12/8/2014 football Edit

Michigan Moves in the Rivals100

Tim Sullivan

TheWolverine.com Recruiting Editor

A new Rivals100 has been released into the wild - this time for the 2016 class. One Michigan commit makes the list, along with a pair of in-staters and a number of targets for the Maize and Blue.

CommitsDowners Grove (Ill.) South offensive lineman Erik Swenson was the only U-M pledge in the previous edition of the Rivals100 (though both other 2016 commits are in the Rivals250), and that status hasn't changed. The 6-5, 300-pounder made a slight drop in the rankings - from No. 70 to No. 76 - but his overall abilities are still in about the same range as the Rivals.com rankings experts previously believed.

Swenson has traditionally been far more impressive on the field in games than he is during off-season camps (which is saying something, given how impressive he can be in camps, as well), and this season was no different. He made 130 pancake blocks in 10 games this season, but would have been more satisfied with a better team record - 6-4, including a first-round playoff loss. Fortunately for Swenson, he has one more year on the high school gridiron to prove himself, and lead his team to the promised land.

In-State StandoutsDetroit Cass Tech linebacker Daelin Hayes remains the state's top prospect. He drops a few spots in the rankings - from No. 14 to No. 18 - but picks up a fifth star after previously being the top four-star player in the nation. The 6-3, 227-pounder has athletic ability, but due to injuries and transfer restrictions, has only played a handful of games in the past two years.

Hayes is a USC commit, but continues to pick up scholarship offers, including from Duke this morning, bringing him up to 20-plus offers. Michigan would love to have the opportunity to flip his commitment when a new staff comes in. The Wolverines were considered the favorite for Hayes when he tentatively planned to announce his commitment at last April's Detroit Rivals Camp, but his timeline changed, and he picked the Trojans instead on an unofficial visit to Los Angeles late in the summer. He moved to California at that time, but has since returned to Michigan.

Across town at rival Detroit King, wide receiver Donnie Corley is the only other Michigan native to make the Rivals100. The 6-2, 174-pounder made a big leap from No. 226 to No. 89 overall in the nation. He had a big junior year with 47 catches for 1,087 yards (23.1 yards per catch) and 18 touchdowns, and even added 9 interceptions as a defensive back.

Corley has offers from across the Midwest, plus some big-time out-of-region programs, including LSU. Michigan is right in the mix, though rival Michigan State is considered to be the early leader, and the Spartans will sign two of his 2015 teammates (linebacker Tyriq Thompson and offensive lineman Kyonta Stallworth) in the class ahead of him.

Other OfferedPlenty of active Michigan targets early in the 2016 recruiting cycle are in the Rivals100. A look at some of the key names follows:

Rashan Gary - No. 2

Defensive tackle • 6-4, 290

Paramus, N.J. (Paramus Catholic)

Shea Patterson - No. 6

Quarterback • 6-2, 191

Shreveport, La. (Calvary Academy)

Levonta Taylor - No. 8

Cornerback • 5-10, 170

Virginia Beach, Va. (Ocean Lakes)

Kareem Walker - No. 17

Running back • 6-1, 210