Khaleke Hudson, a soft PSU commit. Michigan's baseball freshman Jack Bredeson, plus some heavy lifting by Greg Mattison, got them one of the nation's best OL prospects out of Wisconsin in Jack's younger brother Ben. Drevno was struggling on his own; Michigan cycled through all kinds of 5* and 4* names without getting great traction except with top-250 MD plow horse Terrance Davis, who seemed a secondary option.

Back home, Mattison was working on Delano Hill's younger brother Lavert, who'd switched to King, and hosting a big slate of 2017s including Josh Ross, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Ambry Thomas, Allen Stritzinger, KJ Hamler, Jaylen Kelly-Powell, JaRaymond Hall, and recent legacy commit TE Carter Dunaway.

There was some panic over the shape of the class, but with so many high-profile guys in consideration, including a frontrunner's spot for the #1 overall recruit, that concern was mostly from the part of the fanbase who didn't want the five-stars committing.

Class of 2017

bad, bad man

COMMITS AS OF MAY, 2016

• 2* TE Carter Dunaway (4/20/2015)
• 3* CB Benjamin St-Juste (6/23/15)
• 2* RB Kurt Taylor (10/16/15)
• 3* OT Ja'Raymond Hall (12/5/15)
• 4* QB Dylan McCaffrey (2/15)
• 4* LB Josh Ross (3/22)
• 3.5* S J'Marick Woods (3/28)
• 3.5* RB A.J. Dillon (3/28)
• 3* FB Chase Lasater (3/31)
• 3.5* OL/DT Phil Paea (4/2)
• 3* RB O'Maury Samuels (4/3)
• 4* FB Ben Mason (5/3)

Now with a promising football season and a bowl game victory behind them, Harbaugh's program thought capable of the unthinkable: recruit the elites out of the heart of SEC country. The SEC had succeeded in shutting down his camps, with only J'Marick Woods and a very determined Georgia 2-star RB to show for their incursion, and St-Juste and O'Maury Samuels from the scouting opportunities elsewhere. New DC Don Brown was setting up a new pipeline in the Northeast, and that got a pair of bruising backfield weapons in RB A.J. Dillon and FB Ben Mason in the class, with CT OT Andrew Stueber and WR Tarik Black both impressing at a camp and likely to join soon. McCaffery was from the NFL connection, and Ross, Lasater, Hall, and Dunaway were in-staters with deep Michigan connections. In that you could include local 4* DE Corey Malone-Hatcher, whose dad, active on Michigan message boards long before his kid was any kind of prospect, had more or less already spilled the beans.

Michigan also had a 2018 commitments from 3* LB Antwuan Johnson and TE Leonard Taylor, though the latter kept taking visits and decommitted a few weeks later. Jalil Irvin and Otis Reese would commit in June.

STATE OF THE BOARD

I already mentioned the big in-state targets. This cycle Michigan again was after the nation's #1 recruit, this time RB Najee Harris. That seemed so likely that Mississippi RB Cam Akers, one of their camp followers, fell away from Michigan just as his recruiting rankings were shooting up. The same was true for NM RB Eno Benjamin, whom Michigan's coaches adored. Another camp follower was GA 3* Jeremiah Hollomon, who committed in December but left the class in February when UGA came with cash.

This class would lose more than that. FL OT Kai-Leon Herbert would commit in July but slid out of the class as lower-ranked OL joined it. Dunaway (in September) and Lasater (in October) were shed. When it seemed Najee was going to come to Michigan, Michigan asked Dillon if he'd consider linebacker, and Dillon decided he'd rather be the starting RB at the local program.

At this point 5*s with Michigan interest were coming out of the woodwork. The latest in late April 2016 was IMG DE Joshua Kaindoh, though that fizzled almost as quickly as it began. Michigan was alternately the outright leader or near the top for DPJ, FL 5* OT Tedarrell Slaton, Flanagan CB Stanford Samuels, now-IMG center Cesar Ruiz, and Paramus LB Drew Singleton. NJ ATH Markquese Bell was expected to commit to Michigan shortly, and the staff were going back and forth on NJ DTs Fred Hansard or Corey Bolds for a class that needed DTs of all kinds, probably because Clemson was deciding if they should get Bolds. OK 3* DT Deontre Thomas was rising and Michigan was one of the few schools in early. Other IMG prospects interested were LB/RB Jordan Anthony, OT Robert Hainsey, and TE Major Tennison (who'd already committed to Texas). The other position of need, safety, seemed secure with JKP likely enough to commit soon that Michigan broke off pursuit of fellow Detroiter Scott Nelson.

