Breaking News: Michigan wolverine confirms another important signing……

Breaking News: Michigan wolverine confirms another important signing……

Wolverine recruiting report: How Michigan’s 2024 class compares to rest of Big Ten

Michigan cheerleaders wave banners before Michigan faces off against Colorado State at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

February signing day came and went without any activity from Michigan’s football program.

The quiet Wednesday was expected given the attrition on the Wolverines’ staff since Jim Harbaugh departed for the Los Angeles Chargers last month. The good news for new head coach Sherrone Moore is that none of the 27 prospects in the 2024 class who signed with Michigan in December have asked out of their national letter of intent, at least to this point.

Despite adding just two recruits in the 2024 cycle since August while also losing three verbal pledges during that span, Michigan remained in the top 20 nationally, per the 247Sports Composite rankings.

Here is breakdown of Michigan’s 2024 class and how it stacks up against the rest of the Big Ten.

By position

• Quarterback (1)

• Running Back (2)

• Receiver (2)

• Tight end (2)

• Offensive Line (5)

• Defensive Line (7)

• Linebacker (5)

• Defensive Back (3)

By state

• Ohio (4)

• Michigan (3)

• Maryland (3)

• North Carolina (3)

• Pennsylvania (3)

• Connecticut (1)

• Florida (1)

• Illinois (1)

• Kentucky (1)

• Missouri (1)

• Indiana (1)

• Tennessee (1)

• Nevada (1)

• New Jersey (1)

• Texas (1)

• Washington (1)

By 247Sports Composite ratings

National rank: 16

Big Ten rank: 3

4-stars: 18

3-stars: 9

Average rating: 90.29

Notable: The Wolverines didn’t ink any five-star recruits for a second straight cycle after landing at least one in the previous two, but there is more high-end talent in the 2024 class than in the 2023 group. Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller four-star running back Jordan Marshall, who also was a top Ohio State target, is the lone top-100 recruit at No. 77 overall, but the Wolverines have five others in the top 160: quarterback Jadyn Davis (No. 111), offensive tackle Andrew Sprague (No. 121), tight end Brady Prieskorn (No. 129), edge Lugard Edokpayi (No. 151) and cornerback Jo’Ziah Edmond (No. 157).

STORY: Michigan getting a ‘beast’ in elite RB commit Jordan Marshall

Davis was rated as a five-star when he first committed last March but tumbled in the national rankings despite leading Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day to a second straight state title. Nevertheless, he still is the highest-ranked quarterback prospect Michigan has landed since J.J. McCarthy.

STORY: What Michigan football is getting in 4-star QB commit Jadyn Davis

The class also had some notable risers, namely Edmond, who was ranked in the 700s when he flipped from Purdue in August. Edokpayi didn’t have a Power Five offer until his senior year and also shot up the rankings.

Ohio State
National rank: 5

Big Ten rank: 1

Class size: 21

5-stars: 4

4-stars: 14

3-stars: 3

Average rating: 92.80

Notable: The Buckeyes might be riding a three-game losing streak against the Wolverines, but they continue to excel on the recruiting trail. Despite having three top-150 prospects, including five-star defensive lineman Justin Scott, flip to other schools on early signing day, OSU once again inked an impressive haul during the 2024 cycle. Receiver Jeremiah Smith, the top-ranked player in the country, highlights the class, along with four-star quarterback Air Noland, the No. 4 signal-caller nationally.

OSU beat out Michigan for two elite cornerbacks from Ohio – Aaron Scott and Bryce West, who both rank among the top 70 prospects in the nation.

The Buckeyes also landed one recruit from Michigan: Coopersville four-star offensive lineman Gabe VanSickle, who did not have an offer from the Wolverines.

Penn State
National rank: 15

Big Ten rank: 2

Class size: 25

4-stars: 15

3-stars: 10

Average rating: 90.59

Notable: James Franklin continues to recruit at a high level, but that hasn’t resulted in banner wins on the field against top-tier opponents. The Nittany Lions also landed an elite quarterback this cycle and went into Ohio to do it. Ethan Grunkemeyer is the No. 104 overall prospect and No. 7 signal-caller nationally.

The program beefed up its offensive line by signing six players up front, headlined by top-100 recruit Cooper Cousins.

PSU signed four players from Michigan in the 2021 class before going back-to-back cycles without doing so. It returned to the Mitten this year to land West Bloomfield three-star safety Kari Jackson.

