Newtown (Conn.) Sandy Hook’s Ben Mason
Michigan has focused heavily on recruiting New Jersey in the Jim Harbaugh era. The Wolverines signed the state’s – and country’s – top overall player in the 2016 class in Paramus Catholic defensive tackle Rashan Gary, and is standing strong with a number of the area’s top players in the class of 2017 and beyond. U-M has also spread its recruiting prowess through the region, with New York, Connecticut and eastern Pennsylvania also providing top targets.
It could be one of Gary’s former Paramus Catholic teammates to help keep the string of success in the Garden State going. Linebacker Drew Singleton is the No. 34 overall prospect nationally in 2017, and is high on Michigan. He visited campus for the spring game last month, and came away impressed.
“It was really cool, but it’s really cool every time I’ve been there,” Singleton said of his return trip to U-M. “I like that Rashan is there and (former Paramus Catholic head coach and current U-M linebackers coach Chris) Partridge is there. It makes me comfortable, but I’m still looking at every school.”
Just across the Hudson River in Brooklyn, N.Y., Poly Prep offensive lineman Isaiah Wilson is even more highly regarded, a five-star and the No. 5 overall prospect nationally. The 6-foot-6, 330-pounder is just as high on U-M, though, including the Maize and Blue in a top group that also includes Alabama, Georgia, LSU and USC.
“I’ve only been to Michigan and Alabama so far,” Wilson said of why those two are the perceived leaders. “I want to see the other ones, and I’ll probably make my decision after all my official visits. Either in late December or on Signing Day.”
Michigan already holds one commitment from Connecticut – running back AJ Dillon plays at a prep school in Massachusetts, but hails from the Nutmeg State – and could be close to adding another. Newtown (Conn.) Sandy Hook three-star linebacker Ben Mason will announce his college commitment tonight, with U-M one of the prime contenders.
“The school that I pick will be the one that makes me most comfortable,” he said. “From the campus to the coaches, it’s just the one I want to play for the most. Then of course, I want great academics.”
Wisconsin, Navy, and even Harvard are among the other contenders for Mason. With the Wolverines’ recent run of success in the region, though, they may just have what it takes to pull another star from the East Coast.
Tim Sullivan is the Football Recruiting Editor of The Wolverine magazine and TheWolverine.com. He is also a contributor to national football recruiting coverage on the Rivals.com network. You can follow him on Twitter @TimS_Wolverine.