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2021 Recruiting Update: February 18, 2020

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2021

Christian Burkhalter – LB – Spanish Fort (AL) Spanish Fort: Burkhalter is a 6’5″, 230 lb. prospect with offers from Florida State, Ohio State, and Tennessee, among others. He’s a 3-star, the #33 athlete, and #388 overall. There’s something special in those Burkhalter genes, because his brother Jackson is a 2020 quarterback who’s listed at 6’5″, 210; Jackson has some FCS offers and some Power 5 preferred walk-on offers (highlights here). Christian plays an outside linebacker position, and he could potentially fill a similar role to what Noah Furbush did at Michigan.

T.J. Guy – DE – Mansfield (MA) Mansfield: Guy is a 6’4″, 240-pounder who’s ranked as a 3-star, the #37 weakside end, and #695 overall. After a recent offer from Michigan, Guy decommitted from Boston College. Ace Anbender put in a crystal ball for Guy to become a Wolverine, for whatever that’s worth. You should only take the time to watch this highlight film if you’re really bored, because two-thirds of it is standing around before the play:

OFF THE BOARD

Thaddius Franklin, Jr. – RB – Hollywood (FL) Chaminade-Madonna: Franklin committed to Miami after decommitting from the Hurricanes in December. He’s a 4-star and the #188 player in the country.

Biggest Recruiting Needs in 2021

Michigan recently wrapped up its 2020 recruiting class, so we turn our attention forward to what the Wolverines need in the class of 2021.

As a quick reminder, these players are already committed to Michigan in 2021:

• QB J.J. McCarthy (LINK)
• OL Giovanni El-Hadi (LINK)

1. DEFENSIVE TACKLE

Michigan played with very little depth at defensive tackle during the 2019 season, eventually relying on unproven walk-on Jess Speight to play key snaps late in the year. Depth was hurt by the transfer of Michael Dwumfour to Rutgers, but Dwumfour was injury-prone and often ineffective. The Wolverines brought in a couple solid prospects in 2018 (Chris Hinton, Jr. and Mazi Smith). When the 2020 season wraps, Carlo Kemp’s career will be over. The Wolverines do have some young defensive ends who could bulk up to play defensive tackle, but they do need some true tackles to shore up the interior.

Hit the jump for more.

Goodbye, Sean McKeon

SITE NEWS UPDATE: Thanks to Atishay, Joe, Lee, Lucas, and Luis for the generous donations! Altogether, you readers have donated $1,013.97 of the $1,250 Flywheel bill (LINK). You guys are awesome!

HIGH SCHOOL
Dudley (MA) Shepherd Hill tight end Sean McKeon committed to Michigan in June of 2015 as a part of the class of 2016. Overall, he had been lightly recruited and the Wolverines won out over schools like Boston College, UConn, and UMass. I initially gave him a TTB Rating of 83 (LINK). He ended up as a 3-star, the #45 tight end, and #854 overall. Eventually, I bumped him down to a 77 (LINK).

Hit the jump for more.

Recruiting Update: February 12, 2020

SITE NEWS UPDATE: Thanks to Brian, Michael D., Michael Z., Moser, Oday, and Sean for your generous donations! As of Tuesday afternoon, I have collected $526.02 of the $1,250 bill for Flywheel’s hosting services for the year (LINK).

The Detroit News talked to 2020 recruits about a few things, including why they didn’t choose Michigan/Michigan State (LINK). It’s always interesting reading these responses.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2021

Markus Allen – WR – Clayton (OH) Northmont: Allen is a 6’2″, 190 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati and Pitt, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 3-star, the #125 wide receiver, and #796 overall. He claims a 4.62 forty. Northmont is the alma mater of Michigan defensive end Gabe Newburg, but Allen recently transferred to Northmont, so the two players don’t know each other.

Khalil Dinkins – WR – Wexford (PA) North Allegheny: Dinkins is a 6’4″, 207-pounder with offers from a couple MAC schools. He’s a 3-star, the #74 athlete, and #829 overall. He has some solid ball skills, but I think with his size and the way he moves, he will probably end up as an H-back or outside linebacker. He reminds me of former Wolverine Ricardo Miller.

Hit the jump for more.

Class of 2015: By the Numbers

Thanks to the following people for their immediate and generous donations to the Flywheel-payoff efforts (LINK): George, Javier, John, Josh, Pat, Paul, Peter, and Scott! You have combined to knock out $270 of the $1,250 hosting fee as of Monday evening.

With the class of 2015’s redshirt seniors having wrapped up their careers, I wanted to quantify what that class of players contributed to Michigan on the field. There were 14 total players who signed National Letters of Intent for the Jim Harbaugh/Brady Hoke combo class.

Hit the jump.