We’re past Signing Day for 2021, so it’s time to go through the 2022 board. Since CORNERBACKKKKAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH we’ll start with defense.

Operation Coverage

In case the one-off exploits of Ricky White didn’t make it abundantly clear, Michigan needs defensive backs, particularly corners. Mo Linguist was brought in to fix cornerback recruiting, and has already been instrumental in securing commitments from two Tennessee athletes, Brad Hawkin-ish safety Taylor Groves (Hello!), and Jourdan Lewis-ian CB/nickel Kody Jones (Hello!).

Touch the Banner got his scout in too late for the latter so here's his take on Jones:

To me he looks like a nickel corner in the mold of former Michigan cornerback Blake Countess (who played well at Michigan before transferring and playing safety at Auburn and then in the NFL). He’s compact and packs a punch, with very good change-of-direction skills and good top-end speed.

On the negative side, Jones is perhaps a little lacking in ball skills. He’s great with the ball in his hands, but his hand-eye coordination is sometimes a little lacking. He also needs to improve his tracking of the ball in the air. 

Magnus admits a lot of guys look like Blake Countess when they're 15 years old and playing low-level competition. Rivals’s EJ Holland knows Groves’s mentor from the Junior Colson recruitment, and got some exciting (and FAKE) scouting($):

"He's as elite as it gets as far as a safety prospect. He has everything you're looking for. He's 6-foot-3, 190 pounds and runs a low 4.4. He has amazing ball skills because he's a damn good wide receiver. He's physical. He's smart. He's the type of guy and DNA to be a very high draft pick one day if he stays healthy and everything goes well. His ceiling is wide open. He can literally play anywhere in America, but he's raw because he's been a wide receiver. His upside is unlimited. He checks the boxes as an elite defensive back."

Woooo!

Michigan’s #1 target all last cycle was in-state RB Donovan Edwards, who did, to our horror, lead West Bloomfield to a state title and become a 5-star (the new MGoBlog tagline is a reference to our own uncertainty if the 5-star curse is a joke or real). For 2022 that guy is Grosse Pointe South’s Will Johnson, son of Moeller-era safety Deon. As with Edwards, there was a concern at one point that Ohio State was going to yoink this guy then murder our loved ones and make us eat them in front of Radiohead. According to Sam Webb on their recent Michigan Insider podcast, everybody can breathe a tiny sigh of relief about the Johnson part:

“I think Michigan has taken a lead... maybe a slight one... but a lead. […] Was it the cornerback coaching change? He actually told me that was not the issue. He said that, frankly, it helps Michigan in his eyes. […] But when things just seemed to get worse, and they just couldn't find any rudder after that... when all the uncertainty about the coaching staff hit, and just really feeling like this wasn't going to improve. That's when his eyes really started opening to other possibilities that he did legitimately like. Like Ohio State.”

It’s a long way to go, but this is very good news. Keep sharing stories about how Coombs-coached kids show up in the league with no skills, everybody. Also call your mother.

If anybody’s happier about the Linguist hire than President for Life of the Michigan Fans Panicking About Cornerback Depth Club Seth Fisher, it’s Rivals’s EJ Holland, who comes from Linguist’s stomping grounds and has many of the same relationships in the 7v7 world:

If you are a top defensive back in Texas, chances are you train with Christian White aka Coach Flight. White worked with Michigan defensive backs Gemon Green and German Green as well as the aforementioned Jones, Richardson and Brian Williams, yet another big 2019 signee for Linguist and A&M.

It’s a free article and a good way to familiarize yourself with a scene that could be key to a key recruiting role. Jones is the first commit from that world—his Texas-based 7v7 coach runs a satellite in Memphis—the first Texan who could follow Linguist is 4* S Chace Biddle, who sounds like a Daxton-ian:

He’s going to hate me when I say, but I think he can play corner at the next level. If you’re talking about guys that go to the league, they’re big and long like he is. He’s a finesse player. He’s fast and athletic. He’s a cover guy more so than a physical guy. Anything you want him to do in coverage, Chace Biddle can do.”

[After THE JUMP: Hey attorneys, can we sue Stanford?]

Linguist also has close preexisting relationships with Texas 4* commit Jaylon Guilbeau, who wants to visit, and VA 3* S Sherrod Covil, who was a target for the previous staff as well, and should therefore recognize this line from Stanford…

"In my opinion the 40 year decision was the best part!!! It’s a top 20 program, but the education is #1 in the FBS."

…as a Michigan copyright.

The top of the board hasn’t changed, and continues to include lengthy, Channing Stribling-esque NJ 4.5* Jaeden Gould, who has now seen lead recruiters Partridge, Campanile, and now Zordich depart from his recruitment. Gould continues to show signs of Michigan being his top school($), sharing Michigan stuff on social media and even tagging Will Johnson($) in a photo of Stribling and Peppers.

That doesn’t mean the Wolverines are done pilfering DBs out of the Volunteer State. TN 3.5* Myles Pollard is a Ben St-Juste-ish gangly athlete who popped on the film of former teammate Junior Colson. Pollard’s trainer confirms Michigan is now among those pushing hardest($), however Pollard’s offer sheet has been blowing up lately—Alabama interest appears serious. Agent Linguist is, of course, on the case.

And don’t forget the guy who was pushing Donovan Edwards to receiver snaps last year, as West Bloomfield 4* ATH Dillon Tatum seems to be leaning defense, and may have been leaning MSU before Michigan hired the West Bloomfield coach, via ITF($):

“Dillon’s still developing, and right now he’s one of the top defensive backs in the country. You can see that in the way he prepares. His football intellect, for him to be able to play two sides of the football, it speaks volumes. Dillon’s able to do that. And he’s a returner, he helps you in special teams, too, so he’s a complete football player. The goal is to continue to develop.”

Tatum told our EJ Holland the week before Bellamy was named to Michigan’s staff that Michigan State was the school most aggressively pursuing him. We have a feeling that’s already changed now that the Wolverines’ new staff is in place.

Subscribers can read the Tatum interview in full here($), which upshot seems to be that Michigan sees a safety. The rest of that ITF is packed with quotes from the 2021 signees about the new staff, losing Don Brown, and where Kechaun Bennett was going to play, if you’re a subscriber.

Defensive Tackle

Michigan reeled in three tackles in a week but if they’re really going to the under defense the Ravens base out of, they’re going to need to keep the train rolling.

One thing we haven’t seen for a few years is Michigan going all-in for a top-five type player, but it looks like we’re going to be in the battle for the nation’s #1 DT, and possibly the nation’s #1 prospect, TN 5-star Walter Nolen Jr. I mentioned in the Kody Jones writeup that they’re both Memphis kids, and Nolen Sr. told Sam Webb they’re actually closer than that($):

Said Mr. Nolen, “believe it or not, Kody and Walter played on the same pee wee team together.”

So, is Jones already putting in a word for his future team?

“I think so,” Mr. Nolen said laughingly. “I actually talked to Kody’s dad the other day and he said, ‘all we need now is to get Walter to come on and go.’ So, I think so.”

Nolen Jr.’s (maternal) great-grandma lives in Detroit, and the family became 49ers fans because Harbaugh was coaching there, so yay. He’s also the kind of prospect who’s so college-ready (he played at IMG last year before moving back home for his senior season) that you consider him more like a transfer than a freshman, as far as upshot on the class and whatnot. I am creating a tag for this guy, but please don’t take that as confidence.

I note that because Michigan’s got two DTs—MI 4* Alex VanSumeren and MI 3* Davonte Miles—in the class already, and is very much not done trying to add meat inside. One of their top targets is FL 3* Hayden Schwartz, who was being recruited by new safeties coach George Helow at Maryland. Though 6-4/250 now, Schwartz is probably ticketed for 3-tech in college.

