Michigan Football Recruiting: 2012 Class Will Aid Team's Return to Prominence

For the moment, Denard "Shoelace" Robinson and Brady Hoke are the faces of Michigan's resurgence back to national relevance.

But when Shoelace heads to the NFL after next season, it will be this current class of recruits that will be expected to contribute toward Michigan's return to prominence.

After the surprise signing of 3-star running back Dennis Norfleet, Michigan had an excellent class of 25 recruits incoming. As of 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Rivals.com had Michigan ranked as the sixth-best recruiting class in the nation.

Sure, Urban Meyer and Ohio State are ranked at No. 4 and secured 16 combined 4-and-5-star recruits to Michigan's 12. But Michigan might not be done yet, as the squad is still gunning for Jordan Diamond, a 4-star offensive lineman who intends to announce his decision on Friday.

Michigan did well to secure some of the top lineman in this class, landing 5-star offensive lineman Kyle Kalis and 5-star defensive lineman Ondre Pipkins. Defensive lineman Mario Ojemudia, linebackers Joe Bolden and Royce Jenkins-Stone and cornerback Terry Richardson are also expected to make the Wolverines defense nasty.

It's a good sign for Michigan fans that Hoke hit the recruiting trail hard and successfully.

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"Brady is coming up and closing in what Lloyd (Carr) did," recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said. "Brady has a great work ethic. Fred Jackson is their ace recruiter. He's the one that got all those instate recruits (nine)."

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Urban Meyer made Ohio State sexy again. But Brady Hoke and Michigan are looking pretty good themselves these days.

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