Following the final month of Michigan football recruiting for the 2016 cycle could get exhausting, so let's take a moment to relax before delving into the 2017 class.
Ready? That's all you get.
College football coaches are already sliding into those DMs, contacting prospects who will be eligible to sign on Feb. 1, 2017. In today's era of recruiting, regular communication is a necessity. Without it, a school could lose out on recruits to rivals willing to build a better rapport with them.
The Wolverines currently have five commits, though as we recently saw, there's no guarantee any verbal pledge will remain a part of the haul.
Rather than focusing on potential members of the class—because at this moment, Michigan has 242 targets, per 247Sports—this piece focuses on what the Maize and Blue need to replace, potential immediate needs and some top prospects.
Current Commits
Carter Dunaway was the first prospect to commit, way back in April 2015. The 3-star tight end is from nearby powerhouse Brother Rice, which regularly produces Football Bowl Subdivision prospects. Plus, per Brice Marich of Scout, Dunaway has already taken on the role of player-recruiter.
JaRaymond Hall, a 4-star offensive tackle, is the highest-rated pledge. Per the 247Sports composite rankings, Hall is the nation's 212th-best player—though that's certain to fluctuate throughout the year.
Michigan secured a pair of 3-star teammates from Newton High School (Covington, Georgia) in running back Kurt Taylor and wide receiver Jeremiah Holloman.
Lastly, the Wolverines crossed the border to snag Benjamin St-Juste, a 3-star cornerback from Montreal. What immediately stands out with St-Juste is his 6'3" frame. Size like that for a defensive back can't be taught, so it could be a tremendous asset.
What Will Michigan Lose?
Predictions and forecasts for the 2016 campaign will largely favor Michigan, which should be a trendy pick to win the Big Ten title in Jim Harbaugh's second season.
That's not just due to the coaching staff, though, since the Wolverines will return a majority of their starters. The eventual downside? Most of them are seniors.
Michigan will lose running backs De'Veon Smith and Drake Johnson, fullback Joe Kerridge and top targets Amara Darboh, Jehu Chesson and Jake Butt. Three starting offensive linemen—Ben Braden, Kyle Kalis and Erik Magnuson—will exhaust their eligibility.
Ryan Glasgow and Chris Wormley, the defense's two best linemen, will head to the NFL. Likely 2016 starting linebacker Ben Gedeon will be leaving, too. And defensive backs Jourdan Lewis, Jeremy Clark, Channing Stribling, Dymonte Thomas and Delano Hill will move on from Ann Arbor as well.
Just for good measure, do-it-all specialist Kenny Allen will play his final season for the Wolverines. Additionally, potential early NFL declarations include two-year starting left tackle Mason Cole and versatile star Jabrill Peppers.
What Might the Wolverines Need?
Things change. We can only guess the breakout players for 2016. However, considering the departures and projected remaining players, Michigan currently needs to address a few future holes in its roster.
Wolverines fans hope quarterback Brandon Peters and running back Kareem Walker will settle into starting roles by the 2017 season, so the primary focus for those positions is depth.
Harbaugh and Co. attacked wide receiver and tight end this past cycle. Plus, Michigan signed three offensive and five defensive linemen in 2016. Expect the staff to target premier (read: highly rated) pass-catching talents while being more aggressive up front.
Linebacker will once again stand out as the No. 1 need, but the secondary isn't far behind. Recently adding David Long, Lavert Hill and Khaleke Hudson calmed many worries for the defensive backfield, though.
Quinn Nordin, one of Harbaugh's "sleepover" recruits, will theoretically replace Allen, but he'll need some competition.
Names to Remember
To say the 2017 recruiting picture is "fluid" would be a wild understatement. National signing day is almost an entire year away. Nevertheless, you'll probably hear these names.
Quarterback: Dylan McCaffrey, Davis Mills, Bailey Hockman and Kasim Hill
In-state prospects: Donovan Peoples-Jones, Ambry Thomas, Josh Ross, Corey Malone-Hatcher, Jaylen Kelly-Powell, Allen Stritzinger, Antjuan Simmons and Emani Mason
IMG Academy (where Michigan will hold a portion of spring practice): Among others, Joshua Kaindoh, Isaiah Pryor, Jordan Anthony, Robert Hainsey, Cesar Ruiz and Cam Spence
Best of the rest: Marvin Wilson, Jarez Parks, Isaiah Wilson, D'Andre Swift, Anthony McFarland Jr., Stanford Samuels, Drew Singleton, TedarrellSlaton and Corey Bolds
All recruiting information via 247Sports. Stats from cfbstats.com or B/R research. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report CFB Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
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