Recruiting Board lives here.

Second Signing Day doesn't really matter as much anymore, but it's tomorrow, so let's talk recruiting. Any more 2023s? Transfers? How much has Harbaugh's latest NFL dalliance, Weiss's computer crimes, or things that don't matter but get reported anyways set them back? How mad is that SEC coach that Harbaugh declined the Broncos? How much do recruits care about success in College Football Risk? Are other schools really mad that Michigan is dominating that because taking out Oregon is the key to winning a 5-star recruitment tomorrow? Well, no. But let's check in, get a little annoyed, and throw out some links.

If you want to know what's on the other side of some of those paywall links, 247Sports is offering 60% off a year's subscription today, On3 is just $29.99 to get you through the entire offseason (8/31), and Henschke's been doing a great job at Rivals.

FINISHING THE 2023 CLASS

Michigan is trying to add 5-star track star Nyckoles Harbor, who's announcing at 1PM tomorrow($). Adding the highest ranked uncommitted player on Signing Day could help the narratives. But as a football prospect I caution not to expect much for a year or two because Harbor wants to focus on track first, and stay on offense after, whereas his lofty ranking has a lot to do with his #1 overall upside as an edge. According to Sam Webb, Michigan is completely onboard(~15 minutes) with Harbor using his freshman year to focus on getting to the 2024 Olympics, but both Webb and EJ Holland warn that Michigan had better get completely onboard($) with the modern NIL game if they're going to play in today's world.

If Michigan does get the 6'5"/225 sprinter who recently ran a 6.64 in the 60 meter (that is fast), you cannot stop me from using academics-minded, track star/two-way end Willis Ward as the comp, but that's no sure thing. Though Oregon's track program is currently ranked behind Michigan's, they're a track powerhouse, an NIL powerhouse, and the Ducks got Harbor's last visit. Word out of that trip is NIL is now a bigger consideration($), the implication being Michigan is competitive on brand reach but not on the first suitcase.

As of today the only crystal balls in are from South Carolina's 247 writers; they believe SC put in the most work and that the Harbor family, which is tied to the DMV($), won't uproot. Steve Wiltfong seems to think Oregon and SC are favorites, but mentions Michigan's confidence too. Brian Dohn also thinks it's an Oregon/SC battle($). Maryland, which seemed a likely destination just a week or so ago, seems to have been supplanted by Oregon($), while Miami (YTM)'s pure NIL pitch appears to have fallen flat.

Michigan's also been trying to close with a couple of DL. At this point it seems unlikely($) that they'll land Wisconsin decommit IL 3* Jamel Howard, the nose tackle they were close to nailing down on early signing day. Since then LSU and Miami have gotten involved and the Michigan Insider crew cautions Wisconsin is still in play.

So if Michigan does add anybody tomorrow it's because they flipped CA 3* DE/DT Cameron Brandt from a Stanford commitment. Brandt visited Michigan on January 20, but it took awhile for confidence to grow. On3's Chad Simmons said he'd give Stanford the edge($) yesterday, but it seems Michigan got word this afternoon, as Rivals' Josh Henschke and everyone at 247 started predicting a flip. The TMI crew also talked about Brandt at the tail end of their podcast; if Harbaugh to NFL rumors were a sticking point it appears that's been addressed.

[After THE JUMP: 2024, next commits, Kentucky coach is tweeting through it]

DENVER OHIO IS BACK IN PLAY?

NFL types and coaches of other teams are still pumping the Denver Broncos even after Harbaugh sent them packing because that's what they do. However, Harbaugh's contract with Michigan hasn't been signed yet, as both sides are waiting for the NCAA's B.S. to go away, and some people addicted to negative recruiting just can't let go.

Marrow's been coaching TEs there a decade, but he's also their recruiting coordinator (and um, "NFL Liaison" who has yet to put a TE in the league) so this is probably more about OH 3* DT Ted Hammond committing to Michigan last week, and Michigan diving back into Ohio recruiting in general.

And they are *IN*. Brice Marich($)

When I say Michigan is hitting Ohio HARD on the recruiting trail, you don’t need to look any further than the visitor sheet from this month. The Wolverines had the state’s No. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 15 and 16 players in the 2024 class all check out Ann Arbor this month along with several other elite youngsters from the 2025 and 2026 cycles in the Buckeye State stop by as well.

Along with a ton of other Ohio guys at junior day last week, Michigan hosted 5* CB Bryce West($, info in title) out of Glenville. Now look, "5-star cornerback out of the school coached by Ted Ginn Sr." has meant Ohio State going back to Donte Whitner. They also had West's teammate, 3* TE Damarion Witten, as well as 4.5* DE Elias Rudolph, 4* CB Aaron Scott, 3* S Tayshawn Banks whom Clink comped to Dax Hill($), 4* RB Jordan Marshall, 4* Edge Brian Robinson, the three OL from St Ed's, commits Luke Hamilton and Ted Hammond, 2025 LB Justin Hill, and fast-rising S Jay'Quan Bostic($).* The Harbaugh rumors got Hamilton to visit Wisconsin, he told Josh Henschke($), but those have since been quelled.

On3's Zach Libby talked to the coach($) of Taft in Cincinnati, which is the school of 2023 early enrollee Cameron Calhoun and 2024s Rudolph, Banks and Bostic. Libby then talked to the coach of 2025 QB target Ryan Montgomery($) in Findlay. Both articles ended up mostly talking about the work that Clinkscale's done in leading the Ohio incursion.

* [No relation to mgo-reader "Dog99" or his daughter Courtney, though I believe Carlitos Bostic's son should be a senior now].

ARE ANY OF THESE GUYS COMMITTING?

Well, we've all been awaiting word that 5* QB Jadyn Davis is ready, but man, the QB coach was just let go for alleged computer crimes. Sam has been close with Davis's dad, so close that we were handicapping Harbaugh rumors based on those conversations since "Nobody knows the future" wasn't going to cut it there.

Sam shared on our show that the Davis family thought Weiss was a terrible recruiter but grew to like him. He also reported on his own podcast that Michigan was very upfront with the family about Weiss, who was probably next up, and Harbaugh's own commitment to the program—Lorenz wonders aloud that Harbaugh doesn't get directly involved in more recruitments. Kirk Campbell made a good impression($, info in title) but expect this one to play out a little longer. The good news—via Holland($)—is the other schools recruiting Davis would have a really hard time making up ground, if they're even interested.

However we're expecting some good news from the home front as in-state 4* S/Nk Jacob Oden announced a 6pm Thursday commitment date, with a slew of Michigan predictions quickly following. That's been trending Michigan's way for some time—his dad Rod Oden was a walk-on fullback here, and is now head coach at Harper Woods. EJ Holland thinks Davis's receivers, especially Channing Goodwin($), are close to committing. Penn State's 247 site is giving the "he's not 100% to Michigan" hand-waive after a junior day visit from St Ed's OT Ben Roebuck, but Michigan people expect him and fellow Ohioan Brian Robinson in the class after they've had their visits.

Illinois WR I'Marion Stewart and DT Eddie Tuerk are two more Michigan leans who didn't commit on his visit, but sounds still likely to do so($) eventually, with Stewart going to so far as to say they're "at the top"($) but doesn't expect to announce until this summer.

COME WIN A MOORE

The list of linemen has grown despite Michigan being in good shape for a long time with a bunch of top regional targets. It's getting to the point now where they're going to have to turn someone away. One guy they've jumped out for is their top center prospect, GA 4* Waltclaire Flynn, who's hovering just outside the top-100. Flynn had an "Amazing" trip to Ann Arbor($, info in title) which interview included at least five words in all caps. Georgia Tech was the early favorite, which is what you want to hear if you're recruiting a center to Michigan out of Georgia.

They also made a big move recently with recent offers TX 4* Michael Uini($) and GA 3* Malachi Toliver, who's expected to be a 4-star soon. Add that to the list with top OT target Andrew Sprague, Steve Frazier's son Blake, St. Edwards linemen Ben Roebuck and the Armstrong twins, and longtime top target Kyle Altuner.

MIKE HART BUT CORUM

TX 4.5* RB Taylor Tatum is the guy Hart compared to Blake Corum in his approach to football, which got our attention. It seems Tatum's Michigan visit last weekend was going so well that he extended his stay in Ann Arbor($). Sam noted Tatum is also interested in playing baseball, which Michigan is obviously behind($, info title). This recruitment is a long way from over—Ohio State just offered—but the vibes are good, with Lorenz being told Tatum is a 'Michigan kind of kid' by one of his Texas sources.

MD 4* RB DeJuan Williams was also on campus, and is the guy who gets lots of Corum comps, since he's a shortish guy who plays at St. Frances. I found it interesting that Holland's comp was (paraphrasing) more CJ Stokes with more talent, IE the kind of back Hart likes.

GIVE THE MAN AN EXTRA JACKET

Gotta break the paywall to give you this quote from a Florida DB($).

“Oh my god, (the visit) was amazing,” 2024 Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna Top 100 defensive back Zaquan Patterson told The Wolverine. “Michigan fans are really committed. It was like 30 degrees out there but they were shirtless with body paint and everything (laughs). I said I couldn’t do that (laughs), I had to double up on the jackets.”

I thought it was pretty warm out that day, actually. Patterson is teammates with our 5* 2025 CB commit Chris Ewald. I bet you forgot we have a 5* commit in the 2025 class didn't you—forget no more($)!

A TRANSFER CORNERBACK?

Michigan's drop/add deadline passed on January 17th [actually the 24th] without adding a cornerback. Still trying to work around that, the Wolverines were supposed get the last visit($, info it title) from Ole Miss sophomore CB Davison Igbinosun on Sunday, but he committed to 22 this afternoon. Balas addressed the idea that Michigan might circle back on 2022 5* Domani Jackson($) after spring ball.

ETC.

Holland details Michigan assistants' new territories($). Michigan "has always been my favorite school" says NV 4* Isaiah Rubin. M makes a top six for a 4* Edge everyone assumed would stay South($). Sounds like there will be lots of names to add to the recruiting board once Lorenz updates theirs($).<---That note dump is full of stuff by the way. MD 4* Aaron Chiles($) made all of Michigan's recruiting reporters($) into huge fans on his visit; Michigan in turn has surged up his list($, info title). Seems like we have our 5-star linebacker pursuit of the year. M Closing in($) on ID 4* WR Gatlin Bair, who's the "I wouldn't be shocked" if Michigan is the leader in Lorenz's dump.