Recruiting Podcast: EJ Holland wraps up 2022 Michigan football class
On this episode of The Wolverine Recruiting Podcast, Michigan recruiting analyst EJ Holland gives us his unfiltered thoughts on the ENTIRE 2022 Michigan football class in this extensive audio breakdown. From lowest to highest per the On3 Consensus, you’ll get insight on everyone from Alessandro Lorenzetti to five-star phenom Will Johnson.
Johnson, the lone incoming Michigan product, is easily the team’s top 2022 prospect breaking the On3 Consensus at No. 18 overall as the second-best cornerback in the country. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound signee also inked a historic, multi-year NIL deal with AFB Hospitality group. It’s among the more unprecedented deals in this space considering it’s prior to Johnson ever taking the field in Maize and Blue.
With the spring game now in the review mirror, Holland provides one last look at the group which ranked No. 9 nationally and third in the Big Ten, according to On3. Fifty-nine percent of the Michigan class is made of blue-chip prospects with just five percent coming in-state (878 mile avg. distance).
Michigan ended its 2021 campaign with a 12-2 record, ultimately winning its first Big Ten title game under Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh. Michigan would eventually fall to Georgia in the College Football Playoff, but U-M is still expected to contend for back-to-back conference championships this season.
Looking ahead, Michigan has the No. 7 overall recruiting class in the 2023 cycle with six verbal commitments — Top 100 Tallahassee (Fla.) Lincoln linebacker Raylen Wilson, Consensus four-star Dexter (Mich.) High running back Cole Cabana, three-star Wilmette (Ill.) Loyola Academy defensive lineman Brooks Bahr, three-star West Bloomfield (Mich.) High wide receiver Semaj Morgan, Ann Arbor (Mich.) Huron kicker Adam Samaha and Kennesaw (Ga.) North Cobb running back Benjamin Hall.
Michigan is looking to take around 25 recruits this cycle and will look to build off a strong close to the 2022 class, which saw several signing day splashes.
