Michigans recruiting class ranks among the best
It seems popular this week to fret over what Michigan's class isn't, but the Wolverines' 23-commitment haul ranks fifth nationally for a reason. U-M has won the in-state recruiting battle and went toe to toe with Ohio State in Ohio ...
Here are a few facts and figures to consider:
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Michigan has landed two five-star recruits - No. 14 Ondre Pipkins and No. 22 Kyle Kalis - for the first time since 2007 (Ryan Mallett and Donovan Warren) and for only the fourth time overall (2006 and 2003 also).
U-M has two Top 25 players for only the third time since Rivals.com's inception in 2002 and the first since 2007 (Mallett No. 4 and Warren No. 25).
Michigan is one of only seven schools in the country with multiple five-star recruits and one of only two in the Big Ten.
The Maize and Blue will sign three Top 100 recruits for the first time since 2008 (three); during the past three recruiting classes, U-M signed just four total Top 100 prospects.
Michigan averaged five Top 100 recruits during the final six years of the Lloyd Carr era (2002-07 classes).
The Wolverines have secured eight Rivals250 recruits, representing their largest collection since signing 13 Top 250 players in 2009. In the six previous years of the Rivals250, U-M has averaged 8.2 Top 250 commitments.
Michigan's 11 five- or four-star recruits account for 45.8 percent of the class' 24 total commitments, the highest mark since 2009 (63.6 percent).
U-M's nine four-star recruits are more than its chief Legends Division competitors - Michigan State (three) and Nebraska (five) - have combined. While the 11 five- or four-star total is just three fewer than the rest of the entire Legends Division has this year.
The Wolverines will sign three of the top five players in the state of Michigan and six of the top 10 while nabbing two of Ohio's 10 best and four of the Top 20 in the state to their south.
U-M hasn't landed two Top 10 recruits in Ohio since 2008 (two) or four Top 20 since 2008 (six).
Michigan ranks in the Top 10 nationally at three positions (ranking first in the Big Ten in each) - offensive line (second in the country), defensive tackle (third) and linebacker (third). U-M also ranks second in the conference in running backs, tight ends, defensive ends and defensive backs.