The Wolverines and Nittany Lions have plenty of mutual targets on the recruiting trail, and this is a big game in Happy Valley, so some of those prospects will be on hand. With many thanks to Blue and White Illustrated recruiting analyst Ryan Snyder…
Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy 2017 linebacker Jordan Anthony (offered)
Anthony is a 6-1, 215-pounder ranked the No. 3 inside linebacker and the No. 82 overall prospect nationally. Auburn, Clemson, Oklahoma, and Virginia Tech join Michigan among the early offers for the Maryland native, who just completed his first football season boarding at IMG. This will be his first time seeing U-M in person.
Holmdel (N.J.) St. John Vianney 2017 offensive lineman Micah Clark (offered)
Clark is a 6-5, 260-pounder ranked the No. 15 offensive tackle and No. 138 overall prospect nationally, and the No. 2 junior in New Jersey. Michigan’s offer set him on a hot streak, with Alabama and Ohio State among those entering the mix shortly thereafter.
Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy 2017 offensive lineman Robert Hainsey (offered)
Hainsey is a 6-5, 272-pounder ranked the No. 25 offensive tackle and No. 215 overall prospect nationally. Miami (Fla.) Ohio State, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech are among the other offers for the Pittsburgh-area native, who just completed his first football season boarding at IMG.
Chesapeake (Va.) Indian River 2017 safety Devon Hunter (offered)
Hunter is a 6-1, 204-pounder ranked the No. 3 safety and No. 26 overall prospect nationally, and the top junior in Virginia. His offer sheet reads like a who’s-who of bigtime programs. Though he hopes to see Ann Arbor before rapping up his process, this will be his first time seeing the Maize and Blue in person.
Beaver Falls (Pa.) 2017 defensive end Donovan Jeter
Jeter is a 6-3, 264-pounder ranked the No. 7 strongside defensive end and No. 184 overall prospect nationally, and the No. 6 junior in Pennsylvania. Although Michigan has yet to offer, the Maize and Blue have shown interest, and could join a list that includes the likes of Ohio State and Penn State.
Gibsonia (Pa.) Pine-Richland 2018 quarterback Phil Jurkovec
Jurkovec is a 6-5, 190-pounder who will be among the top pro-style passers in the country among the current sophomore class. Michigan State, Notre Dame, Penn State, Pitt, and Wisconsin are among those who have already offered. Though Michigan isn’t on that list yet, the Maize and Blue are keeping an eye on Jurkovec.
St. Joseph (Mich.) 2017 defensive end Corey Malone-Hatcher (offered)
Malone-Hatcher is a 6-3, 246-pounder ranked the No. 9 strongside defensive end and No. 223 overall prospect nationally, and the No. 6 junior in Michigan. Alabama, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Alabama are the primary schools he’s still considering over many other offers. He could make an early college commitment.
New Milford (N.J.) 2018 linebacker Matt McElroy
McElroy is a 6-2, 194-pounder still looking for his first scholarship offer. However, he’s shown interest in Michigan, and that’s likely to be reciprocated, given the Wolverines’ emphasis on recruiting in New Jersey.
Owings Mills (Md.) McDonogh 2017 offensive lineman Jordan McNair (offered)
McNair is a 6-4, 276-pound three-star ranked the No. 31 offensive tackle nationally and the No. 8 junior in Maryland. Ohio State, Penn State, and Virginia Tech are his notable offers outside of the Wolverines. He hasn’t been able to work out a visit to Ann Arbor, so this will be his first time seeing U-M play in person.
Rockford (Mich.) 2016 kicker Quinn Nordin (offered, PSU commit)
Nordin is a 6-2, 200-pound three-star ranked the nation’s top kicker and the No. 27 senior in the Great Lakes State. He has visited U-M multiple times since pledging to the Nittany Lions, and while flip chatter has calmed down a bit, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him end up at Michigan in the end.
Harrisburg (Pa.) Central Dauphin 2018 linebacker Micah Parsons (offered)
Parsons is a 6-3, 235-pounder who should be one of the top outside linebackers in the class. Michigan and Penn State are joined by NC State and Rutgers on his early offer list. This will be his first time seeing U-M in person.
Paramus (N.J.) Catholic 2018 defensive end Bartek Rybka
Rybka is a 6-1, 228-pounder with early offers from Akron and Rutgers. He comes from a Michigan-friendly program, and visited this summer for the BBQ at the Big House.
Pittsburgh (Pa.) Woodland Hills 2016 running back Miles Sanders (offered, PSU commit)
Sanders is a 5-11, 200-pounder ranked the No. 1 all-purpose back and No. 64 overall prospect nationally, and the top senior in Pennsylvania. Although he’s a long-time PSU commit, Michigan recently attempted to re-initiate contact. He wasn’t receptive, but if the Wolverines’ run game looks better than that of the Nittany Lions, you never know if his opinions begin to shift.
Pittsburgh (Pa.) Central Catholic 2017 offensive lineman CJ Thorpe (offered)
Thorpe is a 6-4, 310-pounder ranked the No. 7 offensive guard and No. 187 overall prospect nationally, and the No. 7 junior in Pennsylvania. Michigan is on an offer list that also includes Maryland, PSU, Pitt, and Wisconsin. He has mentioned a desire – but perhaps not an opportunity – to visit Michigan this fall, and this will be his first time seeing the Wolverines in person.
Brooklyn (N.Y.) Poly Prep 2017 offensive lineman Isaiah Wilson (offered)
Wilson is a 6-6, 330-pound five-star ranked the No. 4 offensive tackle and No. 15 overall prospect nationally, and the top junior in New York. Michigan is among his final eight schools - and widely considered atop the list.
