Michigan Football Recruiting 2020: Top Recruits Landed, Class Predictions

Jim Harbaugh's future in Ann Arbor is rightfully being questioned after Michigan's 2-4 record this season, the team's inability to win a Big Ten title during his tenure and his disappointing 0-5 record vs. Ohio State. 

One thing that can't be questioned, however, is that the Wolverines recruitment has been solid this year, with the team currently boasting the No. 9 class in the 2021 recruiting cycle, per 247Sports.com's Composite Rankings. 

While Ryan Zuke of MLive.com reported that "a few pledges, most notably 4-star receiver Xavier Worthy, 3-star cornerback Ja'Den McBurrows and 4-star linebackers Jaydon Hood and Branden Jennings are reportedly still considering other schools," Michigan is expected to maintain the majority of the group currently committed. 

Jennings looks like a safe bet to remain with the Wolverines, however.

"Branden is good (with his commitment)," Jenning's Sandalwood head coach, Adam Geis, told The Michigan Insider earlier in December (h/t Sam Webb of 247Sports.com). "He hasn't said anything to me other than Michigan, and we talk a lot. So, I think it's all Michigan unless Harbaugh ends up being the next head coach of the Jaguars or (something), which I guess you never know."

As for Worthy, Michigan fans likely weren't thrilled to see that the wideout retweeted the following Alabama posts:

It sure looks like Worthy—who has been committed to the Wolverines since July—will be flipping that decision and heading to Tuscaloosa. 

The possibility of losing any number of 4-star players isn't ideal. But as Zuke reported, "at least 17 commits are expected to ink their Letters of Intent Wednesday, dismissing the notion that the class would completely fall apart after the Wolverines' rocky 2020 season and no resolution on head coach Jim Harbaugh's contract."

One positive sign for Wolverines fans is that the incoming group already is close, as 3-star wideout Andrel Anthony told Zuke:

"That's pretty sweet considering like we've never really went to school together yet and we already feel like we're a family and we're that close. I mean, that's something great, going into a place that like you don't really know anybody but you just have people to relate to and stuff like that. I mean it really showed loyalty on our end too to the coaches, even though there are a lot of things out there that Harbaugh is going to leave."

Another is that the class is headlined by the No. 2 quarterback in the Class of 2021 and the No. 22 player overall, 5-star passer J.J. McCarthy. He has enough upside and talent to potentially start for the Wolverines as a freshman and finally solidify a position that Harbaugh has struggled to develop during his time in Ann Arbor.

Expecting a freshman to come in and handle the pressure and adversity that comes with the territory in a program as visible as Michigan is a big ask. But McCarthy will immediately be the team's most talented quarterback. 

He isn't the only exciting talent coming through, however. The Wolverines currently have 11 4-star prospects committed and four top-100 talents in total, including Worthy (No. 76 recruit overall), offensive tackle Giovanni El-Hadi (No. 85 overall) and outside linebacker Junior Colson (No. 95). 

Even without Worthy, that's an impressive group, and one Wolverines fans should be excited about. Michigan may not keep all of its commits on Wednesday, but a talented group of players is coming through nonetheless.