Recruiting Roundup: Michigan receives predictions for 2024 four-star defender ahead of Signing Day

With tomorrow being the beginning of the early signing period, the Wolverines could pick up another highly touted defender to add to their 2024 class.

Erik Bean Erik is a lifelong Wolverines fan born and raised in West Michigan. He covers a variety of topics related to Michigan football including game analysis and recruiting.
The Michigan Wolverines are looking to round out their 2024 class and hopefully get another commitment prior to tomorrow’s early signing day. Similar to CB Jyaire Hill’s commitment last cycle, the Wolverines are hoping a signing day surprise is in the works.

Michigan trending for four-star edge
The Wolverines have a great track record for developing edges. They consistently send guys to the league and completely transform their bodies and skills when they land on campus. That reputation is hopefully what will secure them Lugard Edokpayi’s commitment.

The 2024 four-star out of Maryland has yet to make a decision on where he wants to play at the next level. He rounded his recruitment with a very busy stretch of visits. In the last month alone, he has visited the following schools:

While the Wolverines entered the race late, offering him last month, it appears they are in a good position to land the No. 9 ranked player in the state. Brice Marich of The Michigan Insider submitted a prediction in favor of the Wolverines, and EJ Holland and Zach Libby of The Wolverine put in predictions of their own late last week.

Jeese Minter, Mike Elston and Dylan Roney made an in-home visit with Edokpayi last week, and he had good things to say about that visit to Holland.

“It was good,” Edokpayi said. “It was great to meet them in person, and my parents got to ask all the questions they needed to ask. They talked about their academic program, how they are the top public school in the country and how they are basically an Ivy League when it comes to academics. With the football piece, it was more about the culture and how they are a blue blood program. They talked about the defense and how their defense works.”

Edokpayi fits the size and athleticism of a Wolverine edge rusher and would be a huge addition to the class. His commitment will be something to keep an eye on heading into tomorrow’s signing day.

Four-star LB locked in to sign tomorrow, already practicing with team
Staff changes during a player’s recruitment can have detrimental effects. The first two questions on everybody’s mind following Chris Partridge’s departure was how the linebackers would continue to perform and how it would impact their recruiting class.

Fortunately, it looks like all Michigan’s linebacker commits in the 2024 cycle are locked in, and one of them in particular — four-star in-stater Jeremiah Beasley — is already practicing with the team ahead of their Rose Bowl matchup against Alabama.

“Did my first practice yesterday. I’m going to the bowl game with them and everything. We leave the 26th, so that’ll be good for me then,” Beasley told The Michigan Insider’s Brice Marich. “After that, it’s early enrollment. I’m starting classes when they get back off break. We’ve got spring ball and all that, so I’m going to work toward it.”

Beasley, the No. 7 player in the state, had an outstanding senior season. He played both sides of the ball, totaling more than 110 tackles on defense and nearly 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns on offense, according to MaxPreps. He will sign with the Wolverines tomorrow.

One thing he is particularly excited about is the chance to play with a couple of old friends in Semaj Morgan and Will Johnson. Watching how quickly Michigan has developed the two young playmakers is something that caught his eye.

“That’s like motivation me, to see that somebody that young can come in and have that big of an impact,” Beasley said. “That tells me you can come in and play early and do what he’s doing or even better.”

Jesse Minter’s father, Rick, is currently filling in as the linebackers coach following the firing of Chris Partridge. The coaching staff has made an effort to be very transparent with Beasley and the other recruits, helping keep them at ease with the coaching changes.

“I feel comfortable,” he said of the coaching staff. “Right now, Jesse Minter, his dad is the linebacker coach. He’s a really good guy, really intelligent guy. They’re planning on hiring somebody after the bowl game so it doesn’t affect what they’re doing this year. I know they’ll make a good choice, so I’m real comfortable.”