If I Had My Druthers . . . 2017 National Signing Day Eve

If I Had My Druthers . . . 2017 National Signing Day Eve


January 31, 2017

Starkville (MS) Starkville LB Willie Gay (image via Twitter)

Normally I do a position-by-position look when I do these “If I Had My Druthers” posts, but it’s coming down to crunch time and I don’t have the chance. So here’s a quick look at how I prefer the guys on Michigan’s short list:





  1. Aubrey Solomon – DT – Leesburg (GA) Lee County: Michigan has the depth and numbers at this point that there aren’t many “must have” recruits, but Solomon is as close as it gets in this class. The Wolverines need interior defensive linemen, particularly nose tackles, for the future. The rotation is such that two “starting” nose tackles are needed at all times, and Michigan has redshirt senior Maurice Hurst, Jr., redshirt junior Bryan Mone, and sophomore Michael Dwumfour right now. Solomon could play immediately, but even if he would be a luxury during the 2017 season, he could be the #1 or #2 nose tackle by 2018.
  2. Willie Gay – LB – Starkville (MS) Starkville: Gay went on my list very early as one of the best players – if not the best – player Michigan offered in 2017. He has the talent to be an All-American and a first round draft pick down the road, in my opinion. If I didn’t see nose tackle as a more important position and a bigger need, then Gay would be #1 here.
  3. Mekhi Becton – OT – Highland Springs (VA) Highland Springs: I did an If I Had My Druthers post on offensive linemen last week, and Becton wasn’t particularly high on it. However, he is a fairly talented player at a position of need, so I would take him if he wanted to come.
  4. Oliver Martin – WR – Iowa City (IA) West: The 6’0″, 185 lb. Martin is a possession guy, but I think he’s a player who has a low chance of busting. I think he’s going to be a solid player wherever he goes.
  5. Nico Collins – WR – Pinson (AL) Clay-Chalkville: Collins is more of a boom-or-bust prospect, and he’s not as big of a need as Martin with other receivers already on the commit list like Donovan Peoples-Jones, Tarik Black, and Brad Hawkins, Jr. Peoples-Jones and Black are both outside guys, and Hawkins could play inside, outside, or even at safety.
  6. Ifeatu Melifonwu – S – Grafton (MA) Memorial: Melifonwu, who is supposedly going to stick with his Syracuse commitment, would be a luxury, anyway. I did a scouting report on him last week (LINK), and while I think he would be worthwhile to add if there’s room, Michigan can do without him.

That’s the order in which I want them. Here they are in the order of how good Michigan’s chances are at landing them.

  1. Oliver Martin
  2. Nico Collins
  3. Aubrey Solomon
  4. Mekhi Becton
  5. Ifeatu Melifonwu
  6. Willie Gay

NOTE: I wrote this piece on Monday evening before Oliver Martin committed.

11 comments

  1. Comments: 134
    Joined: 9/13/2015
    AC1997
    Jan 31, 2017 at 7:24 AM

    Just to clarify Thunder, this is your ranking of the guys Michigan has a realistic shot at. I’m sure there are others who you’d take in a second (Austin Jackson?) but aren’t actively considering Michigan in the final hours.

    More specifically, to the best of your knowledge or anyone else’s there aren’t other “surprise” recruits this year that might suddenly sign with Michigan out of the blue tomorrow. Right?

  2. Comments: 522
    Joined: 8/12/2015
    DonAZ
    Jan 31, 2017 at 7:35 AM

    So, Oliver Martin is ours (yea!) … you say he’s a “possession guy.” A few years ago Wisconsin had a player named Jared Abbrederis, who I thought was a great possession guy at Wisconsin … kid just got open and made catches.

  3. Comments: 1356
    Joined: 8/13/2015
    Roanman
    Jan 31, 2017 at 7:38 AM

    On this one, your list and my list are the same list.

    Although, I wouldn’t be surprised at some subterfuge, if not outright chicanery, having happened for the sake of the Signing Of The Stars event. Which in an of itself is, to my way of thinking, the single only inconsistency in the Harbaugh persona.

    • Comments: 134
      Joined: 9/13/2015
      AC1997
      Jan 31, 2017 at 7:53 AM

      My list is identical too. I wish Michigan was in contention for some other guys, particularly at OL. But of the guys we know about – this is my list as well. I know everyone loves Gay and this write-up confirms his potential to be a stud. But I think people forget just how highly ranked Soloman is to the sites. Scout has him as their #11 guy! Not only does he fill a need based on position and our depth chart, but he has a chance to be a star!

    • Comments: 400
      Joined: 12/24/2016
      INTJohn
      Jan 31, 2017 at 11:10 AM

      Interesting comment: describe for me your way of thinking regarding the ‘Harbaugh Persona’ and your idea/observation on this apparent inconsistency?

      Thanx……………INTJohn

  4. Comments: 14
    Joined: 12/13/2016
    vlacca
    Jan 31, 2017 at 8:02 AM

    So your talking in the land of likelihood?
    For me Solomon and Gay. Then…
    I’d like to see Nagee Harris, Isaiah Wilson and Alex Leatherwood all wake up crying what a mistake they made and commit blue. Then…
    Marvin Wilson and Jeffery Okudah each feeling somehow betrayed by OSU committing with revenge on their mind. Then…
    Foster Sarell blowing into town and finding no scholarships available takes a PWO.

    • Comments: 400
      Joined: 12/24/2016
      INTJohn
      Jan 31, 2017 at 11:05 AM

      Ok this made me laff as you’ve meant it in jest. Foster Sarell as a PWO. I’ld take Sarell over any of the other names on your post. If he stays healthy not only will he end up in the NFL; he may end up in the Hall of Fame……
      ……..and Harris, Leatherwood & Wilson crying about ‘mistakes’? You mean like Gary who if he had signed with Clemson instead of Mich? haha

      🙂 Couldn’t resist……………INTJohn

  5. Comments: 295
    Joined: 12/19/2015
    Extrajuice
    Jan 31, 2017 at 1:47 PM

    Got a question for Thunder. If you had your choice of taking either Isiah Wilson or Najee Harris who would YOU choose to take to UM. Both not an option. Death could be, but only by listening to all Journey records, including Asian-Steve Perry.

    • Comments: 3844
      Joined: 7/13/2015
      Jan 31, 2017 at 5:39 PM

      I would take Isaiah Wilson. He’s a boom-or-bust prospect, but Michigan needs elite tackles. Harris isn’t as big of a difference maker since we have some decent backs (Samuels, Evans, etc.).

      • Comments: 400
        Joined: 12/24/2016
        INTJohn
        Jan 31, 2017 at 6:15 PM

        4 Star DT Phidarian Mathis just committed to Bama. Any significance to this re Solomon to Mich?

        Thanx…………………INTJohn

        • Comments: 3844
          Joined: 7/13/2015
          Jan 31, 2017 at 8:56 PM

          I don’t think it’s really related, but you never know.

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