Michigan's 2021 & 2022 Recruiting Targets

Michigan's 2021 & 2022 Recruiting Targets

Take a look at Michigan's recruiting needs and potential targets in the class of 2021 and 2022.

Jun 19, 2020 by Kyle Bratke
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In case you missed the Michigan depth chart and lineup look, the Wolverines are in a position to challenge for a national title next season. That starts on the recruiting front. Today, we'll take a look at who could be future Michigan Men from the class of 2021 and 2022. 

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In case you missed the Michigan depth chart and lineup look, the Wolverines are in a position to challenge for a national title next season. That starts on the recruiting front. Today, we'll take a look at who could be future Michigan Men from the class of 2021 and 2022. 

The Last Decade In Wolverine Recruiting 

Michigan has recruited very well since 2011. Only two classes over that time period were ranked outside of the top 20. Despite that, the Wolverines still managed to bring in an average class ranking of 14.7, five top-10 classes, and were one of just eight schools to win a recruiting title with their impressive haul in 2013. The Wolverines have finished in the top 11 of the past five NCAA Championships and it's no coincidence that four of their last five recruiting classes were ranked in the top 16. 

Lightweight (125-141)

Level of need: Nah they're good

2020 signees: #38 Dylan Ragusin (Montini Catholic, IL); Chris Kim (Germantown Academy, PA)

Current 2021 verbal commitments: #37 Zack Mattin (Delta, OH)

2021 uncommitted targets: None

The Wolverines are good at 125 with Jack Medley who has two years of eligibility remaining and Kurt McHenry with a full four years still to wrestle. Dylan Ragusin should grow into a good-sized 133-pounder after a redshirt year behind Stevan Micic. Michigan has plenty of options at 141 as well with Joey Silva who has three years of eligibility remaining, Drew Mattin who has two years, and Cole Mattin who has three. The third Mattin brother, Zack, will provide some good depth at 125/133 and if he's like his brothers, potentially grow into 141 eventually. 

Watch Ragusin beat Purdue signee Jacob Rundell in the Doc Buchanan finals.

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Middleweight (149-165)

Level of need: It wouldn't hurt

2020 signees: Fidel Mayora (Montini Catholic, IL);

Current 2021 verbal commitments: None

2021 & 2022 uncommitted targets: #2 Shayne Van Ness (Blair Academy, NJ); #3 Jesse Mendez (Crown Point, IN); #43 Luka Wick (San Marino, CA)

The Wolverines have made the final cut for the second-ranked recruit in the class of 2021, Shayne Van Ness, and I expect them to go all-in on the Blair Academy product. Van Ness may project as more of a 141-pounder, but I believe he can grow into 149 at some point in his career. 

Another blue-chip recruit that projects as a 141/149-pounder that Michigan will be going after is Jesse Mendez. The Indiana hammer is currently ranked as the third-ranked recruit in the class of 2022. If the Wolverines miss on Van Ness in the class of 2021, I would expect them to go even harder at Mendez.

While Will Lewan does have three years of eligibility remaining it's always nice to have depth. 2020 signee and Fargo champion Fidel Mayora could provide that depth if he outgrows 149. Top-45 prospect in the class of 2021 Luka Wick has named Michigan a finalist for his service and could be the man to provide some more depth to the Wolverine middleweights.

Cam Amine has his full allotment of eligibility remaining, but again it wouldn't hurt to have some more depth behind him. 

Watch Mendez and Van Ness square off at Who's #1.

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Upperweights (174-285)

Level of need: Upgrades needed 

2020 signees: #22 Gaige Garcia (Southern Columbia, PA); Jaden Bullock (Oscar Smith, VA); Matt McKenna (New Trier, IL) Joseph Walker (Mishawaka, IN); Brendin Yatooma (Detroit Catholic Central, MI)

Current 2021 verbal commitments: None

2021 & 2022 uncommitted targets: #5 Cael Valencia (St. John Bosco, CA); #32 Manuel Rojas (Detroit Catholic Central, MI); #79 Omari Embree (Warren Woods, MI)

Logan Massa and Myles Amine are entering their final years of eligibility and Jelani Embree and Mason Parris each only have two years remaining. Outside of 197, where I believe two-time Pennsylvania state champion Gaige Garcia is the future of 197, the Michigan upperweights require upgrades. It's also important to note that Garcia plans on doing double duty and playing football for the Wolverines as well.

The third top-35 recruit in the class of 2021 the Wolverines made the final cut for is California hammer, Cael Valencia. We project Valencia as a 174-pounder, but like his older brother, Zahid, I could grow out of the weight during his college career. 

My colleague, The Wrestling Nomad, recently wrote an article about which class of 2022 recruits your favorite team's coaches should be contacting on the first day of contact. In a very nice writeup, The Wrestling Nomad listed in-state recruit, Manuel Rojas. Rojas could become another in a long line of Detroit Catholic Central hammers to head to Ann Arbor and would help add depth and options to 184.

Another upperweight option is the 79th ranked recruit in the class of 2022, Omari Embree. Of course, Omari is the younger brother of current Michigan wrestler and two-time NCAA qualifier, Jelani Embree. Omari is a two-time Michigan state champion, but one thing to keep an eye on is that he excels on the football field and currently has a scholarship offer from Central Michigan. Could he be like Gaige Garcia and be the next Wolverine to play football and wrestle?

Watch Valencia beat Ohio State commit Paddy Gallagher in the Doc Buchanan finals.

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Keep it locked on FloWrestling all month as we continue to roll out depth chart breakdowns for the nation's top D1 programs and also take a look at the high school wrestlers they are targeting