Michigan Football: Wolverines announce 2016 recruiting class

Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan football is back with Jim Harbaugh leading the way and the Wolverines 2016 recruiting class is further proof of that.

In their first year under coach Jim Harbaugh, the Michigan Wolverines have seen a monumental leap in their play on the field and in their recruiting off of it.

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Michigan went through a dreadful 5-7 season in 2014, which led to the firing of Brady Hoke and a recruiting class that barely broke the top 40. But Harbaugh allowed the Wolverines to quickly forget such woes. He posted a 10-win inaugural season and is in a position to land the biggest recruiting class of 2016. He just needs help from a particular defensive tackle.

The Wolverines hauled in a top-five class, per 247Sports, led by early enrollees such as pro-style QB Brandon Peters, RB Kareem Walker and Ben Bredeson at OT.

With Peters, the former QB Harbaugh has his first prized QB recruit at Michigan. Peters is the No.1 recruit in Indiana and the No. 6 overall pro-style QB in the 2016 class. He will likely wait until his junior year to play, but should be well-groomed for the job by the time Houston transfer John O’Korn graduates.

He’ll have plenty of wide receiver prospects to throw to when the time comes, and Walker coming out of the backfield. One of the top 100 players in the country, Walker will have a sea of competition for playing time at running back, but much of that group will clear out by his sophomore year. Bredeson could see early action in the midst of a younger trio of left tackles for Michigan.

For as great as this class has been for the Wolverines, it has not been without its controversies. Harbaugh has been criticized heavily for the way he’s dropped and added recruits, but he’s put together the best class Michigan has had in a long time.

Michigan Recruiting Class: Full list of commits

Will the Michigan recruiting class be what Jim Harbaugh needs to get the Wolverines a Big Ten championship and into the College Football Playoff?