The Michigan Wolverines are enjoying a strong first year under head coach Jim Harbaugh, who has already matched his alma mater's 2014 win total.
Despite a heartbreaking loss to Michigan State in its most recent matchup, Michigan is clearly a program on the rise. A trio of consecutive shutout victories provide plenty of indication, but strides beyond the playing field also command attention.
The Wolverines currently carry a top-10 recruiting class in the 2016 cycle after finishing 37th overall in composite rankings last national signing day. This group still has plenty of room for improvement, as Michigan seems to be in the mix for more elite uncommitted prospects than most teams in America.
A few key members of this class are expected to someday comprise an explosive offensive backfield in Ann Arbor. Indiana products Brandon Peters, Kiante Enis and Chris Evans have routinely put their skills on display as senior high school standouts in the Hoosier State, creating even more buzz about their potential impact on the Wolverines attack.
Peters, a 6'5", 205-pound quarterback from Avon High School, captured national attention this summer when he earned recognition as an Elite 11 inductee. He thrived during the annual July passing showcase held at Nike's world headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon.
It appears he's carried that experience into his senior campaign. Peters has posted career-best statistics this season, leading Avon to an 8-2 record and a state playoff appearance.
His most recent performance—a 260-yard, three-touchdown effort in the postseason opener, per MaxPreps—occurred in a head-to-head matchup with top-rated 2017 quarterback and Tennessee commit Hunter Johnson.
Peters is completing 64 percent of pass attempts through 10 games this fall, resulting in 2,441 yards and 33 touchdowns through the air. He's lost just four interceptions among 246 total tosses, throwing just two picks since the start of September.
Those totals provide proof of continued progression following a junior season that featured a 56 percent completion rate, 1,876 passing yards, 21 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Harbaugh has heaped plenty of praise toward Peters during their discussions. He compared the young gunslinger to his famous former Stanford pupil prior to picking up his pledge in April.
"He compared me to Andrew Luck," Peters told Bleacher Report after making his commitment public. "It's a similar situation to what he had at Stanford, with Luck being the first quarterback recruit he brought in [with a full cycle]. He thinks I'm a really good fit for him at Michigan like Luck was for him there."
A quarterback always benefits when he's surrounded by capable playmakers who can create opportunities for the entire offense. Peters is set to arrive at campus next year with at least two impressive running backs in fellow Indiana athletes Evans and Enis.
Evans and Indianapolis powerhouse Ben Davis High School actually face Peters' program in the next round of postseason action. The 5'11", 186-pound prospect is just as pivotal to his team's success as the quarterback.
He rushed for 218 yards and four scores on 28 carries in a first-round victory, according to Paul Shepherd of the Indianapolis Star. It was Evans' third game this season with at least 150 yards on the ground, per MaxPreps.
Though he's shown the ability to carry a large load as a runner with 2,500 rushing yards since 2013, it's Evans' versatility that excites most. He projects to possibly contribute as both a rusher and slot receiver in college.
The 126 receptions since his sophomore year indicate adeptness in the passing game. Evans has turned those opportunities into 1,611 receiving yards (12.8 per catch) and 19 touchdowns, setting the stage for an eventual full-time switch to receiver at Michigan if roster depth eventually necessitates it.
Evans could someday create a formidable and dynamic one-two punch with Enis, a punishing 6'1", 200-pound back from Winchester Community High School. This season has been a personal tour de force for the powerful runner.
Enis established a new school record by scoring seven times on the ground Friday night in state sectional action, according to the Palladium-Item. He rumbled for 381 yards on 22 rushing attempts, per MaxPreps.
It was his second 300-yard game of the season, adding to a 341-yard outburst in the season opener. Enis has gained at least 100 rushing yards in nine of 10 games this fall, surpassing 200 yards on four occasions.
He's also shown the ability to contribute as a receiver when called upon. Enis has added 241 yards and two scores through the air this season, though it's his rushing totals that steal the spotlight.
Since the start of his sophomore season, he's racked up 6,618 yards and 93 touchdowns as a ball-carrier. He's averaged 10.1 yards per rushing attempt on 654 carries during that span.
Enis is the nephew of former college star Curtis Enis, an All-American running back at Penn State who became the fifth overall NFL draft pick in 1998. He also warrants consideration as a defensive back.
Beyond Indiana, Wolverines fans should be focused on Alabama rusher Kingston Davis. The nation's top-ranked fullback serves as a 6'1", 225-pound battering ram at Prattville High School.
He's carried the ball 219 times through nine games this season, per MaxPreps, gaining 1,471 yards en route to 16 scores. This production gives him 3,440 rushing yards and 31 total touchdowns as an upperclassman.
Davis drew rave reveiws from 5-star linebacker Lyndell "Mack" Wilson earlier this fall following a matchip between the two Alabama talents.
"Kingston is an outstanding back and a bruiser," Wilson told Steve Lorenz of 247Sports. "He's explosive for his size and makes big time plays when his team needs him to. He's going to be an outstanding player in college wherever a team lines him up. He's the kind of player that will make your team better when he's on the field."
Harbaugh and his staff still aim to add more impactful pieces to Michigan's recruiting haul, including top-ranked running back and longtime Ohio State commit Kareem Walker.
Even if the Wolverines ultimately fail to flip the coveted New Jersey recruit, it's clear Harbaugh has the components for a scintillating young offensive backfield in coming seasons. Dominant senior seasons for Peters, Davis, Evans and Enis further enforce the confidence Michigan displayed in each prospect earlier in this process.
Tyler Donohue is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite rankings. Follow Tyler via Twitter: @TDsTake.
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