They also weren't giving up the South without a fight—they were the first to offer 2018 S/HSP Otis Reese and were recruiting him like a 5-star, were one of all the schools going full-bore for Georgia 5* DT Aubrey Solomon, and made the top three for AL 3* DT Neil Farrell, who had LSU and Clemson after him. Quietly they had the press on climbing 2017 4* WR Nico Collins, who'd rebuffed an Alabama approach.

Class of 2018

Adam's Future Blue Originals was spot-on.

COMMITS AS OF MAY, 2017

• 4.5* S/HSP Otis Reese (6/18/2016)
• 4* C Emil Ekiyor (10/2/2016)
• 4* DE Aidan Hutchinson (2/21)
• 4* DB Myles Sims (4/7)
• 3* RB Christian Turner (4/10)
• 3.5* CB Gemon Green (4/20)
• 3* CB German Green (4/20)
• 4* QB Joe Milton (5/7)
• 3* TE/OL Jalen Mayfield (5/23)
• 3* TE/OL Ryan Hayes (5/27)

Antwuan Johnson was already processed by this point. You'll also not the top of the class got picked off by SEC powers. Ekiyor was understandable since Cesar Ruiz was locked in as Michigan's center through at least 2019 and Bama had a sudden immediate need. Otis Reese was flat-out bought by Georgia, and then promptly buried on the depth chart in retaliation for Harbaugh's southern strategy. He recently transferred to Ole Miss to rejoin his Michigan recruiter Chris Partridge. Notably UGA didn't mind so much about Sims or Turner.

Like Sims Greens were part of a signature 2018 class strategy of trying to recruit another Channing Stribling. The other recent strategy was bringing back Rich Rod OL coach Greg Frey, who liked to take athletic tight ends and build athletic tackles out of them. His first Michigan recruits since Mike Schofield and Taylor Lewan were, naturally, Michigan's two projected 2020 starters on the outside.

After failing to entice an elite like Trevor Lawrence or Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and coming in second for JT Daniels, for its QB of the class Harbaugh went with Joe Milton, a high-character head strapped to an insane cannon of an arm, suspected to be two years from possibly turning the rest of him into a football player. Milton was also cousins with then-#6 overall CB Akeem Dent, whom Michigan promptly offered.

STATE OF THE BOARD

Given Pahokee Joe was high-ceiling/low-floor type, Harbaugh wanted a second, higher-floor QB in the class. They had all the crystal balls for AZ 3.5* Tyler Shough, who was set to visit soon and expected to commit then. The rest of the skill position board for this class was full of stars who drifted away as the 2017 season set into a malaise. Also their ludicrous 2016 and 2017 receiver hauls precluded more in the class right after them. At this point Michigan looked to be finishing second for 4* TEs Jeremy Ruckert (OSU) and Luke Ford (UGA). They also trusted their own scouting on guys like CT 3* TE Luke Schoonmaker, IN 3.5* LB Cameron McGrone (he'd shoot up very late), and then-unrated MO RB Hassan Haskins and WR Ronnie Bell.

At this point OL recruiting, especially at OT, was dire thanks to Drevno completely botching the previous classes, forgetting to send an LOI to 2016 Signing Day flip Alaric Jackson, overchasing 2017 #1 OT Alex Leatherwood, under-chasing #3 Walker Little, getting blindsided by Georgia buying out longtime silent 5* commit Isaiah Wilson at the last minute, and losing contact with scouting coup Mekhi Becton. Nobody could figure out the OL situation: was Frey was in charge?, and if so why Drevno was still around? Michigan was hard after play-early 5* Nicholas Petit-Frere, then a ND-Michigan battle, legendary IMG monster Daniel Faaele, and GA OG James Ohonba.

Brown was going his own way, but NJ 4* viper Shayne Simon, whose mom and aunt were Michigan alums, was expected to be the next Michigan commit; a visit commit did not materialize and Notre Dame would win this a couple of months later.

NC 4* DT Rick Sandidge appeared in May and spent a time as a likely DT commit for a class that needed them desperately. The other big target was 4* Tyler Friday, though NC 3* Alim McNeill was right up there with Friday on Michigan's board despite playing middle linebacker the previous year; the Hudl video made it clear what Michigan saw.

