Michigan Thursday: Michigan's January Recruiting Board

We finally went a day without a Michigan coach leaving the program or getting an extension.   So I thought I would create a my own opinion on Michigan's recruiting board for the last month of the recruiting cycle for the 2017 class.   The largest needs are on the offensive and defensive lines (specially at defensive tackle). 

1. Najee Harris - #1 player in the country
2. Chuck Filiaga - 4 Star OT
3. Jay Tufele - 4 Star DT
4. Nico Collins - 4 star WR from Alabama
5. Mekhi Becton - 3 Star OT from Virginia
6. Willie Gay - 4 Star LB from Mississippi
7. A new offensive lineman that we haven't heard about yet.
8. CT CB Brandon Sebastian, a BC commit will take an official to A2 this month.

Michigan has 26 commits currently and I believe the class will come in at 30. 

Here are my assumptions to the above list:

• Aubrey Solomon goes to Alabama
• Willie Gay has some work to do in the classroom and LSU is interested
• TJ Slaton wants to play on D-line instead of the offensive line and will look at other schools. (KY and FL)
• OT Toryque Bateman has Michigan in top 3 but there are qualification concerns
• Jay Tufele is a tough read and will take more officials in January.  I think Michigan will make him a high priority this month, but might be a difficult pull from out West.
• Michigan may or may not take another DB in this class.
• I don't have any inside info on the #7 bullet, I'm just betting Jimmy has some Plan B guys if they need another offensive linemen.
• Michigan might also have to pull a Willie Henry and pick up a DT late in the process if they miss out on Solomon and Tufele, which is a decent possibility.
• I also expect one or two de-commitments in January from the current commit list.
• I wouldn't be surprised if Michigan also added a TE or FB late in the process if they have room.

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• There are some thoughts that Alex Leatherwood's recruiter from Alabama Mario Cristobal could be leaving for Oregon after the NC game.   Don't know how that would effect his recruitment. 

• Coach Beilein won his 200th game at Michigan last night.  Congrats!

• No surprise that JT Barrett is coming back for his senior year, he is not a QB prospect at the next level. Raekwon McMillan is heading to the NFL.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2017/01/michigan-thursday-michigans-january.html