Michigan Football: Why the Wolverines Are Cleaning Up in the ESPN 150

ESPN has recently released their list of the top 150 recruits for the 2013 class. While none of these commitments are official until next year, as of right now the Michigan Wolverines are absolutely running the show and it's not even close.

For the 2012 class, Alabama was rated number one overall and they landed a total of 13 players in the ESPN top 150. Well, it's only the middle of April and Michigan has received the commitment from 11 players on this year's list. Again, they're far from official, but if signing day was today, they'd be in great shape.

They'd be in even better shape if they're able to pick up a few more top players who have Michigan on their list of schools (which is quite a few).

So now the question is, why are recruits flocking to become Wolverines all of a sudden? What's going on in Ann Arbor that makes these young, talented athletes want to play for Michigan?

Playing Time

There's a reason Michigan is one of the favorites to win it all this year and that's because they have a talented and experienced football team. But with experience comes players that will be leaving soon, as majority of this team consists of upperclassmen.

That gives talented players the opportunity to compete for playing time right away. That's one of the main reasons quarterback Shane Morris will be on campus next year (replacing Denard Robinson) and I'm sure other players saw this as well.

There are several top schools out there, but when you have a great chance to see the field your true freshman year, it's an opportunity that's really hard to pass up.

Brady Hoke/It's Michigan

Let's not act like this is the first time Michigan has landed several top players. It may not have been to this extent this early on, but this is one of the more prestigious programs out there that usually finishes in the top 25 in overall recruiting classes.

Michigan is just one of those programs that are going to land a few top players regardless of how the program is doing overall.

But when you combine the reasons to play for Michigan and the history behind it along with head coach Brady Hoke, you have yourself a perfect recipe for recruiting well. These kids saw what Hoke did in his first season as Michigan coach and wonder what he can continue to do. Winning 11 games and a BCS bowl in your first season is extremely impressive and has put the Wolverines back in the spotlight after winning their most games since 2006.

Michigan is always a program that's on everyone's list. When they're successful, it makes that much more appealing to top recruits.

Close to Home

We all know just how important being close to home is in the recruiting process. Many of these young kids prefer to play in front of their family and friends and playing for a top school that is right down the road gives them that opportunity. That's a huge deal with Michigan recruiting so far, as 15 of the 17 total recruits Michigan has landed are from the Midwest. Five of those 15 players are actually from Michigan.

When a top player can fight for playing time their freshman year, is playing for one of the best schools out there AND it's close to home, how can he truly say no?