After a year of "why isn't Michigan offering the Cass Tech cornerback?" Kalon Gervin had decommitted from Notre Dame and was expected to end up out of state. Meanwhile Michigan still had more offers out in Georgia than any other state, including the 2019s. Speaking of 2019 Georgians, Michigan at this point seemed close to landing their #1 choice, DE/DT Chris Hinton, and yes it was already noted his brother was a top 2020 OT. Also Reese moved into the top-150 this week. Michigan was considered a longshot for DE Micah Parsons but the new favorite for a safety named Julius Irvin.

Class of 2019

To those of us starved for DTs this was pornographic. It's funny he was still a DE to sites, and falling, at this point.

COMMITS AS OF MAY, 2018

• 3.5* LB Charles Thomas (6/24/17)
• 4* DE Stephen Herron (7/29/17)
• 4* OG Nolan Rumler (7/29/17)
• 5* DT/DE Chris Hinton (8/5/17)
• 4* OL Trente Jones (2/21)
• 3.5* QB Cade McNamara (3/16)
• 3* DE Gabe Newburg (4/2)
• 4* CB Te'Cory Couch (4/15)
• 3.5* OG Jack Stewart (4/16)
• 3* TE/OT Karsen Barnhart (4/30)
• 3* C Zach Carpenter (5/30)

There were already rumors that WDE Stephen Herron, a five-star when he committed the previous summer, might get into Stanford and go there instead. We're also hitting the short window that short CB Te'Cory Couch was committed to Michigan between decommitting from Tennessee and flipping to Miami (YTM). Chris Hinton had also been a 5-star when he joined but had fallen as sites thought he was growing too big to be an end (duh!). Also falling was the class's first commit, Charles Thomas, who was IMG's middle linebacker when he pledged. Nolan Rumler was another big early pickup. Trente Jones was moving up.

Lately however the three-star mafia had been out in force over news that Michigan was losing their longtime lead for IMG RB Noah Cain, putting 4* Zach Charbonnet ahead for some reason. Also QB commit Cade McNamara underwhelmed them, as did OL commits Jack Stewart (a New England find), Karsen Barnhart (a Frey type) and Zach Carpenter, ignoring the fact that Clemson seemed extremely miffed about losing that one. Also barely 3* DE Gabe Newburg.

STATE OF THE BOARD

Michigan got a visit from 5* OK S Daxton Hill in March and we felt warm and squishy until he visited Alabama in April and had another planned for June. Hnnnngggh…. They were also hot in pursuit of 5* edge prospect Kayvon Thibodeaux, 5* OH DE Zach Harrison, and really really really wanted IN 4* SDE George Karlaftis as a DT.

Also in hnnnggh was receiver recruiting—those 2017s plus Ronnie Bell looking like a super find depressed that. What Michigan was looking for was slot types, which made little sense for eminently pro-style de facto OC Pep Hamilton. The boo birds were also upset about in-state OT recruiting. #1 MI OT Logan Brown pledging early to Wisconsin made sense if you know the first thing about Wisconsin OL development, the second thing about Michigan's young OL depth, or anything about how much new OL coach Ed Warinner loved GA commit Trente Jones. #2 MI OT Devontae Dobbs of Belleville not having any interest in Michigan was only annoying until a week later when camp film came in.

Still in need of DTs, Michigan was close to offering low 3* DT Tyrece Woods from Belleville but maybe didn't need to if they could seal the deal with in-state Mazi Smith, hold onto Hinton, and beat lowly Purdue for Karlaftis. Cornerback was also a major need but they ran through prospect after prospect without any bites for a very long time.

Class of 2020

COMMITS AS OF MAY, 2019

• 4* CB Andre Seldon (6/20/2018)
• 3* TE Nick Patterson (9/9/2018)
• 3.5* LB Cornell Wheeler (9/25/2018)
• 3.5* LB Osman Savage (1/25)
• 3* OG Micah Mazzccua (2/25)
• 3.5* OT Zak Zinter (5/16)
• 3* LB Nikhai Hill-Green (5/23)
• 4* DE Braiden McGregor (5/24)

Coming off the worst ending to a season in the history of sport, Michigan was reeling, and recruiting suffered noticeably. It would have been sad but for a few things working in their favor: Biff Poggi had gone back to high school, taken over at St. Francis, and by this point three of those guys were in the class (Savage, Hill-Green, and Mazzccua). Zinter was a New England find. Seldon and McGregor were in-state 4-stars who dreamed of playing for Michigan; Seldon never waivered despite playing for accursed Belleville. Cornell Wheeler was Michigan finally breaking the seal on Ronald Bellamy's West Bloomfield program, which with the closing of Farmington Hills Harrison is the new public metro-Detroit hub. Patterson was Shea's brother, and probably just along for the ride to interest other schools in "stealing" a member of their class.

The Notre Dame tears over McGregor were very sweet.

Also the QB of the future, 2021 5* J.J. McCarthy had committed.

STATE OF THE BOARD

The #1 guy on the board was slot IL 4* WR A.J. Henning, who was likely to come now with McCarthy in hand. New OC Josh Gattis was on the hunt. Gattis had also stepped up the pursuit of in-state 3* WR Maliq Carr of Oak Park.

Thanks to Don Brown, Michigan was a major player for a number of Northeast targets, chief among them 4* LB prospects William Mohan of Brooklyn and Kalel Mullings of Massachusetts. There were a lot more prospects Michigan valued much higher than the recruiting services, and I'll spare you their names because so many ended up in the class anyway.

Many of the 4*s they were recruiting were at safety (not coincidentally Chris Partridge's position). NJ 4*s Jordan Morant and RJ Moten both seemed like good bets to be in the class, but their #1 safety prospect, VA 4* Malcolm Greene, had an offer from his #1 Clemson that seemed non-committable, which was good news in Ann Arbor. Fellow VA 4* Elijah Gaines seemed to also have Michigan top on his list, which then made West Bloomfield's Makari Paige the odd man out. Another Virginian, WDE Antwuan Powell, had recently jumped from #650 to #129 in the composite, and had some Michigan crystal balls, including one from Lorenz, fly in at that time. Duke and VT were the competition at that point (Florida ultimately got him).

The St. Francis pipeline wasn't done; running back Blake Corum, also seemed ticketed for Michigan, though as his profile rose the staff hand to fend off Ohio State and others. Also CB Luke Hill had an-again/off-again recruitment that suggested Michigan wasn't enamored but needed dudes, a hint Hill took.

Class of 2021

Little Mahomes is undeniably Patty.

COMMITS AS OF MAY, 2020

• 4* OT Giovanni El-Hadi (3/19/2019)
• 4.5* QB J.J. McCarthy (5/11/2019)
• 4* C Greg Crippen (3/25)
• 2* DE Dominick Giudice (3/25)
• 3.5* TE Louis Hansen (4/2)
• K/P Tommy Domon (4/2)
• 2* LB Casey Phinney (4/3)
• 4* C Raheem Anderson (4/12)
• 3* DE TJ Guy (4/17)
• 3* CB Ja'Den McBurrows (4/24)
• 3.5* WR Markus Allen (4/28)
• 3.5* LB Tyler McLaurin (5/9)
• 3.5* S Rod Moore (5/10)
• 4.5* LB Junior Colson (5/24)
• 3.5* LB Jaydon Hood (5/25)
• 4* DE Kechaun Bennett (5/27)
• 3* OT Tristan Bounds (6/1)

The two highly rated guys have been in the class so long the shine has worn off, while all sorts of aside looks are coming at the defensive recruits, especially the three from the Northeast who committed in April. Of those TJ Guy has been getting considerable hype from E.J. Holland, who went out to see him recently. Phinney might be a fullback, Giudice might grow into a NT. McBurrows is a Florida speedster who might have been prevented from blowing up on the camp circuit this summer because of [gestures around]. Some of those complains subsided recently; Rod Moore and Tyler McLaurin aren't elites but they're the kind of solid prospects the Iowas of the world get salty about when an elite school has a spot for them. Junior Colson and Jaydon Hood however are huge and big pickups, Kechaun Bennett would fit in any Michigan class, and if you count 6/1 commit Tristan Bounds that's already a better OL class than most years.

There are no complaints about the offensive recruits; Hansen is in striking distance of 5-stars on Rivals right now, Allen fits a type even if that type didn't work out for Borges, and two centers are two of the nation's better interior prospects, say the sites. Specialist sites love the kicker.

STATE OF THE BOARD

Fine. I'm more worried about some of the guys who haven't visited drifting away than whether this class doesn't match up to Michigan's historical mean. It doesn't match up to Ohio State's class but that's because literally no class in history does. This is a weird year, and Ohio State's operating at peak efficiency at a time when the rich are the richest they've been since we have data.