Erik Swenson Commits to Michigan: Wolverines Land Massive 2016 OT Recruit

The Michigan Wolverines may have missed recently on blue-chip target Da'Shawn Hand, but they aren't letting that keep them down.

Michigan made an early jump on the 2016 recruiting class with the verbal commitment of offensive tackle Erik Swenson.

Core 6 Athletes tweeted out the news of Swenson's commitment Monday afternoon:

Swenson, the first committed recruit for UM's 2016 class, was long expected to be heading to Ann Arbor, as several analysts had projected him as a maize and blue commit in the 247Sports Crystal Ball.

The massive, 6'7", 285-pound high school sophomore chose the Wolverines over scholarship offers from Ohio State, Notre Dame, Illinois and Northwestern.

The Downers Grove, Ill. native also showed interest from programs all across the country, including UCLA, Vanderbilt, Oregon and Virginia Tech.

As of Swenson's commitment, Michigan was one of just 12 schools in the 247Sports composite rankings with a 2016 commit.

UM is no stranger to taking an early jump on recruits. The Wolverines already have six commitments for the 2015 class, putting them at No. 4 nationally. That early 2015 class already boasts one offensive lineman, composite 3-star recruit Jon Runyan, who pledged back in June.

247Sports still hasn't released its individual player ratings for the 2016 class. However, according to his highlight tape, he was tabbed as one of the top four freshmen in the nation last year by Max Preps.com.

While it is still early in his career, Swenson shows remarkable strength as well as quickness off the ball.

Michigan will have to wait a while to benefit from this commitment, but the Wolverines could have just landed another All-American caliber lineman.