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Early Signing Day 2017: Live tracker of who’s signing with Michigan

It’s the inaugural Early Signing Day on Wednesday and Michigan has plenty of names expected to take advantage of the early signing period.?

The Wolverine Lounge has you covered throughout the day with who’s signing with Michigan, who’s signing elsewhere, and any other key updates.

Stay locked in to this live tracker to keep up with what’s going on around the country with the 2018 class.

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11:30AM: 3-star Missouri RB Hassan Haskins signs with Michigan

He put up video game numbers in his senior season, rushing for over 2,000 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Despite his low ranking that pits him at No. 927 overall, the numbers were just too hard to pass up for Michigan’s staff to not offer him.

Understandably so, as I’d say you don’t see these numbers “every day,” but you simply don’t see them … ever. He’s got a rare kind of hype in that he’s ranked exceptionally low, but fans want to see if he can contribute just half of the numbers he put up in high school at some point while he’s in Ann Arbor.

His vision is fantastic, making him the most patient back of any Harbaugh-recruited back. He’s pretty elusive and can find just about any opening.

If he was doing these things in Florida, Texas, Georgia, or any big football state, he’d probably be a Top 100 recruit. Doing it in a low-level division in Missouri lands you where he is in the rankings.

Thankfully for Michigan, rankings don’t matter and the gamble they took on Haskins sounds like one that’s got really good odds and even better payout for the Wolverines.

11:21AM: Days after flipping from Iowa, 3-star ATH Ben VanSumeren signs with Michigan

The in-state Essexville (Mich.) Garber HS product received an offer from Michigan late last week, visited Michigan, then committed to the Wolverines.

Just a few days after that pledge, he’s officially signed on as a Wolverine.

VanSumeren will complement rising sophomore Ben Mason at FB. VanSumeren is a physical prowess that only one other player on the roster can compare to: Mason.

VanSumeren can play defense, but his talents on offense can lead he and Mason to becoming an even better duo than Khalid Hill and Henry Poggi have been the past two seasons.

He and Mason will lead the way at FB in 2018.

10:47AM: Georgia 4-star DB Myles Sims signs with Michigan

If it’s not Cam McGrone as the defensive star of this class, it will for sure be Atlanta (Ga.) Westlake 4-star Myles Sims.

His 6-2.5 frame will allow him to play either CB or S at Michigan. Ideally, though, it’ll be corner as he has some size that you just simply cannot find often, if at all, at this level.

Sims is the second-highest ranked recruit in the class behind Muhammad. Sims sits at No. 148 overall, and the 17th-best safety in the country.

He’s got the skills already to be a great B1G DB, but he’s got the potential to be an All-American with his skill-set and size. He’ll compete right away, IMO, for a spot in the 2-deep.

10:31AM: In-state 4-star OT Jalen Mayfield signs with Michigan

Having now cracked the Top 300 recruits in the nation, Mayfield’s stock has risen as much as any recruit in the Midwest this year.

Originally, he was a below 600 guy, and gradually started making moves up.

Now, he finds himself as an Army All-American and the 19th-best tackle in the country.

He’s really smooth, agile, and quick to get to the next level. He’s got the right frame, too, at 6-5, 273 pounds. With Michigan’s struggles at tackle, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least bit to see Mayfield compete immediately.

He’ll need to get stronger, and that’s a guarantee to happen with his work ethic.

10:21AM: Former Florida pledge, 3-star DE Taylor Upshaw, signs with Michigan

Bradenton (Fla.) Braden River 3-star DE Taylor Upshaw is another recruit that isn’t ranked very high in the 247Sports Composite.

Despite that, he was a Florida commit and desired by many Power Five schools, including Clemson. Regardless, he ended up at Michigan, far North of his hometown in South Florida.

His 6-5 frame makes for an abundance of intrigue at defensive end.

Like a few in this class, he’s got project qualities to him, in that he’s barely played football. Think about a more bulk Luiji Vilain coming into his freshman season, with less mechanics.

Or, if you’re feeling frisky, think about Detroit Lions DE Ziggy Ansah, who had never played football before, but his similar size and strength lead him to the NFL.

Upshaw is a “project,” but he’s one that I see flourishing from the jump, with an opportunity to crack the 2-deep in his second or third year on campus.

10:12AM: Highest-ranked commit TE Mustapha Muhammad signs with Michigan

Following a visit for Michigan’s spring game in April, it was all wrapped up for Michigan to eventually land Muhammad.

That later happened in the fall. And today, he made it official.

Muhammad has the most promise of any recruit in the class. He’s a sure-fire talent that’s guaranteed to make an impact in his first two seasons in some way, despite the TE position being busy at the top.

He’s not a big TE at 6-4, but he’s extremely vertical, versatile, and brings a whole new weapon to Michigan’s vertical passing game.

Muhammad has a great catch radius and his game isn’t limited – meaning, he isn’t just a red zone guy, or a dependable hands guy on 3rd down – he’s all of that and more.

He can run after the catch, evade defenders, find touchdowns in the red zone, and be the go-to guy on 3rd down.

Michigan’s getting a star out of Ridge Point (Texas) in Mustapha Muhammad.

9:53AM: Green Bros. – German and Gemon – sign with Michigan

A pair of defensive back twins made it official by signing with Michigan Wednesday morning.

Desoto (Texas) twins Gemon and German are two different kinds of recruits.

