The Michigan Wolverines have a long layoff as they prepare for the Orange Bowl, and some that time is devoted to recruiting. The recruiting dead period is now, but several recruits are making their decisions in the coming days. That means there's plenty to get to around Michigan football recruiting. Here are all the latest Michigan recruiting news and rumors you need to know.
Wolverines land pair of commitments
It was a big recruiting day for Michigan on Monday, as they received commitments from the nation's No. 1 center Cesar Ruiz and four-star defensive end Deron Irving-Bey.
The Wolverines beat out Florida, Auburn and several others for Ruiz. The No. 58 recruit in the nation, Ruiz is a four-star prospect. He plays at IMG Academy in Florida, but is originally from New Jersey. The Wolverines have recruited well out of New Jersey in the past, landing players like Rashan Gary and Jabrill Peppers.
Irving-Bey picked the Wolverines over Michigan State, Iowa and several others. He had originally planned to commit at the Under Armour All-American Bowl on January 7th, but announced that he'd commit today instead. The defensive end checks in at 6-foot-5, 282-pounds.
Donovan Peoples-Jones to help recruit Najee Harris
The Wolverines have long been trying to flip five-star running back Najee Harris, the top overall recruit in the country, from Alabama, and newly-committed five-star wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones plans to help Michigan's efforts:
"Najee's my guy," Peoples-Jones said. "We met at a USC camp, I think, two or three years ago. We both went to The Opening as underclassmen. I saw him again, I think, at Rivals Five-Star Challenge. Things like that. Yeah, Najee's definitely a friend of mine. I'm looking forward to meeting with him, being with him.
“He's a very smart person. He'll make the best decision for him. Would I like to play with him? Yeah, absolutely. I think that he's a dynamic back. He's very talented."
Will Harris flip his commitment?
Even though Harris hasn't flipped his commitment to Michigan yet, Steve Wiltfong of 247sports believes the Wolverines have at least pulled even with Alabama for the five-star prospect.
I certainly didn’t expect to get to a point where I thought Michigan had a chance to flip long-time Alabama commit and the nation’s No. 1 recruit per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite in Najee Harris.
But I’m getting there now.
That’s not a prediction that the Wolverines will pull off the greatest heist in the 2017 recruiting cycle, yet it could become a reality.
Harbaugh and boys in the Maize and Blue have done everything they can to be in this position. Among the highlights include...
- Harbaugh made a visit very early in the process to see Harris at his school.
- This summer Michigan hosted a satellite camp at Antioch (Calif.) High, where Harris rushed for 7,948 yards and 94 touchdowns during his prep career to get more time around him.
- With his trainer working the event, Harris also attended the Wolverines satellite camp in Utah to get even more time around Harbaugh, Tyrone Wheatley and the others.
- Harris then attended the Barbecue at the Big House in the summer with his mother and some coaches. That was certainly a positive experience.
- This past weekend Harris and his mother returned along with an uncle in giving Michigan his final visit, taking an official to A2 where he was surrounded by just about all of the Wolverines commits and a couple more top targets including five-star receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones. Harris has a feel for all the people he'll be around if he chose Michigan.
With that, Michigan has given Harris plenty to ponder and one source said Wednesday he doesn’t think the U.S. Army All-American is sure of his final decision.
Harris is an early enrollee, so he will make a final decision in the coming weeks.
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