Michigan’s recruiting has received a lot of criticism over the last four cycles, and for good reason. Despite the team’s historic success, the Wolverines have failed to recruit high-level talent.
The reasons are quite simple. Michigan has failed to develop a compelling NIL plan, and Jim Harbaugh’s annual flirtation with the NFL makes it hard for recruits to believe he will stick with the program long term.
Of course, none of these losses seem to matter given the national title, but it’s worth looking back at the players across college football who could have been on the field for Michigan on Saturday.
Worthy was one of the craziest hires in recent memory.
The California speedster chose the Wolverines over Alabama and Texas on National Signing Day, but left his NLI and transferred to Texas before enrolling.At the time, it was like a dagger.
Worthy is expected to join J.J. sign. McCarthy and Donovan Edwards were among the best QB-RB-WR trios in the country, but faltered late against the Wolverines. Oh, what could have been.
Worthy lived up to the expectations placed on him as a top 100 player in the country. He played a key role in the Texas offense in each of his three college seasons, totaling 197 catches for 2,755 yards and 26 touchdowns during his career.
During Jim Harbaugh’s tenure in Ann Arbor, Worthy would be considered the greatest receiver in history.
Worthy has been declared for the draft and is considered a late first/early second round pick.
VanSumeren was in pain as he left. He followed his brother Ben to Michigan State, giving Michigan’s rivals a talking point for months.
The 6-foot-1, 300-pound defensive tackle was ranked as the 200th-ranked player nationally and third in Michigan, so the favoritism of him over Sparty was hard to stomach.
The good news is that in the end this was mutually beneficial. AVS has made just three tackles in four games this year and is struggling to earn playing time ahead of next season.
Michigan scored big with Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, so it’s hard to imagine the in-stater would have seen much playing time for Michigan anyway.