Gemon – a cornerback – is a Top 400 recruit with high upside for a 3-star with seriously good size at 6-2, 165 pounds.

Gemon is more ready-now than German, but will still need some time to bulk up and work on some mechanical stuff before seeing reps with the 2-deep in Ann Arbor.

It’s hard to deny his size, so it could be as soon as his sophomore season.

Meanwhile, German is far more of a project.

He’s a 3-star recruit, too, but he’s not ranked like his brother – who’s No. 376 overall.

They’ve got the exact same frame, but German plays primarily safety.

He’s got great size and that’s what totals most of his upside. He’s a project that’s either going to pay off in the 2-deep eventually, or not at all.

9:42AM: Traverse City 4-star OT Ryan Hayes signs with Michigan

A prospect that committed early in the year that’s been hush since, Hayes might be the quietest Michigan commit … ever?

So in case you forgot about him – you’ll know his name real well in a couple of years.

The 4-star OT can play real well at TE. Either or will be his calling in Ann Arbor. He’s more ready-now at TE, while tackle might take him a couple of years, but could be well worth it.

Michigan’s Twitter account listed him at TE, so it looks like the plan is to take advantage of that 6-7 frame in the vertical game, much like current 6-7 TE Zach Gentry.

9:34AM: Connecticut 3-star TE Luke Schoonmaker signs with Michigan

Ranked below 700th in the country, Hamden (Conn.) 3-star TE Luke Schoonmaker is the prospect that no one’s talking about inside the 2018 class.

But they should.

Michigan has a knack for finding under-the-radar tight ends – or former QBs and making them TEs – and making them uber successful. Look no further than leading TE Sean McKeon out of Massachusetts, a former 3-star recruit that became starting QB Brandon Peters’ No. 1 target late in the season.

His 6-6 frame makes for a high upside prospect, while his East Coast roots match what Michigan’s program is all about.

9:12AM: 3-star Georgia RB Christian Turner signs with Michigan

Buford (Ga.) 3-star RB Christian Turner signed with Michigan today.

He’s got a knack for breaking tackles, with good vision in the backfield, and nice breakaway speed.

He’s one of two running back commits in the class, the other being 3-star Hasaan Haskins. Turner is about 20 pounds lighter, and 3 inches shorter, than Haskins, making for a nice two-back system.

He reminds me a lot of Karan Higdon in that his size – despite being sculpted nicely – doesn’t jump off the sheet at you, but his elusiveness, and refusal to go down, make for what could be a great B1G back.

9:04AM: 4-star LB Cam McGrone signs with Michigan

Without question, Michigan’s leader of its 2018 class is Indianapolis (Ind.) Lawrence Central 4-star ILB Cam McGrone.

He’s recruited multiple other prospects to the class and lead the way of being vocal about the future of Michigan on social media.

The best defensive commit in the class made it official this morning. If it weren’t for leading tackler Devin Bush, Jr.’s return at ILB, McGrone would compete right away. Regardless, he’s a fierce competitor with as much talent at the position as any in the class. He could end up being the prized possession of the 2018 class.

8:51AM: 3-star Florida S Sammy Faustin signs with Michigan

One of the multiple under-the-radar prospects inside Michigan’s 19-man 2018 class, Naples (Fla.) native Sammy Faustin had Michigan as his top school for months before inevitably committing to the Wolverines late this year.

He shows a lot of upside, with his 6-2 stature and top-notch intangibles.

Faustin might be the most versatile defensive commit of the class. He can play press coverage at corner, VIPER, and safety – all really well. He’s a great tackler in the open field and can track just about anyone down with his high-end speed.

Michigan got a steal.

8:43AM: Michigan makes it official with QB Joe Milton, an early enrollee

Despite Shea Patterson’s transfer, Orlando (Fla.) 4-star QB Joe Milton never budged on his commitment to the Wolverines.

Now, the QB with one of the highest upsides of any position in the entire 2018 class is officially a Wolverine.

Michigan’s getting a versatile man under center that can operate out of multiple offenses, shotgun/pistol being the formations he seems most comfortable.

He brings a cannon for an arm that needs some molding to craft some accuracy in the short game. He’s phenomenal on the run and has decent speed. He’s 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, and he’s coming to Ann Arbor with a lot of expectations.

8:34 AM: Long time DE commit Aidan Hutchinson signs with Michigan

To no one’s surprise, long time DE commit Aidan Hutchinson sent in his Letter of Intent and made it official at the crack of dawn.

The Dearborn (Mich.) Divine Child 4-star recruit is a U.S. Army All-American and shows great promise for the future of an already loaded defensive line group in Ann arbor.

7:33 AM: Germany 3-star DE Julius Welschof flips from Georgia Tech, signs with Michigan

The morning started off with a flip for Michigan. The Wolverines landed a now former Georgia Tech commit in Germany 3-star DE Julius Welschof.

Welschof attended a Michigan camp this summer, where he was a big standout. This inevitably landed him an offer, but not until four days before Signing Day.

Despite little time and having not visited since the summer, Welschof announced his decision to decommit from Georgia Tech, and sign with the Wolverines. He announced via video.

The 6-7 prospect is a bit of a project, considering his game will need to translate from it is in Germany, to what it is here in The States.

His frame, size, and edge speed, make for a recipe that’s good enough for Michigan to take him in the class. Which is now up to 19 members.

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