Michigan Football Recruiting: Staff Back at Work After Thrilling Sugar Bowl Win

Barely hours after Michigan's thrilling 23-20 overtime win over Virginia Tech, the Wolverine staff was placing the finishing touches on the 2012 recruiting class.

Between now and National Signing Day on Feb. 1, Michigan could add as many as five recruits to the group of 24 who have already committed.

Commits are players who have already verbally accepted offers to play at a specific school, while recruits are still undecided.  While a commit generally keep his promise, nothing is official until he signs a National Letter of Intent.

Each of the major recruiting services has the Wolverine class rated in the top 10 nationally.  MaxPreps has Michigan at No. 2, Scout and 247Sports No. 3, Rivals No.4 and ESPN No. 6. Definitely not bad for Brady Hoke's first full class.

Michigan is still in the running for a few good men at running back, tight end, offensive line, cornerback and wide receiver.

Potential recruits and those already committed often participate in one of the three high school all-star games.  While Michigan commit Mario Ojemudia played in Tuesday's Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl, possible Wolverines Jordan Diamond, Alex Kozan and Penn State verbal Armani Reeves were also on hand.

The second of the all-star games is scheduled for Jan. 5 at Tropicana Field (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) in St. Petersburg, FL.  You'll get a first-hand look at recruit Joshua Garnett and commit Joe Bolden at the Under Armour All-America Game.

Michigan commits Kyle Kalis, Erik Magnuson, Ondre Pipkins, Royce Jenkins-Stoneand James Ross will compete in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Jan. 7 at the Alamodome (1 p.m. ET, NBC) in San Antonio.  Michigan recruits playing in the game are Stefon Diggs and Yuri Wright.

There are at least 10 recruits still in the mix.

Most likely to be among the final five commits are offensive linemen Garnett and Diamond, cornerback Wright and wide receiver Jordan Payton.

Chances go down for tight end Sam Grant, wide receiver Diggs, running back Wes Brown offensive lineman Alex Kozan and cornerback Reeves.

Strictly longshots are quarterback Brian Cleary, fullback E.J. Fatu and defensive end Javonte McGee.

Winning the Sugar Bowl may sway one or two of the 5-Star recruits.  Garnett will probably choose soon between Michigan and Stanford, and Diamond is being "recruited" by former high school teammate Chris Bryant, who's now a freshman at Michigan.

Diggs, a highly regarded receiver from Olney, Maryland, may come in a package with teammate Wes Brown, who is leaning heavily toward Vanderbilt.

Wright or Reeves could take the final cornerback slot.

Here is a link to scout.com's current commitment list. To keep matters simple, all ratings used are also by scout.com.