Several major Michigan football destinations have risen in the On3.com rankings for the 2024 recruit class.
There has been much talk of how Michigan football squandered its momentum from the 2022 season on the recruiting path this spring.
Recruitment was slower than expected after a playoff berth in the 2023 class. But Michigan is starting to build some momentum, and the Wolverines also lost their two primary coordinators last season, while Jim Harbaugh had a long flirtation with the NFL.
The fact that Michigan Football doesn’t really play the NIL game as sleazy and dirty as others hasn’t helped either, although the Wolverines are legitimately improving their game (legally).
Additionally, one of the things that’s been under the radar is that the Wolverines are in a solid position with a line-up of top recruits for 2024.
The top targets for 2024 are moving up
Michigan football fans are rightly focused on CJ Carr in 2024, but the Wolverines are the mix for a number of elite prospects, as EJ Holland details here (subscription required), as does DT Justin Scott, EDGE rusher Dylan Stewart and Defense attorney Bryce West.
According to the On3 prediction engine, the Wolverines are not currently leading any of these recruitments, but they are strong in the mix and all in the top 50 of the most recent On3 update.
Speaking of quarterbacks, Michael Van Buren is one to watch for the Wolverines in 2024, especially if things don’t go well with CJ Carr. Van Buren was previously rated three stars according to the On3 consensus rankings and now he’s firmly in the four-star rankings at 141st overall.
He’s 5-foot-11, 185 pounds but more of a double threat than Carr and has a ton of potential. And with Biff Poggi on staff, the former head coach at St. Frances Academy, where Van Buren plays, Michigan is a powerful influence.
Penn State is currently the projected leader, according to On3, but a lot of that could depend on what happens with Michigan Football and Carr. The Wolverines lead with CJ, but Notre Dame is coming forward strongly, as are a number of SEC programs.
Van Buren isn’t from Maryland and if things go downhill for Carr he would be a great option. Holland even said in the link above that he has a higher advantage.
Another key target that has taken a big bump is Jacob Oden, a recruit that Michigan fans should know well. The 6-foot, 185-pound safety by Harper Woods ranks fourth in Michigan State for the 2024 class and advanced to 145th overall and 14th among safety in the On3 consensus rankings.
Holland projected Oden to Michigan football back in December, and there were no new expert predictions just yet. Notre Dame and Michigan State are also pushing, but the Wolverines currently have a more than 90 percent chance, according to the On3 prediction engine. They just have to close and you never know, maybe Oden could be the first signing of 2024?
