Michigan Football Recruiting: Top Remaining 2015 Recruits, Class Predictions
New Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh's influence seems to be benefiting the program already. It has secured late commitments from 3-star wide receiver Grant Perry and 6'7" 4-star quarterback Zach Gentry.
Perry, a Michigan native, tweeted this image to celebrate his intentions to become a Wolverine:
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
He'll join his high school quarterback Alex Malzone in Ann Arbor. Malzone committed to Michigan under former head coach Brady Hoke's regime, and he stayed after the coaching change.
The best could be yet to come. If the Wolverines can pry 5-star cornerback Iman Marshall away from the west coast, he'll prove to be the crown jewel of Michigan's 2015 recruiting efforts. Per Rivals.com on Twitter, the Wolverines made enough of an impression to at least get the 6'1" corner thinking about the program after his Jan. 19 visit.
Coupled 2014's top recruit Jabril Peppers, the Wolverines would have one heck of a young and dynamic secondary.
Marshall is a long shot. However, the fact that Michigan could place itself in contention at this late date for such a highly regarded recruit from Pac-12 country is an encouraging sign.
This is one of the more potentially intriguing storylines to follow on Wednesday. Here's a look at the predicted signings for the Wolverines on Wednesday.
| Zach Gentry, Eldorado (Albuquerque, New Mexico) | 4 |
| Alex Malzone,(Birmingham, Michigan) | 3 |
| None | |
| Grant Perry, Brother Rice (Birmingham, Michigan) | 3 |
| Ryan Davis, Lakewood (St. Petersburg, Florida) | 4 |
| Deontay Burnett, Junipero Serra (Gardena, California) | 3 |
| None | |
| Patrick Allen, Franklin (Reisterstown, Maryland) | 4 |
| Jon Runyan Jr., St. Joseph's (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) | 3 |
| Nolan Ulizio, Lakota West (West Chester, Ohio) | 3 |
| Grant Newsome, The Lawrenceville School (Trenton, NJ) | 4 |
| Arden Key, Hapeville Charter (Lithonia, Georgia) | 4 |
| None | |
| Tyree Kinnel, Wayne (Dayton, Ohio) | 4 |
| Andrew David (K), Washington (Massillon, Ohio) | 3 |
| Tyrone Wheatley Jr. (ATH) | 4 |
A Given?
A far more likely signing should come from 4-star athlete Tyrone Wheatley Jr. Yes, he's the son of former Michigan running back and recently hired assistant coach Tyrone Wheatley Sr.
Junior is much bigger than his dad. At 6'6", Wheatley Jr. could be a tight end or defensive end for Harbaugh. Quite honestly, if the Wolverines can't secure the son of a former player and current member of the coaching staff, it would be pretty embarrassing.
Ultimately, the kid will make up his own mind, but you'd like to think there would be enough of a pull there to get Wheatley Jr. to sign on the dotted line.
UCLA or Big Blue?
Tight ends were a major part of Harbaugh's offenses at Stanford, and that figures to be the case at Michigan. That explains why a recruit like Chris Clark is so important.
Before Michigan made the well-publicized Harbaugh hire, the 6'6" 4-star recruit voiced his desire to potentially play for the head coach in an interview with Nick Baumgardner of MLive.com. Clark said:
"I've got to wait and see if it's 100 percent a done deal, but I'd really like to have the opportunity to talk with [Harbaugh] and just take it from there. But, yeah, Michigan would be a school that I'd have a lot of interest in again. Hopefully he'll be the head coach."
Not so fast, Big Blue Nation. Per Tom VanHaaren of ESPN, the UCLA Bruins might have swept Clark off his feet in a recent visit.
I don't know everything Clark is thinking, but we do know UCLA head coach Jim Mora Jr. has a reputation as more of a player-friendly guy than Harbaugh. It's also a lot warmer in California in the fall than it is in Ann Arbor.
Something tells me UCLA may have swooped in and taken a potential gem away from Michigan.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