VanSumeren meanwhile now looks like a nose, and is reportedly up to 300, zero of which is neck:

Slow feet don’t eat! #thegrindneverstops pic.twitter.com/SNuvuX6ZGZ

— Alex VanSumeren (@alexvansumeren) February 5, 2021

We’ve been reporting that Nua’s now allowed to pursue pure nose guards now, and WA 3* Peter Taoipu is very much that($)—it’s hard to imagine Don Brown recruiting a 6-5/350 teenager. Taoipu’s a 2022 but this is his first offer.

Defensive End

Michigan’s march into SEC country isn’t stopping at the Tennessee border either. Marich wrote this week that AL 4* Justice Finkley reminds them of Matt Judon($) the 300-pound “SAM” in the Ravens defense, and is a top priority this cycle. Finkley, who’s already 255, does seem to be that DL-shaped guy who can do some linebacker things that the Amoeba defense loves—Judon is a rare player in the NFL but trying to recreate his skill set and size on the college level is going to run into a lot of Rashan Gary-like prospects that everyone wants. However Finkley has a strong relationship with Michigan analyst Aashon Larkins. Get him on campus, etc.

Michigan’s been after IN 4* Joe Strickland for some time, and it still looks like a ND-leaning Michigan-Notre Dame battle, but I take this comment as ominous($):

So yeah, I still like Michigan the same as I did last time we spoke, but not knowing who the coach will be just has me spectating everything as it goes.

The one crystal ball in is Tom Loy’s, and a “1” at that, so this recruitment is open. It will probably take a Harbaugh Era-saving season to keep Michigan in it.

Linebacker

With their staff again in place Michigan’s dusting off the flies on their top linebacker target, and picking up some new ones that fit what Mike Macdonald has in mind. The #1 guy on their inside shopping list remains MI 4* Joshua Burnham, the Traverse City ATH who seemed close to a commitment at times last year. TMI’s Sam Webb reports Burnham is a priority precisely because he could be used in so many ways($): ILB, OLB, tight end, or even quarterback. Wisconsin and Notre Dame snuck into this recruitment in the interim, but we’re starting to get good vibes that the best linebacker in Michigan will play for Michigan.

Michigan made a final nine for recently offered TN 4* Keaton Wade, another guy from the Colson/Groves 7v7 outfit, NPA. EJ Holland talked to the NPA coach about Wade’s potential($):

"He's one of the very elite linebacker prospects and overall prospects in America. He's so dominant on all levels of the defense. He plays the pass and covers like a defensive back. He plays the run. You can put him as a standup backer and bring him off the edge. He's a phenomenal pass rusher and really bends the edge. He's 6-foot-4, 220 pounds and runs a 4.6. He can do it all. He's kind of the new age prospect that everyone is looking for at linebacker."

…and noted that NPA is closely associated with Sound Mind, Sound Body. Only two of the others (USC and LSU) are traditional threats, and USC’s offer isn’t any older than Michigan’s (Jan 29). Mike Macdonald sees him as a good fit for the 3-4, and a new linebacker paradigm, which according to Lorenz are “taller, ranger players with frames that can build weight.”

The communication has lessened with top-150 NE 4* Devon Jackson, via 247’s Brice Marich—Brian Jean-Mary was previously Jackson’s contact. Holland also thinks Michigan is “slipping”($) with IL 4* Sebastian Cheeks, who was their top Don Brown-type on the board this cycle, although it sounds like things could turn back around there. Jean-Mary is still out there, recently offering($) TX 3* ILB Jordan Crook.

On the the other hand it’s begun with UT 4* Lander Barton, another long-lean-framey guy($). It’ll be interesting to compare the Macdonald LBs to the Brown-offered ones down the line. Speaking of the Brown ones, MA 4* Taylor Martin decommitted and seems ticketed for Arizona.

In transfers, they’re still trying to get former West Bloomfield star Lance Dixon to transfer from Penn State, but there are hurdles($), Sam wrote in a VIP post. The two guys at Tennessee (the school) seem to be no-goes.

Happy Trails: FL 3* WDE Travious Lathan released a top-8 without Michigan. 3* CA DT Damonic Williams committed to Cal.