Michigan Football Recruiting: Josh Garnett Wolverines' Last Hope for Top Talent

Brady Hoke has already secured a top-five recruiting class, Joshua Garnett is the last big fish Big Blue is in the running for. Mind you, he is a pretty big fish, both literally and figuratively speaking. At 6'5", 300 pounds, Garnett is a man in stature, even if he has yet to play a down of college football.

He is an elite offensive tackle prospect that Rivals.com compares to Michael Oher. Michigan football is all about a tradition of dominant offensive linemen and Garnett can help extend that tradition.  

The Wolverines are considered favorites for him, but they aren't alone in their pursuit. As usual, Notre Dame is right there with them in contention for Garnett. Also, Garnett's most recent visit was to Stanford. The success of Jim Harbaugh and Andrew Luck has made the Cardinal a fairly popular landing spot for the nation's best prep players.

Like most Cardinal students, Garnett brings it in the classroom as good or better than he does on the football field. The kid has a GPA of 3.87, that is as exciting as the 350-pound bench press and the 500-pound squat numbers.

Of the three teams still in the running for his services, Michigan's visit was completed first.

The first visit can be great or it can be bad. If a school or coach has made a big impression on a kid then its a chance it may stick in their minds and result in a commitment. Other times, it could result in a coach swooping in at the last minute and whisking the recruit away.

Do the Wolverines need Garnett to make their class special? No, it already is. They have two five-star guys in DT Ondre Pipkins and OT Kyle Kalis, but signing Garnett could be further reaching. Commitments close to or on National Signing Day are high profile. It sends a message to the country, to high school freshmen, sophomores and juniors that Michigan can compete and win the commitments of top prospects, even down to the wire. 

We will soon find out where Garnett and the rest of the unsigned high school recruits are headed. National Signing Day is February, 1st.

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter