Michigan scored its fourth commit of the 2023 class in Milton (Mass.) Academy four-star tight end Andrew Rappleyea last week following an unofficial visit. He wrote on Twitter that he had seen enough and one program stood out among the rest in the Wolverines. Rappleyea picked up the offer from Michigan back on Christmas Eve and would include the team in his top seven just four days later.
Don Brown may not be in Ann Arbor anymore but recruiting New England continues to be a priority for Michigan. While it may not be stockpiled with talent in comparison to the south or in California, there's still plenty of blue-collar athletes accustomed to playing in cold weather and fit to play in the Big Ten. The Wolverines have maintained a popular profile through the region and it shows with the likes of Rappleyea entering the fold.
But who else is out there? Leave that up for Rappleyea to be point man for those eyeing college life in Michigan. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound tight end tweeted out Monday a handful of names from Massachusetts who he's hoping to team up with at the next level. We break down who they are from the 2023 cycle and gauge their interest in Michigan.
4-Star ATH Joenel Aguero
The native of Danvers (Mass.) St. John's Prep, who's projected to play safety in college, will finish out his high school career back home after a cup of coffee at IMG Academy. Aguero transferred to the preparatory school at the beginning of last year and announced in November that he'll return to St John's Prep.
Aguero is the No. 2 ranked prospect in the state of Massachusetts and No. 6 athlete in the country, according to Rivals.com, as well as among the Rivals150 at 117th overall. The 6-foot-0, 180-pound defensive back has not played football in his home state in a long time, being that Massachusetts postponed the 2020 season to the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aguero would narrow down his offer sheet to 10 three months ago and named Michigan as one of the contenders, along with Alabama, Boston College, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Penn State. The Wolverines were actually the second FBS program to offer Aguero following UMass. So far, Aguero has taken unofficial visits to Miami, Florida, Florida State, Ohio State, Georgia, and Alabama.
4-Star ATH Ronan Hanafin
Hanafin plays both wide receiver and safety but is being scouted by Michigan to play linebacker. Assistant coach George Helow would offer Hanafin, out of Cambridge (Mass.) Buckingham Browne & Nichols, in late-December and told The Maize and Blue Review how big of an opportunity it was to receive an offer from the Wolverines.
The Rivals250 prospect has a major connection to the program with him being best friends with Preston Zinter, who we will talk about later, the younger brother of Michigan right guard Zak Zinter. The eldest Zinter has talked to Hanafin before about how great it is to live and play in Ann Arbor.
Hanafi is the No. 32-ranked wide receiver in the country and the No. 4 overall recruit in the state of Massachusetts by Rivals.com. He currently holds offers from UMass, Duke, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Maryland, Tennessee, UConn, Syracuse, Penn State, Boston College, Vanderbilt, West Virginia, and Nebraska. Hanafin has yet to visit Michigan but wants to take the trip up sometime in the spring. Helow and Hanafin have had discussions of the latter coming through soon. The 6-foot-3, 206-pounder, has done trips to Boston College and Notre Dame and took part in a West Virginia summer camp back in June.
4-Star OT Samson Okunlola
Okunlola is a popular man having racked up over 30 offers so far. The No. 59 overall recruit in the country, No. 6 offensive tackle, and No. 1 in the state of Massachusetts is receiving plenty of love from schools like Rutgers, Penn State, Ohio State, Notre Dame, and others, which should heighten even more come spring.
Michigan may be on the outside looking in for Okunlola, who might release a top five list soon, but offensive line coach Sherrone Moore has strutted his muscles in recruiting before. A guy like Okunlola is a must-have blue-chip prospect that will be an anchor for any program.
The 6-foot-6, 295-pound lineman is slated to compete in the 2023 All-American Bowl in San Antonio.
4-Star ATH Preston Zinter
Zinter is a name to watch in terms of a possible commitment as there's already a Rivals FutureCast put in for Michigan. The youngest Zinter has been up to Ann Arbor on multiple occasions, including the Ohio State game back in late-November and in June.
The four-star tight end and edge rusher out of Lawrence (Mass.) Central Catholic is the No. 11 athlete nationally and No. 3 overall in the state of Massachusetts. His offer sheet includes Maryland, Auburn, Michigan State, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Georgia, LSU, and Ole Miss. To no surprise, Michigan was one of the firsts to offer Zinter back in November 2019.
