Michigan football: Grading Wolverines 2021 recruiting class
Grading the Michigan football 2021 recruiting class while Jim Harbaugh fights to get the Wolverines to the next level once again.
Suffice it to say that Jim Harbaugh is on the hot seat with Michigan football. The Wolverines appear to still be committed to the head coach, despite most people thinking that he would be fired after an awful 2020 showing. However, his incoming 2021 recruiting class in Ann Arbor could ultimately help his cause.
Harbaugh and Michigan have often recruited “Michigan Men” and players who fit the culture. With that stipulation, it’s remarkable the level of talent he’s continuously brought into the program. And that remains the case here.
Taking that into account, let’s grade the Michigan football 2021 recruiting class and dive into who they have coming in. Note: All rankings are via the 247 Sports Composite.
Top commit of the Michigan football 2021 class: J.J. McCarthy, QB
J.J. McCarthy is the only 5-star prospect that the Wolverines currently have committed in this class, and he’s a big one for Harbaugh. McCarthy is the No. 2 pro-style quarterback in the 2021 class and could be an absolute game-changer. Michigan has been searching for a long time for stability at quarterback, and McCarthy could come in and challenge Joe Milton or Cade McNamara right away for the starting job next season.
Strengths, weaknesses of the 2021 Michigan football recruiting class
This is going to seem quite general, but in a way, it’s meant to. The strength of this Michigan football recruiting class is the offense with newcomers that could tremendously bolster the attack that has often struggled under Harbaugh and also fit in well with Josh Gattis. But on the contrary, the defense is lacking. The Wolverines have just one top-100 recruit that plays on that side of the ball, which is concerning given their struggles in that arena this season.
Diamond in the rough of the Michigan football class: Kechuan Bennett, SDE
Bennett is one of the lowest-ranked 4-star recruits in the country but he’s intriguing. At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, the defensive end has the frame to put on a ton of weight and could be another speed rusher for a defense that has consistently produced versatile and quality NFL defenders.
Where does Michigan football rank in the 2021 recruiting cycle?
This is a strong haul for the Wolverines. Michigan has the second-best class in the Big Ten to this point and is the No. 11-ranked class in the country. With a strong push over the last two months, they could move into the top 10.
Michigan football recruiting grade for 2021: B+
Though the results haven’t been desirable in Ann Arbor, Harbaugh continues to bring in good recruiting classes. This one could have a huge impact on his future with the Wolverines.
Next. Best college football running backs of the 21st century. dark
For more NCAA football news, analysis, opinion and unique coverage by FanSided, including Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff rankings, be sure to bookmark these pages.