This game may not be in Ann Arbor, but there are plenty of players expected in attendance who the Wolverines have a chance to impress. A strong performance - and a win - could go a long way toward giving U-M a mental edge for some of their underclassman prospects.
Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy 2017 linebacker Jordan Anthony (offered)
Anthony is a 6-1, 215-pounder ranked the No. 3 inside linebacker and the No. 82 overall prospect nationally. Auburn, Clemson, Oklahoma, and Virginia Tech join Michigan among the early offers for the Maryland native, who just completed his first football season boarding at IMG. This will be his first time seeing U-M in person.
Holmdel (N.J.) St. John Vianney 2017 offensive lineman Micah Clark (offered)
Clark is a 6-5, 260-pounder ranked the No. 15 offensive tackle and No. 138 overall prospect nationally, and the No. 2 junior in New Jersey. Michigan’s offer set him on a hot streak, with Alabama and Ohio State among those entering the mix shortly thereafter.
Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy 2017 offensive lineman Robert Hainsey (offered)
Hainsey is a 6-5, 272-pounder ranked the No. 25 offensive tackle and No. 215 overall prospect nationally. Miami (Fla.) Ohio State, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech are among the other offers for the Pittsburgh-area native, who just completed his first football season boarding at IMG.
Chesapeake (Va.) Indian River 2017 safety Devon Hunter (offered)
Hunter is a 6-1, 204-pounder ranked the No. 3 safety and No. 26 overall prospect nationally, and the top junior in Virginia. His offer sheet reads like a who’s-who of bigtime programs. Though he hopes to see Ann Arbor before rapping up his process, this will be his first time seeing the Maize and Blue in person.
Beaver Falls (Pa.) 2017 defensive end Donovan Jeter
Jeter is a 6-3, 264-pounder ranked the No. 7 strongside defensive end and No. 184 overall prospect nationally, and the No. 6 junior in Pennsylvania. Although Michigan has yet to offer, the Maize and Blue have shown interest, and could join a list that includes the likes of Ohio State and Penn State.
Gibsonia (Pa.) Pine-Richland 2018 quarterback Phil Jurkovec
Jurkovec is a 6-5, 190-pounder who will be among the top pro-style passers in the country among the current sophomore class. Michigan State, Notre Dame, Penn State, Pitt, and Wisconsin are among those who have already offered. Though Michigan isn’t on that list yet, the Maize and Blue are keeping an eye on Jurkovec.
St. Joseph (Mich.) 2017 defensive end Corey Malone-Hatcher (offered)
Malone-Hatcher is a 6-3, 246-pounder ranked the No. 9 strongside defensive end and No. 223 overall prospect nationally, and the No. 6 junior in Michigan. Alabama, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Alabama are the primary schools he’s still considering over many other offers. He could make an early college commitment.
New Milford (N.J.) 2018 linebacker Matt McElroy
McElroy is a 6-2, 194-pounder still looking for his first scholarship offer. However, he’s shown interest in Michigan, and that’s likely to be reciprocated, given the Wolverines’ emphasis on recruiting in New Jersey.
Owings Mills (Md.) McDonogh 2017 offensive lineman Jordan McNair (offered)
McNair is a 6-4, 276-pound three-star ranked the No. 31 offensive tackle nationally and the No. 8 junior in Maryland. Ohio State, Penn State, and Virginia Tech are his notable offers outside of the Wolverines. He hasn’t been able to work out a visit to Ann Arbor, so this will be his first time seeing U-M play in person.
Rockford (Mich.) 2016 kicker Quinn Nordin (offered, PSU commit)
Nordin is a 6-2, 200-pound three-star ranked the nation’s top kicker and the No. 27 senior in the Great Lakes State. He has visited U-M multiple times since pledging to the Nittany Lions, and while flip chatter has calmed down a bit, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him end up at Michigan in the end.
Harrisburg (Pa.) Central Dauphin 2018 linebacker Micah Parsons (offered)
Parsons is a 6-3, 235-pounder who should be one of the top outside linebackers in the class. Michigan and Penn State are joined by NC State and Rutgers on his early offer list. This will be his first time seeing U-M in person.
Paramus (N.J.) Catholic 2018 defensive end Bartek Rybka
Rybka is a 6-1, 228-pounder with early offers from Akron and Rutgers. He comes from a Michigan-friendly program, and visited this summer for the BBQ at the Big House.
Pittsburgh (Pa.) Woodland Hills 2016 running back Miles Sanders (offered, PSU commit)
Sanders is a 5-11, 200-pounder ranked the No. 1 all-purpose back and No. 64 overall prospect nationally, and the top senior in Pennsylvania. Although he’s a long-time PSU commit, Michigan recently attempted to re-initiate contact. He wasn’t receptive, but if the Wolverines’ run game looks better than that of the Nittany Lions, you never know if his opinions begin to shift.
Pittsburgh (Pa.) Central Catholic 2017 offensive lineman CJ Thorpe (offered)
Thorpe is a 6-4, 310-pounder ranked the No. 7 offensive guard and No. 187 overall prospect nationally, and the No. 7 junior in Pennsylvania. Michigan is on an offer list that also includes Maryland, PSU, Pitt, and Wisconsin. He has mentioned a desire – but perhaps not an opportunity – to visit Michigan this fall, and this will be his first time seeing the Wolverines in person.
Brooklyn (N.Y.) Poly Prep 2017 offensive lineman Isaiah Wilson (offered)
Wilson is a 6-6, 330-pound five-star ranked the No. 4 offensive tackle and No. 15 overall prospect nationally, and the top junior in New York. Michigan is among his final eight schools - and widely considered atop the list.
This game may not be in Ann Arbor, but there are plenty of players expected in attendance who the Wolverines have a chance to impress. A strong performance - and a win - could go a long way toward giving U-M a mental edge for some of their underclassman prospects.
