Top Michigan in-state 2021 target announces commitment date

The in-state prospect will choose between the Wolverines, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State and Oklahoma.

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Out of all of Michigan’s targets left in the 2021 class, no recruit has been more enduring than Clarkston (MI) offensive guard Rocco Spindler.

The Wolverines have been hard after Spindler for years now, back when he was initially rated as a top 10 prospect by the 247Sports Composite. The versatile lineman hasn’t fallen much from there, currently rated at No. 50 overall, regardless of position.

He released a ‘final five’ in May, which included the maize and blue as well as Ohio State, Penn State, Oklahoma and Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish and Wolverines appear to be the two schools duking it out for his services, exemplified by a 50/50 split in the 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions. There have only been three predictions made for Spindler in 2020, and all three have indicated that the school in South Bend is the team to beat.

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Likewise, Rivals.com has six predictions in its FutureCast, with four of them indicating Notre Dame could be the school of choice. Of the last four predictions for Spindler, three have indicated ND, whereas only one suggests he’ll stay home and go to Michigan.

Regardless, we’ll know Spindler’s decision relatively soon, as he announced over the weekend that he’ll make his choice known at his high school on August 8.

In his Michigan recruitment, Spindler has developed a close bond with IMG Academy five-star quarterback commit J.J. McCarthy as well as the team’s director of recruiting, Matt Dudek. He received his offer to come to Ann Arbor back in March 2018, marking his second opportunity behind only rival MSU, which offered just over a month beforehand.

As of current, Michigan holds the No. 8 class in the country with 20 commits according to the 247Sports Composite, and No. 6 according to Rivals.com.

Spindler has made multiple visits to campus, especially considering the lack of distance. Will it be enough to lure him to stay in-state? We’ll know more come August 8.