cole cabana

[Scheduling note. Hi. My kid was hospitalized last summer before I could get the 2023 recruiting profiles done, so I'm planning to finish the 2023 class before starting on the 2024s. Plan is to wrap up with Cabana and Kendrick Bell, spend a bit more time pouring over potential 2024 starter Jack Tuttle's college career, then do a class wrap that's only somewhat patting myself on the back for Semaj Morgan (who got a 4th star on Rivals so he's not eligible to be class sleeper). Figure you guys wanted this instead of basketball, which just lost Olivier Nkamhoua for the season.]

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Previously: Last year’s profiles, K Adam Samaha, K James Turner (Tr), S Brandyn Hillman, CB DJ Waller, CB Cameron Calhoun, CB Jyaire Hill, HSP/LB Jason Hewlett, LB Hayden Moore, LB Semaj Bridgeman, LB Ernest Hausmann (Tr), OLB Breeon Ishmail, DE Aymeric Koumba, DE Enow Etta, DE Josaiah Stewart (Tr), DT Brooks Bahr, DT Cameron Brandt, DT Trey Pierce, OT Evan Link, OT Myles Hinton (Tr), OT LaDarius Henderson (Tr), OG Nathan Efobi, IOL Amir Herring, OC Drake Nugent (Tr), TE Deakon Tonielli, TE Zack Marshall, TE AJ Barner (Tr), WR Semaj Morgan, WR Fredrick Moore, WR Karmello English, RB Benjamin Hall

Dexter (Dexter), MI – 6'0''/180 200!
		Rankings
		247	4.10* 6'0/180	4*, 90, NR Ovr #21 RB, #3 MI
		On3	4.46* 5'11/175	4*, 93, #154 Ovr #7 RB, #3 MI
		Rivals	4.17* 6'0/180	4*, 5.8, #215 Ovr #5 APB, #2 MI
		ESPN	4.55* 5'11/180	4*, 84, #116 Ovr #6 RB, #2 MI
		Composites
		247	0.9314, #172 Ovr, #10 RB, #2 MI
		On3	92.06, #202 Ovr, #14 RB, #2 MI
		MGo	4.28*, #221/803 Ovr, #20/61 RBs
		YMRMFSPA
		Donovan Edwards
Other Suitors:	MSU, Miami (YTM), WVU, Louisville
Previously on MGoBlog:	Hello by Alex Drain
Notes:	NIL. EE.
Film
Senior Highlights:Hudl. FB Junkies Sr Highlights. Jr Highlights. Rising Stars. Drills. On3 Breakdown.

So hi, welcome back to the 2023 preseason! In Cabana's case not a lot has changed in the intervening six months. After a senior year of 2,434 all-purpose yards (1,518 rushing, 472 receiving, 444 returning) and 36 TDs (27/6/3), a lot of people figured he'd carve out a role immediately. But between the injury, running back depth, and Semaj Morgan's emergence in the return game that didn't happen. He spent spring and most of the season injured, coming away with two carries for six yards against Bowling Green while taking a redshirt. The second carry was blown up so here's Cabana's one relevant run of 2023:

So let's go back to the recruiting profile! Cabana grew up a Spartan, and their top priority as of the 2021 M-MSU game. Mike Hart jumped into the race in late 2021 and had a pledge by February [insert little brother comment]. Cabana's ranking starting to shoot up in April, and by fall he was Michigan's highest-rated recruit. Miami (YTM) offered but Cabana didn't even post it, instead taking it upon himself to recruit others to Michigan.

[After THE JUMP: Donovan Edwards, downshifted.]

Previously: The Story. Quarterback.

RUNNING BACK: RUN IT BACK

[Bolded player rules: not necessarily returning starter, but someone we've seen enough of that I'm no longer talking about their recruiting profile (much, anyway). Extant contributor.]

RATING: 5

There is no greater "Everything's coming up Milhous!" moment in recent Michigan football history than Blake Corum busting his knee the week before the Ohio State game, still beating Ohio State as a one-handed Donovan Edwards becomes a national star, and then getting Blake Goddamn Corum back for his senior season largely because he didn't win the Heisman on account of the knee.

Remember the days when Michigan couldn't find a running back capable of running through a dizzy toddler? Now we are entering the third straight season where the #2 guy would start on all but ~5 football teams in the country. In fact, if you take Dane Brugler's word for it the number of teams not named "Michigan" on which Donovan Edwards would not start is one: Wisconsin. His NFL draft rankings have Corum 1, Braelon Allen 2, and Edwards 3. Maybe there's a sophomore out there on Alabama or something, but: nah. This is the best backfield in America, and it's not real close.

What say you now, Mike Hart haters? Probably "bur bur bur bur duhhhhh." Get wrecked. Like opposition run defenses.

IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED

Last year's preview was rapturous about BLAKE CORUM. Perhaps never in the history of his preview series has a player been so thoroughly hyped:

ATTENTION MEDIA: did you know that Fred Jackson rejoined the Michigan football program this offseason? He's an analyst or somesuch. He's in the building. He is there for you, the quote-gathering media, to sidle up next to. Once you've sidled real good you can say "hey" or "psst," preferably in a large group. And then you can do this.

Anyway. BLAKE CORUM is the light and the truth. … Corum should push for All-American honors but probably end up behind at least a couple of the Henderson/Robinson/Vaughn trio when it comes to big honors.

This take was, somehow, pessimistic.

[AFTER THE JUMP: mea culpa]

It's been a little while since we last checked in on Michigan Football recruiting, as the swing of the season has diverted attention from the future to the present. Luckily, not much happened in the meantime, as the Wolverines went a couple months between commitments, a span of time that was snapped by Kendrick Bell's pledge earlier this week. Michigan's bye week, coming with roughly two months to go in the main period of the 2023 cycle, represents a good opportunity to check back in on recruiting. The Wolverines have held several big recruiting weekends over the course of the season and now comes crunch time for the top targets. Today I will refresh your memory with the 2023 class, talk about the remaining targets, and then move onto some early 2024 discussion. 

Where the 2023 Class Sits 

For this part, I'm going to go position by position and list the commits with a quick description of them, much like the recruiting board (which will be updated shortly after this piece goes up). Click on each player to go to their Hello.  

Quarterback: 0

• Michigan does not have a QB recruit. They put all their eggs in the Dante Moore basket, struck out on that (for a variety of reasons) and now are moving onto the next big fish in 2024 

Running back: 2

• Cole Cabana (4*): The Dexter product is one of Michigan's better recruits of the cycle, an electric RB/WR hybrid who draws comps to the likes of AJ Henning and Curtis Samuel and is as fast as it gets. Having a great senior season. 
• Benjamin Hall (3*): Burlier back from Georgia who Michigan took surprisingly early in the cycle for a guy without much of a profile. Having a bumpy senior season that does not inspire confidence. 

Wide Receiver: 2 

• Semaj Morgan (3*): One of the earliest commits, the West Bloomfield product is a polished slot receiver who many recruiting insiders consider to be an underrated prospect. He's a leader of this class in terms of recruiting his peers. 
• Fredrick Moore (3*): St. Louis area outside receiver who committed in the summer. Some questions about his straight-line speed, but he accelerates well and plays the position with zest. Performing solidly as a senior. 

Tight End: 2

• Deakon Tonielli (4*): Leapy flex TE from the Chicago area who also plays basketball. Will need to learn the blocking side of the position when he gets to Michigan. 
• Zack Marshall (3*): California hidden gem who has loads of natural receiving talent but will need to get stronger. Plays for loaded Carlsbad HS with elite QB prospect Julian Sayin. 

Offensive Line: 2

• Evan Link (4*), OT: DC tackle prospect surprisingly chose Michigan over PSU, has good technique and a very high floor. Insiders have been impressed with their viewings of him this fall. 
• Amir Herring (4*), IOL: Similar high floor guard prospect from West Bloomfield, always wanted to go to Michigan and plans to enroll early.

EDGE: 3

• Enow Etta (4*): Borderline top 100 EDGE from Texas, already has proper size for the position as a strong and long pass rusher. Should be able to contribute early in his career. 
• Collins Acheampong (4*): Raw and athletic CA prospect originally from Ghana, towering, long, and explosive. Flying up the rankings, he bought into Michigan's "transformational vs. transactional" pitch in choosing M over Miami. 
• Aymeric Koumba (3*): Build-An-Ojabo French pterodactyl. Has the size and athleticism to be a dominant passrusher but is a sushi-raw project that Mike Elston coveted from the start. 

Defensive Tackle: 1

• Brooks Bahr (3*): Long and athletic Chicago-area lineman that Michigan wants to build into a 3Tech. Also a former lacrosse player. 

Linebacker: 1 

• Semaj Bridgeman (4*): Thick and physical Philadelphia-area prospect. Old school LB who may be better against the run than in coverage. 

Secondary: 0 

• Michigan does not currently have a DB commit. They are looking for a very small class and thus have prioritized several targets who are going down to the wire. 

Athlete: 1 

• Kendrick Bell (3*): Ronnie's brother, a Who Dat recruit that wasn't on anyone's radar until he began torching Kansas City HS football as a senior. Currently plays QB but with an intriguing athletic profile, Michigan is not sure where to use him yet. 

Special teams: 1 

• Adam Samaha, K: Ann Arbor (Huron) kicking prospect who profiles among the best kickers in the 2023 class. Has been locked in for nearly a year now. 

[AFTER THE JUMP: remaining targets and 2024]