Detroit Cass Tech’s Donovan Peoples-Jones (9) during the Division 1 High School Championship game against Detroit Catholic Central on Saturday November 26, 2016, at Ford Field in Detroit, MI.
National Signing Day is now less than two months away, and while Michigan is ninth overall in 247Sports’ 2017 recruiting rankings, there are double-digit targets remaining on its recruiting board, many of whom are four- and five-star prospects. Better yet, the staff is planning to host a bunch of these targets, along with some key commitments, in what should be the final major recruiting weekend of the cycle before February’s signing.
The headliner for the weekend is the nation’s top overall prospect, Antioch (Calif.) five-star running back Najee Harris, who has been verbally committed to Alabama for over a year and has kept a low profile but an open recruitment. Michigan appears to be the program best suited to swipe him from the Crimson Tide, which once again is in position to sign the nation’s top class. Tight ends coach Jay Harbaugh was in California on Friday to see Harris at his school. UCLA and Cal are among the other schools reportedly still in the race for the five-star.
Detroit Cass Tech five-star wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones and Detroit King four-star cornerback Ambry Thomas are also expected to be in Ann Arbor. Both have been top targets for nearly two years, and the Wolverines are currently favored for both prospects, according to the 247Sports Crystal Ball. If the Wolverines can sign both prospects, it will mark the first time in school history they’ve signed the top five players in the state (247Sports Composite) and the first time since 2005 they’ve signed the top three. Ohio State and Florida are the main competition for Peoples-Jones, while Michigan State and Penn State are factors for Thomas.
The nation’s top cornerback prospect, Calabasas (Calif.) five-star Darnay Holmes, also is expected to be in Ann Arbor for the second time of the recruiting process. UCLA long has been considered the favorite for Holmes, but both U-M and Ohio State continue to push hard for his services. Holmes is best friends with U-M freshman cornerback David Long and also is friends with freshman wide receiver Kekoa Crawford.
Michigan’s current prize commitment, quarterback commitment Dylan McCaffrey, also will be in town for his official visit. McCaffrey is coming off of a state championship game in which he led his Littleton (Colo.) Valor Christian team to its seventh title in eight years. He threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in a 30-14 victory over Pomona and did it in front of Jim Harbaugh and wide receivers coach Jedd Fisch.
Here’s a full list of who will visit Michigan this weekend. This list will be updated throughout the week.
Full list: Michigan’s recruits (with highlight videos)
Steve Lorenz is the editor and publisher of Wolverine247 of the 247Sports Network. You can follow him on Twitter @TremendousUM and sign up for our FREE newsletter today!