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Visitors: June 16-18, 2023

2024

Devon Baxter – DE – Brandywine (MD) Gwynn Park: Baxter is a 6’6″, 225-pounder with offers from Maryland, Michigan, Penn State, Rutgers, and Virginia Tech, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #27 edge, and #387 overall.

Jeremiah Beasley – LB – Belleville (MI) Belleville: Beasley is a 6’1″, 210 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Tennessee, and others. He’s a 4-star, the #28 linebacker, and #321 overall. Right now there are four crystal balls for Michigan and four for MSU. He’s the younger brother of Maliq Carr, a tight end for Michigan State.

Jadyn Davis – QB – Charlotte (NC) Providence Day: Davis is committed to Michigan (LINK). This is his official visit.

Darrion Dupree – RB – Chicago (IL) Mount Carmel: Dupree is a 5’10”, 190 lb. back with offers from Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #32 running back, and #367 overall. With Jordan Marshall already in the fold and top-50 prospect Taylor Tatum coming in for an official visit next week – not to mention Micah Kaapana visiting last week – it’s unclear how Michigan is going to handle taking a second back in the class, or perhaps even a third. This is an official visit for Dupree. UPDATE: Dupree is no longer planning to visit.

Hit the jump for more.

Jaden Smith, Wolverine

Charlotte (NC) West linebacker Jaden Smith committed to Michigan on Monday. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Kentucky, Miami, USC, and Virginia Tech, among others.

Smith is listed at 6’3″ and 201 pounds.

RANKINGS
ESPN: Unranked
On3: 3-star, 89 grade, #30 LB
Rivals: 3-star ATH, 5.7 grade
247 Sports: 3-star, 88 grade, #42 ATH

Hit the jump for more.

Owen Wafle, Wolverine

Princeton (NJ) The Hun School defensive tackle Owen Wafle committed to Michigan on Sunday. The former Notre Dame commitment picked the Wolverines over offers from Boston College, Iowa, Minnesota, Rutgers, and West Virginia, among others.

Wafle is listed at 6’2″ and 290 lbs. As a junior in 2022, he made 64 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 80 grade, #32 DE
On3: 3-star, 88 grade, #71 DL
Rivals: 4-star, 5.8 grade, #15 DT
247 Sports: 3-star, 89 grade, #30 DL

Hit the jump for more.

2024 Recruiting Update: June 12, 2023

COMMITMENT

Princeton (NJ) The Hun School defensive tackle Owen Wafle committed to Michigan. I will have a commitment post coming up soon.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2024

Chillicothe (OH) Chillicothe tight end Tayvion Galloway (4-star, #11 TE, #247 overall) decommitted from LSU. With Michigan already having two tight end commitments, I doubt the Wolverines will get back involved here.

OFF THE BOARD

Olney (MD) Good Counsel center Kyle Altuner (3-star, #61 IOL, #867 overall) committed to West Virginia. I thought he was perhaps leaning toward Michigan before the Wolverines got a commitment from fellow center prospect Jake Guarnera.

Hit the jump for more.

2023 Season Countdown: #101 Charlie Mentzer

Name: Charlie Mentzer
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 192 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Cathlic Central
Position: Kicker
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #93
Last year: I did not rank Mentzer. He did not play in any games.
TTB Rating: N/A

You may not have heard of Charlie Mentzer before. There’s probably a good reason for that.

That reason’s name is Jake Moody.

Moody, the former Lou Groza Award winner, made people forget about backup kickers. The kicking position can sometimes make people yearn for the backup kicker – just like the backup quarterback is often the most popular guy on the team – but Moody was so consistent over the past two years that the only concern was who was going to replace him when he left.

Well, I don’t think Mentzer is going to be that guy. For a while it seemed like he, freshman Adam Samaha, and redshirt sophomore Tommy Doman (the latter of whom will likely be handling punting duties) would be battling it out for the kicking job, but then Michigan brought in transfer James Turner from Louisville. Now it seems like Turner will handle the placekicking duties, and Mentzer is likely to spend most of the 2023 season watching from the sidelines.

Prediction: Backup kicker