Garrett Taylor Decommits from Michigan: What's Next for Wolverines, 4-Star?

Michigan recruiting continues to trend in the wrong direction as lopsided losses and coaching staff speculations mount in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines suffered another setback Monday afternoon when 4-star defensive back Garrett Taylor announced his decommitment: 

The Virginia standout initially pledged to Michigan in March but recently began exploring other options. He traveled to Virginia Tech last week and is set to spend official visits at Ohio State and Penn State next month.

Those three teams seem to be firmly in the picture for Taylor moving forward. Given the programs in pursuit, it appears he could return to The Big House as a member of the visiting sidelines.

Taylor, a 6'1", 195-pound wide receiver and cornerback at St. Christopher's School, holds more than 30 scholarship offers. He was the third-highest rated member of Michigan's 2015 recruiting class, which now features just nine prospects. 

Head coach Brady Hoke is struggling to keep grips on a once-promising group of commitments. Taylor is the latest in a growing number of talented high school seniors who've opted to head elsewhere for college.

Defensive end Darian Roseboro decommitted from Michigan in late September. The 4-star prospect pledged to North Carolina State less than two weeks later.

Wolverines fans once envisioned a secondary featuring Taylor and fellow 4-star cornerback Shaun Crawford, but the Ohio native flipped to Notre Dame in June. Serious problems on the recruiting path began to develop last winter when the team lost commitments from coveted offensive playmakers George Campbell and Damien Harris.

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

Michigan quarterback commit Alex Malzone expressed frustration about a devolving situation but understands the motivating factors for fellow Michigan recruits. 

"I think Coach Hoke has this team playing its heart out right now, but it's important to win games," he told me earlier this month. "The recruits know that. I know that. The coaches know that. If Michigan doesn't start picking up some wins, they could be in trouble. That's just the way it is."

The Wolverines are coming off a 35-11 loss at Michigan State and are now 4-8 against Big Ten Conference opponents since 2013. Hoke is charged with the task of turning things around on the field and salvaging a recruiting class that's on the brink of completely unraveling.

Commits Chris Clark (Texas and UNC), Brian Cole (Wisconsin) and Darrin Kirkland (USC) are each considering other universities. The loss of one or all of these 4-star players would send the program plummeting further down in 247Sports' composite class rankings, which currently list Michigan at 39th nationally.

Meanwhile, the Wolverines must address defensive secondary issues during the final stretch of this recruiting cycle. With Taylor and Crawford no longer on board, identifying and securing new targets becomes increasingly paramount.

The Wolverines options at safety and cornerback include Tyron Miller and Marcus Lewis. At this stage, it will be difficult for Michigan to command big-time commitments until a tenuous administrative situation is stabilized. 

Quotes obtained firsthand by Bleacher Report national recruiting analyst Tyler Donohue unless otherwise noted.

Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.

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