The primary focus in the world of Michigan football recruiting is on closing out the 2016 class.
Can U-M finish strong, adding five-star defensive tackle Rashan Gary and others?
But the coaching staff is working on the future, as well. The Wolverines have offered a number of 2017 and even 2018 prospects in recent weeks, and on Saturday, one of their earlier 2017 offers pledged his allegiance.
Ja’Raymond Hall plays for Oak Park.
Oak Park offensive lineman Ja’Raymond Hall picked Michigan over a group of scholarship offers that included Penn State, Tennessee and a number of Mid-American Conference schools. The 6-foot-5, 255-pounder is rated as a three-star prospect, the No. 33 offensive tackle nationally and the No. 9 junior in Michigan.
“I called coach (Tyrone) Wheatley and told him,” Hall said. “I haven’t talked to coach (Jim) Harbaugh yet, but I will. It just felt right. Everything. The academics, and everything else.”
Recruiting: Full coverage
Hall manned right tackle for a Knights team that finished 5-5 after losing in the first round of the Division 2 state playoffs to rival Southfield. According to Oak Park assistant coach — and Hall’s off-season trainer — Daryl Graham, the best is yet to come for the young lineman.
“I think he needs to get better in the weight room,” Graham said. “I want him to get a little stronger and see how well he carries more weight. Just understanding the game on a high level. I’ve got very high expectations of the guys, especially when they train with me during the off-season. I give him a B-minus (for his junior season). He could have stepped up as a leader, and it was a young offensive line — he did decent but maybe be more vocal.”
Hall is the fourth member of Michigan’s 2017 class, joining tight end Carter Dunaway, running back Kurt Taylor and defensive back Benjamin St-Juste. The number of available scholarships is yet to be determined — it will depend upon how many prospects U-M lands in 2016, along with any attrition between now and Signing Day 2017 — but it should be a large class. Twenty-six Wolverines are slated to complete their eligibility after the 2016 season.
Tim Sullivan is the football recruiting editor of The Wolverine magazine and thewolverine.com. He is also a contributor to national football recruiting coverage on the rivals.com network. You can follow him on Twitter @tims_wolverine.
