
Michigan Football Recruiting: Top Commits, Targets to Watch at the Opening
While Jim Harbaugh and his coaching staff work to reload the Michigan football roster, some of the program's biggest recruiting targets will be on display at The Opening.
And there are certainly more than a few.
Five current verbal commits will representโand assuredly actively recruit forโthe Wolverines during the showcase, which will be held at theย Nike World Headquarters from July 5-10.
Although The Opening isn't a major event for the staff itself, there won't be as vast a collection of Michigan targets in one place for the rest of the 2017 cycle.
Commits to Watch
The current jewel of the class, 5-star Dylan McCaffrey highlights all commits and targets headed to Beaverton, Oregon. McCaffrey is the No. 2 pro-style quarterback and No. 22 overall.
McCaffrey amassed 5,178 yards and 49 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions during the last two seasons. He also scampered for 888 yards and 19 more scores.
Two of the Wolverines' three pledges at running backโO'maury Samuels andย A.J. Dillonโwill flank McCaffrey on Team Hypercool. Both Samuels (New Mexico) and Dillon (Massachusetts) are the highest-rated prospects from their states.
On the defensive side, 4-star linebacker Josh Ross earned an invite to The Opening. He's an in-state product and the brother of former Michigan player James Ross.
Rounding out the commits is Benjamin St-Juste, a 3-star cornerback from Montreal. Recently, St-Juste soared from No. 118 at his position and unranked overall to Nos. 47 and 518, respectively.
Note: The "M" inย O'maury is not capitalized, according to James Yodice of theย Albuquerque Journal.
Top Targets to Watch
Donovan Peoples-Jones, a 5-star receiver and theย sixth-best prospect in the country, headlines the uncommitted targets for the Wolverines. But Harbaugh and Co. have an added boost.
In addition to 4-star prospectsย Nico Collins and Jhamon Ausbonย (LSU commit), Peoples-Jones will be catching passes from McCaffrey. Those 7-on-7 connections could serve as a valuable recruiting tool.
Plus, McCaffrey will be looking for 4-star tight endย Josh Faloโwho Isaiah Hole of 247Sports notes said Team Hypercool may as well be called by another name.
"Well that team is basically 'Team Michigan,'" Falo said. "It basically has like five commits to Michigan and the rest are all recruits. So that's 'Team Michigan' right there. So that's great for me and Michigan."
Other Team Hypercool targets include 4-star linebackersย Drew Singletonย andย Jordan Anthony, who will play alongside Ross and St-Juste. In the secondary, Michigan is keeping an eye on Ambry Thomas, Donovan Johnson and Devon Hunter.
Elsewhere at The Opening, the Wolverines are squarely in the picture for 4-star offensive linemenย Cesar Ruiz and Kai'Leon-Herbert. They're also pursuingย Jordan Reid, a 3-star from nearby Cass Tech.
More notables are defensive linemenย Jay Tufele and Hunter Echolsย (UCLA), defensive backsย Jaylen Kelly-Powellย andย Darnay Holmes and athleteย Markquese Bell.
In all likelihood, Michigan will end the 2017 cycle with at least a handful of these targets. A week at The Opening alongside current Wolverines pledges may result in a quick commitment to Harbaugh and Co.
All recruiting information viaย 247Sports. Stats from cfbstats.com or B/R research. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report CFB Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.


_0.png?w=2560)



.jpg?w=2560)
.jpg?w=2560)
.jpg?w=2560)
.jpg?w=2560)

.jpg?w=2560)
