Michigan climbs in On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings

A little more than two weeks before Michigan participates in the College Football Playoff, the Wolverines landed the 19th member of their 2023 recruiting class. Chicago (Ill.) Brother Rice three-star defensive lineman Roderick Pierce committed to Michigan on Wednesday night, elevating the Wolverines into the top 20 of the 2023 On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings.

Michigan’s group currently ranks No. 20. The Wolverines, whose class is No. 3 in the Big Ten, rose two spots from No. 22.

Pierce is the No. 581 overall prospect and No. 61 defensive lineman in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 11 player in Illinois.

For more Michigan recruiting intel, check out The Wolverine.

Michigan building recruiting momentum since November

Right now, the Wolverines have pledges from six four-stars and 13 three-stars. Seven of their commits rank in the top 500 of the On3 Consensus.

Since November, head coach Jim Harbaugh and his staff have landed multiple players. They include Pierce, Youngstown (Ohio) Chaney three-star linebacker Jason Hewlett, Cincinnati (Ohio) Princeton three-star linebacker Jason Hewlett, Cincinnati (Ohio) Winton Woods three-star cornerback Cameron Calhoun and Cumming (Ga.) South Forsyth three-star interior offensive lineman Nathan Efobi.

On3 rates Efobi higher than other recruiting services, per the Industry Comparison. According to the 2023 On300, he is a four-star recruit, the No. 123 overall prospect, No. 10 interior offensive lineman and No. 10 player in Georgia.

Michigan’s rise from No. 43 in the On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings came over the summer. It started on July 1, when the Wolverines landed commitments from Philadelphia (Penn.) Imhotep Institute four-star linebacker Semaj Bridgeman and Saint Louis (Mo.) Cardinal Ritter College Prep three-star wide receiver Fredrick Moore. 

Days later, head coach Jim Harbaugh and his staff got a pledge from West Bloomfield (Mich.) four-star interior offensive lineman Amir Herring. On July 13, Michigan earned its biggest recruiting win of the 2023 cycle by landing Colleyville (Texas) Covenant Christian Academy four-star defensive lineman Enow Etta, the No. 118 overall prospect in the On300. Paris (France) Pionniers de Touraine three-star EDGE Aymeric Koumba also chose the Wolverines 48 hours later. 

The following month brought success as well. Michigan notched August commitments from Burke (Va.) Gonzaga four-star offensive tackle Evan Link and Carlsbad (Calif.) three-star tight end Zack Marshall. Meanwhile, Kansas City (Mo.) Park Hill three-star quarterback Kendrick Bell, the brother of Wolverines wide receiver Ronnie Bell, chose the maize-and-blue on Oct. 17.

Michigan’s class is led by Etta, as well as Dexter (Mich.) top-200 running back Cole Cabana. Even though Rancho Santa Margarita (Calif.) Santa Margarita Catholic four-star EDGE Collins Acheampong flipped to Miami on Nov. 29, the Wolverines are on the upswing heading into the Early Signing Period.