Nebraska
National rank: 18

Big Ten rank: 4

Class size: 31

5-stars: 1

4-stars: 7

3-stars: 23

Average rating: 88.24

Notable: The Cornhuskers have seen an uptick in recruiting under Matt Rhule, who will be entering his second season in 2024. They made national headlines in December when they flipped five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola from Georgia. They added another top-100 prospect as well in four-star offensive tackle Grant Brix.

Not surprisingly, the Cornhuskers once again prioritized their home state, signing eight players from Nebraska.

Wisconsin
National rank: 23

Big Ten rank: 5

Class size: 22

4-stars: 11

3-stars: 11

Average rating: 89.33

Notable: The Badgers also have enjoyed a recruiting surge with first-year head coach Luke Fickell. Offensive line has always by an emphasis at Wisconsin, and it landed five prospects at the position this cycle, headlined by top-100 recruit Kevin Haywood.

Purdue
National rank: 29

Big Ten rank: 6

Class size: 26

4-stars: 4

3-stars: 22

Average rating: 87.07

Notable: Ryan Walters was hired as Jeff Brohm’s replacement ahead of the 2023 season, and he helped ink the Boilermakers’ highest-ranked class since 2019.

Their biggest land was Cincinnati LaSalle four-star safety Koy Beasley, who is ranked No. 126 nationally and No. 6 in Ohio. Nine of Purdue’s recruits were from either Ohio or home state Indiana.

It landed one prospect from Michigan in Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central three-star safety Ty Hudkins.

Iowa
National rank: 32

Big Ten rank: 7

Class size: 21

4-stars: 6

3-stars: 15

Average rating: 87.64

Notable: Like several programs in the Big Ten, the Hawkeyes pride themselves in keeping their local talent in state. They signed four of the top five players in the state, including four-star linebackers Cam Buffington and Derek Weisskopf.

Minnesota
National rank: 36

Big Ten rank: 8

Class size: 20

4-stars: 3

3-stars: 16

Average rating: 87.71

Notable: The Gophers are back in the top 40 for the first time since 2021. Offensive lineman Nathan Roy headlines the 2024 group, ranking No. 181 nationally.

Rutgers
National rank: 37

Big Ten rank: 9

Class size: 24

4-stars: 4

3-stars: 20

Average rating: 86.89

Notable: Greg Schiano and Co. plucked two prospects out of Michigan this cycle: West Bloomfield three-star linebacker Montele Johnson and Linden three-star safety Monte Keener. Rutgers signed seven players from Florida.

Maryland
National rank: 39

Big Ten rank: 10

Class size: 24

4-stars: 3

3-stars: 21

Average rating: 86.81

Notable: Twelve of Maryland’s signees are in-state prospects, including three from national powerhouse Baltimore St. Frances Academy, which produced Blake Corum.

Michigan State
National rank: 46

Big Ten rank: 11

Class size: 20

4-stars: 3

3-stars: 17

Average rating: 86.81

Notable: New head coach Jonathan Smith was put in a tough spot after being hired in early December. MSU added two players to its class on Wednesday. Smith has been active in the transfer portal, including adding talented quarterback Aaron Chiles, but it also signed two high school signal-callers.

The Spartans also inked two in-state prospects with River Rouge four-star receiver Nick Marsh, the highest-ranked in the class, and Gaylord three-star linebacker Brady Pretzlaff.

Illinois
National rank: 51

Big Ten rank: 12

Class size: 19

4-stars: 2

3-stars: 16

Average rating: 86.75

Notable: Mount Pleasant four-star offensive lineman Andrew Dennis, a top-300 recruit nationally, headlines Illinois’ class.

Indiana
National rank: 20

Big Ten rank: 13

Class size: 17

4-stars: 1

3-stars: 16

Average rating: 85.98

Notable: Tom Allen was fired in late-November, giving new head coach Curt Cignetti, who was at James Madison, little time to recruit in the 2024 class.

The Hoosiers inked a premium quarterback prospect though, landing four-star in-state recruit Tyler Cherry. He is the No. 233 overall player in the country.

Northwestern
National rank: 82

Big Ten rank: 14

Class size: 17

3-stars: 15

Average rating: 84.80

Notable: Two of the Wildcats’ highest-ranked recruits are from Michigan: Sault Ste. Marie defensive lineman Callen Campbell and Plymouth three-star offensive lineman Idrys Cotton.