[jwplayer orNyIO7W-XNcErKyb]
This is not what you want to see if you’re Michigan.
2021 West Bloomfield (MI) four-star running back Donovan Edwards, rated at No. 33 overall by 247Sports, has long been considered a Wolverines lean, but rival Ohio State has been coming on strong as of late for the top in-state target.
While Edwards indicated to WolverinesWire a few weeks ago that he’s likely some time away from making a decision as far as commitment is concerned, the Buckeyes have been coming on quite strong, admittedly. Michigan has seemingly, somewhat, rested on its laurels as the in-state program, though it hasn’t relented its pursuit of the four-star running back. Yet, OSU head coach Ryan Day has continued to make Edwards a priority, and it seems to be maybe paying off.
The latest indication is a pair of 247Sports Crystal Balls on Ohio State’s behalf — and neither of those who put in their predictions should be questioned much. 247Sports director of football recruiting Steve Wiltfong and national recruiting analyst Allen Trieu both prognosticate that Edwards is likely to be Columbus-bound, per their recent selections.
Still, Michigan holds the lead at 62%, however, given the clout of the aforementioned, and that a pick for Edwards to remain close to home hasn’t been made in over a month, it’s likely that the maize and blue have some work to do.
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Thoughts
We agree that Michigan has been trending away for Edwards based off recent conversations, though there is still strong belief according to those close to the program that the Wolverines are still in good shape.
If Michigan is to put on a full-court press, then it’ll still have a shot. But with Day, Alabama’s Nick Saban and other schools such as Oklahoma and Georgia now in the mix, it’s a situation where the staff in Ann Arbor cannot count on getting the in-state product just because he resides close to campus.