Michigan has serious competition in order to land the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder. Zinter has been to Penn State more than once, as well as to Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Boston College, while expected to make more trips in the coming months. The family connection certainly plays in the Wolverines' favor and should give them an advantage moving ahead.
Don Brown may not be in Ann Arbor anymore but recruiting New England continues to be a priority for Michigan. While it may not be stockpiled with talent in comparison to the south or in California, there's still plenty of blue-collar athletes accustomed to playing in cold weather and fit to play in the Big Ten. The Wolverines have maintained a popular profile through the region and it shows with the likes of Rappleyea entering the fold.
But who else is out there? Leave that up for Rappleyea to be point man for those eyeing college life in Michigan. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound tight end tweeted out Monday a handful of names from Massachusetts who he's hoping to team up with at the next level. We break down who they are from the 2023 cycle and gauge their interest in Michigan.
4-Star ATH Joenel Aguero
The native of Danvers (Mass.) St. John's Prep, who's projected to play safety in college, will finish out his high school career back home after a cup of coffee at IMG Academy. Aguero transferred to the preparatory school at the beginning of last year and announced in November that he'll return to St John's Prep.
Aguero is the No. 2 ranked prospect in the state of Massachusetts and No. 6 athlete in the country, according to Rivals.com, as well as among the Rivals150 at 117th overall. The 6-foot-0, 180-pound defensive back has not played football in his home state in a long time, being that Massachusetts postponed the 2020 season to the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aguero would narrow down his offer sheet to 10 three months ago and named Michigan as one of the contenders, along with Alabama, Boston College, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Penn State. The Wolverines were actually the second FBS program to offer Aguero following UMass. So far, Aguero has taken unofficial visits to Miami, Florida, Florida State, Ohio State, Georgia, and Alabama.
4-Star ATH Ronan Hanafin
Hanafin plays both wide receiver and safety but is being scouted by Michigan to play linebacker. Assistant coach George Helow would offer Hanafin, out of Cambridge (Mass.) Buckingham Browne & Nichols, in late-December and told The Maize and Blue Review how big of an opportunity it was to receive an offer from the Wolverines.
The Rivals250 prospect has a major connection to the program with him being best friends with Preston Zinter, who we will talk about later, the younger brother of Michigan right guard Zak Zinter. The eldest Zinter has talked to Hanafin before about how great it is to live and play in Ann Arbor.
Hanafi is the No. 32-ranked wide receiver in the country and the No. 4 overall recruit in the state of Massachusetts by Rivals.com. He currently holds offers from UMass, Duke, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Maryland, Tennessee, UConn, Syracuse, Penn State, Boston College, Vanderbilt, West Virginia, and Nebraska. Hanafin has yet to visit Michigan but wants to take the trip up sometime in the spring. Helow and Hanafin have had discussions of the latter coming through soon. The 6-foot-3, 206-pounder, has done trips to Boston College and Notre Dame and took part in a West Virginia summer camp back in June.
4-Star OT Samson Okunlola
Okunlola is a popular man having racked up over 30 offers so far. The No. 59 overall recruit in the country, No. 6 offensive tackle, and No. 1 in the state of Massachusetts is receiving plenty of love from schools like Rutgers, Penn State, Ohio State, Notre Dame, and others, which should heighten even more come spring.
Michigan may be on the outside looking in for Okunlola, who might release a top five list soon, but offensive line coach Sherrone Moore has strutted his muscles in recruiting before. A guy like Okunlola is a must-have blue-chip prospect that will be an anchor for any program.
The 6-foot-6, 295-pound lineman is slated to compete in the 2023 All-American Bowl in San Antonio.
4-Star ATH Preston Zinter
Zinter is a name to watch in terms of a possible commitment as there's already a Rivals FutureCast put in for Michigan. The youngest Zinter has been up to Ann Arbor on multiple occasions, including the Ohio State game back in late-November and in June.
The four-star tight end and edge rusher out of Lawrence (Mass.) Central Catholic is the No. 11 athlete nationally and No. 3 overall in the state of Massachusetts. His offer sheet includes Maryland, Auburn, Michigan State, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Georgia, LSU, and Ole Miss. To no surprise, Michigan was one of the firsts to offer Zinter back in November 2019.
Michigan has serious competition in order to land the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder. Zinter has been to Penn State more than once, as well as to Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Boston College, while expected to make more trips in the coming months. The family connection certainly plays in the Wolverines' favor and should give them an advantage moving ahead.
Last edited:
