Michigan Football Recruiting: The Wolverines' Top Targets and Commitments

It was just a few months ago the Michigan Wolverines' arch rivals in Columbus sat pretty and watched them as they fired their head coach and were turned down by their top two targets to replace him.

My, how much things have changed in so little time. Michigan football has an upstart feel to it once again, this time under Brady Hoke, while Ohio State has some serious sanctions coming to the program in time.

On the recruiting front, the Wolverines are off to a very good start for 2012, and are recruiting like they are bent on securing a top-five class. Restocking the roster with talent and better scheme fits seems to be the aim, and the Fighting Hokes are hard on the trail.

2012 Michigan Recruiting Class Capsule

Entering the month of June, Michigan has a 13-commit recruiting class for 2012. While the Wolverines have no 5-star pledges, they do have seven 4-star commits including two fantastic LB prospects.

Royce Jenkins-Stone and James Ross are two of the top 10 LB prospects in the country and will be All-Big Ten caliber defenders in Ann Arbor.

Kaleb Ringer is not far behind them, and Terry Richardson is a very good CB. Devin Funchess, a 6'4" TE, is the top offensive commit thus far.

Big Blue in the Hunt for a Gunner?

Gunner Kiel, the top QB prospect in the country, has a good amount of interest in the Wolverines.

While the 6'4", 220-pound Kiel seems have Oklahoma as a slight favorite, Alabama and Michigan are each under very serious consideration.

Kiel is a pure pocket passer and fits the new, albeit old and traditional, Michigan offense better than current starting QB Denard Robinson.

Kiel could make a decision at any time.

Diamond Has Someone in His Ear

Offensive tackle Jordan Diamond's teammate and good friend Chris Bryant is a Michigan commit, as he announced for the Wolverines last winter.

Now, Bryant has turned his focus on recruiting Diamond to join him in Ann Arbor and has been very aggressive in getting the 6'6", 290-pound Diamond to commit to Michigan.

Bryant has around 20 offers and is taking his time, but has Michigan, Ohio State and Auburn as his top three for now.

Key Target: Jarron Jones, DT

At 6'5", 290 pounds Jones is a big-time DT recruit and is a "soft" commit to Penn State. However, he is still visiting other schools and recently made the trek to Ann Arbor.

From Rochester, NY, Jones has the size and girth to be a space eater along the defensive interior and also has good strength and quickness to win battles in different ways.

Chances he lands at Michigan are low and slim at this point.

Buckeye Commit Visited Wolverines

With the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry, it seems once you commit to one of the schools, you don't visit the other one. Unless you're Bri'onte Dunn, a 5-star RB prospect from Ohio.

At 6'1", 225 pounds, Dunn has a skill set that projects him as a physical, bell-cow RB in the Big Ten.

He made a startling visit to Michigan a few weeks ago and liked what he saw, but says while he is keeping his options open, he remains firm to Ohio State.

Wolverines vs. Spartans for Burbridge?

Aaron Burbridge, a 6'1", 180-pound WR recruit with excellent deep speed, has offers from around the Midwest. 

Yet, as it stands right now, Burbridge says he thinks Michigan and Michigan State are his top schools, and recently took a visit to Big Blue country.

He will visit again soon, this time with his mother so she can see the campus and meet the coaches Burbridge has been bragging to her about.

Key Commitments: Royce Jenkins-Stone and James Ross, LBs

Ross is a 6'1", 215-pound LB prospect who can play all three spots in the 4-3 alignment at UM, while Jenkins-Stone is a 6'2", 215-pounder who had 90 tackles, five sacks and three picks as junior.

Both are listed as Mike 'backer prospects by recruiting services, but one will likely move to one of the outside flank spots in college. Each has a skill set that brings production, instincts, toughness and athleticism.

Along with Kaleb Ringer, Michigan have found their starting LB corp of the future in this recruiting class.

Michigan in Adolphus Washington's and Greg Garmon's Top Five

Five-star DE/OLB Adoplhus Washington is also a good hoops prospect. At 6'5", 258 pounds, Washington has elite athleticism, a quick first step and solid play strength.

Michigan, Ohio State, Kentucky, Alabama and Miami round out his top five schools.

Greg Garmon is a 4-star RB that stands 6'2", 200 pounds with great vision, nimble feet and home run ability.

Michigan, North Carolina, Iowa, West Virginia and Illinois are his top five.

Se'Von Pittman Will Officially Visit Michigan in the Fall

A 6'4", 225-pound DE, Pittman made an unofficial visit to Michigan earlier in his recruitment and promised to Wolverine coaches he would return.

Now, Pittman is looking more and more like a man of his word, as he has stated he indeed will take an official visit to Ann Arbor in the fall.

Pittman also lists Ohio State, Alabama, Florida, Louisville and Florida State as schools he is interested in.