Michigan football looks ready to steal top Michigan State LB target

Michigan football is gaining traction with four-star in-state linebacker Jeremiah Beasley, who was heavily linked to Michigan State.

When four-star linebacker Jeremiah Beasley took an unofficial visit to Michigan State’s 2022 season opener against Western Michigan, the feeling was the Spartans were the leader in the clubhouse.

Things have changed in just a few months.

On Saturday, Steve Lorenz of Michigan Insider put in a 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction in favor of the Wolverines instead. At the same time, On3’s prediction machine swung heavily in Michigan’s favor as well.

Michigan football now leads Michigan State for LB Jeremiah Beasley

Those predictions coincided with Beasley’s trip to the Big House for Michigan’s annual spring game. Maybe he was just as pumped up by Jim Harbaugh’s assessment of the program as the rest of the Wolverine fanbase.

Beasley’s recruitment is a big in-state battle for the Big Ten rivals. Coming out of Belleville, he is ranked as the No. 4 player in Michigan by the 247Sports composite. Nationally he ranks No. 154 and among linebackers he is 13th.

At 6-foot-1, 210-pounds, the linebacker and running back has been praised for his big-time hitting ability and explosiveness, even if he clearly needs to add on some pounds to succeed at the college level. Both programs see the potential there.

Back in December, Beasley dropped a Top 5 including the Wolverines and Spartans along with Kentucky, Pitt and Tennessee. It still seems like a race between the two in-state schools to get his signature.

Despite making it to the College Football Playoff, Michigan didn’t put together a particularly highly-rated recruiting class for 2023. The Wolverines ranked No. 17 in the 247Sports composite.

The class of 2024, by contrast, currently ranks No. 3 nationally and is anchored by five-star quarterback Jadyn Davis, who announced his commitment on Friday. Four-star linebacker Mason Curtis is already committed but Harbaugh’s staff is still prioritizing Beasley as they look to reinforce that defensive unit.

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