National Signing Day is here, with 2014 representing an important year for the Michigan Wolverines. After a combined 15-11 record over the last two seasons, Brady Hoke sits on a hot season as patience evaporates in Ann Arbor.
Winning starts with signing elite players, and that process culminates on National Signing Day. Michigan signed several talented, important players today:
Jabrill Peppers (5-star CB): Michigan fans can breathe a sigh of relief as Brady Hoke's top recruit signed earlier this morning. The top cornerback in the country not only gives Michigan a five-star player, but also fills in at a weak position for Greg Mattison's defense.
*Michael Ferns (4-star MLB): Ferns enrolled early at Michigan and stands a real chance to see the field as a freshman linebacker.
*Drake Harris (4-star WR): As one of the top wide receivers in the class, Harris assumes the role as Michigan's most important offensive commit, taking over for the departed Jeremy Gallon.
*Freddy Canteen (4-star WR): Though Canteen stands at only 6-0, he has great hands and provides a speedy compliment to the two larger wide receiver recruits.
*Bryan Mone (4-star DT): Out of Utah, the 6-4 defensive tackle represents the strongest recruit in the class after Peppers and gives Michigan a defensive backfield presence.
*Mason Cole (4-star OT): Cole provides the best option in the 2014 class to make an immediate difference on the offensive line.
Lawrence Marshall (4-star DE): Marshall could be the terrifying pass rusher Michigan lacked in 2013.
Chase Winovich (4-star OLB): Winovich gives Mattison a strong tackler at the outside linebacker position.
*Brandon Watson (3-star CB): Watson adds wide receiver depth to the already stacked class.
*Wilton Speight (3-star QB): Speight ranks as one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the 2014 class but joins an offense already featuring Shane Morris.
Ian Bunting (3-star TE): Bunting is similar to Devin Funchess in that his value comes in the receiving game, but blocking is essential to his cracking the lineup with Funchess and Jake Butt ahead of him.
Brady Pallante (3-star DT): Pallonte joins Michigan out of Naples, Florida and, despite a lower overall talent level than many other recruits, is known for his "motor."
Maurice Ways (3-star WR): Ways brings something valuable to the Michigan offense that it lacked in 2013: size downfield. At 6-4, he can give Devin Gardner a Junior Hemingway-type target.
Jared Wangler (3-star OLB): The Penn State decommit plays both the run and the pass well and joins a crowded group of 2014 linebacking commits.
Noah Furbush (3-star OLB): Furbush joins Winovich to strengthen a linebacking core headed by a healthy Jake Ryan in 2014.
Juwann Bushell-Beatty (3-star OT): Bushell-Beatty specializes in pass protection, and joins an offensive line that struggled in 2013 and lost Taylor Lewan.
*Players that signed with Michigan before National Signing Day
NOTE: Despite misgivings from his mother, 5-star DE Malik McDowell signed with Michigan State over Michigan, Ohio State and Florida State.
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