Is Michigan on Its Way to a No. 1 Recruiting Class for 2017?

Looking back to last month, there was a lot to cheer for if you're a fan of Michigan football. Head coach Jim Harbaugh's 2016 class was ranked in the top five nationally and featured 29 signees altogether, including 14 4-star players and the headliner of the entire 2016 class in 5-star defensive tackle Rashan Gary.

Couple that with Michigan coming off a 10-win season and a convincing Citrus Bowl victory against Florida, and it's easy to assume that the expectations for recruiting in the immediate future are sky-high. Michigan's 2017 class is a national top-10 class that features eight pledges, including 5-star Dylan McCaffrey, the nation's top-ranked pro-style quarterback.

Michigan followers are hoping to take overall recruiting bragging rights by next February, and the Wolverines took the proper step toward that goal on Monday after the 3-star duo of running back A.J. Dillon and safety J'Marick Woods committed.

As good as Michigan's class can be, however, it's going to take a lot for the Wolverines to ultimately walk away with the nation's top-ranked class. It's far from impossible, considering the Wolverines are among the favorites of a few 5-star athletes, but the task at hand will be extremely difficult—particularly with other powerhouse programs doing so well early in the recruiting process.

Credit: 247Sports.com

Clemson is ranked No. 4, followed by Notre Dame, Alabama, Florida and North Carolina in the latest 247Sports.com composite team rankings. Alabama at No. 6 is always something to keep an eye on. Two weeks before national signing day, Alabama wasn't in the top five with the 2016 recruiting cycle. The Crimson Tide finished with the No. 1 class and took top honors for the sixth consecutive year.

Let's look at the top three teams for now. Miami is No. 3 and has 14 commits, including the 4-star trio of offensive tackle Navaughn Donaldson, running back Robert Burns and defensive end Jonathan Ford leading the charge. Oklahoma, with the help of a strong Sunday, has moved up to the No. 2 spot and has 11 commits. Ten of the 11 are 4-star athletes, and the class is highlighted by offensive lineman Tyrese Robinson and linebacker Levi Draper.

Then there are those guys in scarlet and gray. Hated rival Ohio State is the bar-setter for 2017 recruiting. The Buckeyes are ranked No. 1 and have 13 pledges. Among them are the 5-star duo of offensive tackle Josh Myers and cornerback Shaun Wade.

The good news for Michigan followers is that the current recruiting cycle is still very young, and there are tons of talented athletes still on the board. Dillon and Woods allowed Michigan to move into the top 10 (the Wolverines were at No. 14) in the rankings, and you can believe that Harbaugh and his staff will be working hard to get verbals from its elite targets.

Credit: 247Sports.com

Michigan is high on the list of a few 5-star targets. The nation's top-ranked wide receiver, Donovan Peoples-Jones, lives in Detroit and recently took an unofficial visit to Ann Arbor. Isaiah Wilson, a top-five offensive tackle, said in November that Michigan is a favorite. Those feelings haven't changed much; he visited Michigan in February.

Ohio State is an early favorite for Jeffrey Okudah, the nation's top-ranked safety, but he's said that he's looking forward to an unofficial trip to Michigan with his family. And while Texas and LSU appear to be early front-runners for the nation's top-ranked defensive tackle, Marvin Wilson, he's keeping an eye on what the Wolverines do with Gary as he prepares for his freshman year in a Michigan uniform.

The opportunities will be there for Michigan to take the No. 1 spot in the team rankings and dethrone Alabama. It won't be a cakewalk, but the coaching staff is well-aware of that. Look for more of the same from Harbaugh and Co. in regards to selling the program and going above and beyond to do so.

Let's not forget that recruiting tactics from this past cycle included sleepovers and tree climbing with players. But let's also not forget that Harbaugh got those players to commit and sign.

Having the No. 1 recruiting class for 2017 will be a challenge for Michigan, but it's a challenge the coaching staff welcomes.

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles