2016 Recruiting Needs

Rancho Santa Margarita (CA) Catholic quarterback K.J. Costello is one of Michigan's top targets

As of this moment in February of 2015, Michigan has 14 spots scheduled to open up in the 2016 class (LINK). Michigan also took 14 players in the class of 2015, but the numbers for 2016 should grow by the time a year goes past, and the class will probably be close to 20. Based on the current number, though, here's how things should start off.

QUARTERBACK
Seniors in 2015: None
Needs: 1
Comments: With no seniors on the roster in 2015 but a slew of scholarship guys in their freshman to junior years, Michigan does not need to take two quarterbacks like they did this past Signing Day. Jim Harbaugh has taken two quarterbacks consistently in past classes, which is a stark contrast to Brady Hoke taking zero or one in each class. While Harbaugh could continue his own trend of taking multiple quarterbacks, the true need is only one.
Top targets: K.J. Costello, Messiah DeWeaver, Jacob Eason, Brandon Peters

RUNNING BACK
Seniors in 2015: None
Needs: 1
Comments: Michigan has three juniors and a sophomore on the roster, plus true freshman Karan Higdon. This is not a strong need, but Michigan needs to keep stocking the roster for a couple years in the future, when all of those juniors leave at once (or earlier if they want playing time elsewhere).
Top targets: Kingston Davis, Elijah Holyfield, Kareem Walker

FULLBACK
Seniors in 2015: Sione Houma, Joe Kerridge
Needs: 0
Comments: Harbaugh likes to use fullbacks quite a bit in his offense, and the two guys with significant playing time will both be gone after the upcoming season unless Houma somehow takes a redshirt year. The only fullback-type player left on the roster afterward will be Wyatt Shallman, a redshirt sophomore this year. The coaches could settle for having a walk-on back him up if they find someone who can get the job done.
Top targets: None identified yet

WIDE RECEIVER
Seniors in 2015: Dennis Norfleet
Needs: 1
Comments: Michigan will have nine receivers left on the roster after Norfleet leaves, which is a good number. The coaches may choose to recruit more players at the position depending on what they see out of the current guys on the roster. None of them seem like possibly early entrants to the NFL, so that should help maintain some continuity and allow the younger guys time to develop.
Top targets: Dylan Crawford, Demetric Felton, Theo Howard

TIGHT END
Seniors in 2015: A.J. Williams
Needs: 1
Comments: Michigan wanted to take both Chris Clark and Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. in 2015, but only Wheatley committed, and his long-term ceiling might be highest at defensive end. Taking one tight end likely assures that Wheatley stays on offense, whereas taking two could allow the coaching staff some more position flexibility. Starter Jake Butt will be a junior with the ability to depart early if Michigan is able to showcase his talents, so the coaches must have a contingency plan in place. Also, Harbaugh's use of multiple tight ends requires several to be ready to play at any given time.
Top targets: Devin Asiasi, Luke Farrell

OFFENSIVE LINE
Seniors in 2015: Graham Glasgow, Jack Miller
Needs: 2
Comments: Glasgow and Miller are both projected starters in 2015, and while they likely won't be replaced by freshmen in 2016, Michigan does need to replenish their numbers very soon. Most linemen redshirt, so the 2016 class is essentially addressing the 2017 team. Michigan has four redshirt juniors, at least three of whom should be starting in 2016 and will need to be replaced. Michigan took just one lineman in 2014 and three in 2015, most of whom are projects and not blue-chippers. The Wolverines need to address the center and left tackle positions.
Top targets: Alex Akingbulu, Michael Jordan, E.J. Price, Erik Swenson (commit)

DEFENSIVE END
Seniors in 2015: Mario Ojemudia
Needs: 1-2
Comments: The Wolverines appear to be going to more of a 3-4 look with a rush linebacker playing one of the defensive end spots, so this position can be folded into linebacker somewhat. The team brought in two freshman defensive ends in the past class and loses just Ojemudia, so the remaining group should be able to hold down the one true defensive end position.
Top targets: Quayshon Alexander, Terrell Hall, Khalid Kareem, Connor Murphy, Rahshaun Smith

DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Seniors in 2015: Ondre Pipkins
Needs: 1-2
Comments: Michigan has a good number of defensive tackles spread across the years, although they did not take one in 2015. Pipkins has not played up to his recruiting ranking, so the younger guys have taken over and played fairly well. This is another position where 2016 defensive tackles address the 2017 team because so many young guys redshirt, although the Wolverines are in on a couple guys who could contribute early, such as Rashan Gary.
Top targets: Rashan Gary, Ed Oliver

LINEBACKER
Seniors in 2015: Joe Bolden, Royce Jenkins-Stone, Desmond Morgan, James Ross III
Needs: 2
Comments: Michigan is very top-heavy at the linebacker position, where four guys are seniors and another two are juniors. Luckily, all three remaining linebacker recruits in 2014 (Michael Ferns III already transferred) were able to redshirt, but the position group needs to be replenished a little bit, and with Michigan looking to put four linebackers on the field instead of three, the group itself needs to expand.
Top targets: Camilo Eifler, Dele' Harding (commit), Dontavious Jackson, Caleb Kelly, Jeffrey McCulloch,

CORNERBACK
Seniors in 2015: Blake Countess
Needs: 2
Comments: Michigan wanted two corners in the 2015 class, and they only got one. With Countess graduating the Wolverines will likely take at least two, if not more. There's also a chance that junior corner Jourdan Lewis gets the urge to leave early. The coaching staff has already been sending out lots of offers, so they consider this a position of priority.
Top targets: Jordan Fuller, David Long Jr., Trayvon Mullen

SAFETY
Seniors in 2015: Jarrod Wilson
Needs: 1
Comments: The coaching staff does not appear to be confident in their options at safety, because a large number of offers went out early in the cycle. Wilson is the only proven player at the position, and so far the group lacks a guy who can play center field. They will be helped out at least temporarily by Jabrill Peppers, who moves from corner to safety for 2015, but he's a guy who could be an early NFL draft entrant or who could play corner.
Top targets: Deontay Anderson, Marquel Dismuke, C.J. Pollard

KICKER/PUNTER/LONG SNAPPER
Seniors in 2015: None
Needs: 0
Comments: The coaches have kicker Andrew David and long snapper Scott Sypniewski on scholarship, both of whom are young guys with at least three years remaining. The punting duties should be handled by Kenny Allen, a redshirt junior, but punting can often be handled by walk-ons who earn scholarships. If there's no suitable replacement waiting in the wings by 2016, expect the coaches to address it in 2017.

Needs for 2015 Recruiting Class: Defense, Special Teams

Blake Countess may leave early if he replicates or improves upon his 2013 season

Yesterday I covered the needs on offense, so it's time to look at what Michigan needs on the other side of the ball.

DEFENSIVE END
2015 Depth Chart: Mario Ojemudia (Sr.), Matt Godin (RS Jr.), Taco Charlton (Jr.), Lawrence Marshall (So.)
Need: 2
Offers: Terry Beckner Jr., Jashon Cornell, Jalen Dalton, Lasamuel Davis, Clelin Ferrell, Hjalte Froholdt (Arkansas), Keisean Lucier-South, Darian Roseboro, Josh Sweat
Scoop: The need here might be mitigated by Tom Strobel and/or Henry Poggi, defensive tackles who have the ability to play as strongside ends if necessary. But the weakside end position is pretty thin with Ojemudia and Marshall scheduled to be the only real options there (Charlton is moving to the strong side). I believe that Noah Furbush might end up at weakside end, too, but so far the coaches are saying he's a linebacker.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE
2015 Depth Chart: Ondre Pipkins (Sr.), Willie Henry (RS Jr.), Tom Strobel (RS Jr.), Chris Wormley (RS Jr.), Maurice Hurst (RS So.), Henry Poggi (RS So.), Bryan Mone (So.), Brady Pallante (So.)
Need: 0
Offers: Josh Alabi, Rasheem Green, Du'Vonta Lampkin (Oklahoma), Tim Settle, Shy Tuttle
Scoop: Zero defensive tackles will graduate after the 2014 season, and only one is scheduled to be a senior in 2015. There may be room for a defensive tackle in the class, and the coaches are clearly pursuing some elite talents, but missing out on tackles would not be a major issue. The Wolverines could then pursue some prospects in 2016, when Henry, Strobel, and Wormley are all scheduled to be seniors.

LINEBACKER
2015 Depth Chart: Joe Bolden (Sr.), Royce Jenkins-Stone (Sr.), James Ross (Sr.), Allen Gant (RS Jr.), Ben Gedeon (Jr.), Mike McCray (RS So.), Michael Ferns (So.), Noah Furbush (So.), Jared Wangler (So.), Chase Winovich (So.)
Need: 1
Offers: Jerome Baker, Josh Barajas, Kamonte Carter (Penn State), Justin Hilliard, Jeffrey Holland, Malik Jefferson, Osa Masina, Joshua McMillon, Tanner Muse (Clemson), Adonis Thomas, Tyriq Thompson, Cameron Townsend
Scoop: Numbers-wise, Michigan doesn't truly need a linebacker in the 2015 class, but the coaches obviously want at least one. It does make some sense, because three players are scheduled to be seniors, so recruiting players at the position would give them a chance to redshirt before pressing for playing time in 2016. The coaches have done a good job of populating the linebacker corps over the past few seasons.

CORNERBACK
2015 Depth Chart: Blake Countess (RS Sr.), Terry Richardson (RS Jr.), Jourdan Lewis (Jr.), Channing Stribling (Jr.), Reon Dawson (RS So.), Jabrill Peppers (So.), Shaun Crawford (Fr.)
Need: 1
Offers: Rashard Causey, Shaun Crawford (Michigan), Minkah Fitzpatrick, DuWayne Johnson (Virginia Tech), Marcus Lewis, Iman Marshall, John Reid, Kendall Sheffield, Garrett Taylor, Kevin Toliver (LSU), Jordan Whitehead
Scoop: With Crawford committed, he essentially replaces the departing Raymon Taylor. Delonte Hollowell also graduates after the 2014 season. Cornerback is a position where guys can move to safety or wide receiver, so there's some flexibility at the position; Stribling, Dawson, and/or Peppers could eventually be safeties.

SAFETY
2015 Depth Chart: Jarrod Wilson (Sr.), Jeremy Clark (RS Jr.), Delano Hill (Jr.), Dymonte Thomas (Jr.), Brandon Watson (So.), Tyree Kinnel (Fr.)
Need: 1
Offers: Stephen Griffin, Tyree Kinnel (Michigan), Prentice McKinney
Scoop: Michigan lacks depth at the safety position, and four of the six safeties - assuming no position changers from cornerback - will be seniors or juniors. That sets up for a pretty young back end down the road. In addition to the numbers and age, Clark is considered a project and some have suggested that Hill's future might be as a linebacker. I believe he will stick at safety, but we haven't seen anyone except Wilson play significant minutes. Watson is listed here because he has been playing safety during spring practices after enrolling early.

KICKER/PUNTER
2015 Depth Chart: Kenny Allen (RS Jr.), J.J. McGrath (RS So.), Andrew David (Fr.)
Need: 0
Offers: Andrew David (Michigan)
Scoop: Michigan has brought in a couple preferred walk-ons over the past couple seasons in the form of Allen and McGrath, both of whom were pretty highly touted. One or both will probably be scholarship starters once 2014 seniors Will Hagerup and Matt Wile graduate, so the need here is not dire.

LONG SNAPPER
2015 Depth Chart: Scott Sypniewski (RS So.)
Need: 0
Offers: None
Scoop: Sypniewski is already taking up a scholarship, and long snappers are often walk-ons.

Needs for 2015 Recruiting Class: Offense

One big question for 2015 is whether tight end Devin Funchess will return for his senior year.

The numbers are somewhat skimpy, but Michigan currently only has 13 scholarships available for the 2015 class. That total will certainly grow with guys getting injured, leaving early for the NFL, or transferring. I believe the 2014 class was originally supposed to be 12 players, and it grew to 16 by National Signing Day. By the way, the definition of need here is exactly what it says - not a desired number, but the bare minimum to maintain or reach standard depth expectations - and the depth chart is simply a list by seniority.

QUARTERBACK
2015 Depth Chart: Russell Bellomy (RS Sr.), Shane Morris (Jr.), Wilton Speight (So.)
Need: 1
Offers: Blake Barnett, Josh Rosen, David Sills, Jarrett Stidham
Scoop: Michigan needs to get back in the habit of taking a quarterback in every class after the curious choice in 2012 to skip a cycle, which left the Wolverines with Devin Gardner, a freshman Shane Morris, and walk-ons as options in 2013. So far the Wolverines are choosing to go after elite guys, two of whom are committed elsewhere (Barnett to Notre Dame, Sills to USC). That leaves Rosen, who is likely to stay in California, and Stidham, who is likely to stay in Texas. Michigan is likely going to have to send out more offers in order to get their team leader. I did a scouting report on a number of targets recently, and there are more to come soon with the hiring of offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier. None of the three current roster players are proven, although Morris looked pretty solid against Kansas State. Speight is a bit of an underwhelming recruit, so you probably want to assure yourself of landing a stud in 2015.

RUNNING BACK
2015 Depth Chart: Justice Hayes (RS Sr.), Drake Johnson (RS Jr.), Derrick Green (Jr.), DeVeon Smith (Jr.), Ross Douglas (RS So.)
Need: 1
Offers: Johnny Frasier, Damien Harris, Ronald Jones II, Soso Jamabo, Jacques Patrick, Michael Weber
Scoop: Michigan failed to nab a running back in 2014, although they are helping out the stable by moving cornerback Douglas to the offensive backfield. The two oldest guys are unlikely to be starters, in my opinion, which likely leaves the winner of the Green-Smith battle as Michigan's featured runner in 2015; if a junior running back has a good season, there's a strong possibility that he would be departing early for the NFL. Any class of 2015 running back might be looking at the starter's job by his sophomore year. Michigan will take at least one back here, and a second is a strong possibility, especially if Douglas doesn't pan out at his new position.

FULLBACK/H-BACK
2015 Depth Chart: Joe Kerridge (RS Sr.), Sione Houma (Sr.), Wyatt Shallman (RS So.)
Need: 0
Offers: None
Scoop: Nussmeier has used a lot of spread looks and a lot of H-backs instead of fullbacks. The "fullback" position may be addressed in the Tight End section. Remember that Nussmeier and Alabama were recruiting Michigan defensive tackle Henry Poggi as an H-back in the 2013 recruiting cycle, so he's probably not looking for nifty runners, but more for guys who can catch passes in the flat and block.

WIDE RECEIVER
2015 Depth Chart: Devin Funchess (Sr.), Dennis Norfleet (Sr.), Jehu Chesson (RS Jr.), Amara Darboh (RS Jr.), Da'Mario Jones (Jr.), Jaron Dukes (RS So.), Csont'e York (RS So.), Freddy Canteen (So.), Drake Harris (So.), Maurice Ways (So.)
Need: 1-2
Offers: George Campbell, Brian Cole, Juwan Johnson, Tyron Johnson, Christian Kirk, Jaason Lewis (UCLA), DaMarkus Lodge, Juval Mollette, Devante Peete
Scoop: Michigan will have lost no seniors after the 2014 season, although Funchess may be a candidate to depart early for the NFL. Nussmeier will likely run more four-wide sets than former offensive coordinator Al Borges, but ten to eleven receivers should be plenty. The Wolverines only truly need one receiver, but an early departure from Funchess might change that number; and receivers are a notoriously fickle bunch (Je'Ron Stokes, Jerald Robinson), so another departure might not be surprising.

TIGHT END
2015 Depth Chart: Keith Heitzman (RS Sr.), A.J. Williams (Sr.), Jake Butt (Jr.), Khalid Hill (RS So.), Ian Bunting (So.)
Need: 2
Offers: Devonaire Clarington, Chris Clark, Hale Hentges, Tyrone Wheatley, Jalen Wilkerson
Scoop: Michigan has opened up the floodgates on tight end offers in recent weeks, and with Wheatley considered a lean toward the Wolverines, that suggests they want more than one. However, I don't see a strong need to take two if the coaches have to reach. It will be important, however, to get a Y-receiver (a bigger tight end who can play tight to the line) since Heitzman, Williams, and Butt will all be upperclassmen.

OFFENSIVE TACKLE
2015 Depth Chart: Erik Magnuson (RS Jr.), Ben Braden (RS Jr.), Chris Fox (RS So.), Logan Tuley-Tillman (RS So.), Juwann Bushell-Beatty (So.)
Need: 1
Offers: Ryan Bates (Penn State), Jake Fruhmorgen, Mitch Hyatt (Clemson), Sterling Jenkins, Grant Newsome, Christian Pellage, Garrett Thomas, Keenan Walker
Scoop: Zero of the tackles will be seniors in 2015, but classmates Magnuson and Braden will be redshirt juniors. Fox has been playing guard a little bit this spring, and while he could play right tackle, perhaps his ACL injury has stolen some of his lateral mobility. Tuley-Tillman appears to be a tackle all the way, and Bushell-Beatty could also play guard.

OFFENSIVE GUARD
2015 Depth Chart: Blake Bars (RS Jr.), Kyle Kalis (RS Jr.), Kyle Bosch (Jr.), David Dawson (RS So.), Dan Samuelson (RS Jr.), Mason Cole (So.), Jon Runyan (Fr.)
Need: 0
Offers: Aaron Garza (Texas), Jon Runyan (Michigan)
Scoop: Michigan looks pretty set at guard for the near future. No guards will graduate after the 2014 season except walk-on Joe Burzynski, and the oldest two players at the position in 2015 will be juniors. Runyan appears to be a guard prospect due to his height, but if he hits a growth spurt between now and college, he could become a tackle prospect.

CENTER
2015 Depth Chart: Graham Glasgow (RS Sr.), Jack Miller (RS Sr.), Patrick Kugler (RS So.)
Need: 1
Offers: None
Scoop: The depth in 2015 will be sufficient, but once Glasgow and Miller graduate, Kugler being the only true center on the roster might be a little questionable. In my opinion, the staff should recruit an heir apparent for the center position unless one of the guards is in line to back up Kugler in 2016.