Michigan football recruiting reset: 5 Wolverines storylines for the early signing period…

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Having the No. 1 football team in December beats having the No. 1 recruiting class in March.

While Michigan climbed the College Football Playoff rankings, its 2024 recruiting class fell from No. 1 and settled into familiar territory at No. 16 in the 247Sports Composite rankings.

That’s not necessarily cause for alarm, as the Wolverines have won three consecutive Big Ten championships with classes that ranked between No. 8 and No. 22.

But Michigan has yet to prove it can win a game in the College Football Playoff against a program like Alabama, Michigan’s Rose Bowl opponent, that routinely signs top-five classes.

Michigan’s hot start inspired talk that the Wolverines might be closing the recruiting gap on programs like Georgia, Alabama and Ohio State.

Instead, the 2024 class looks similar to Michigan classes of the recent past: two top-100 prospects in running back Jordan Marshall and quarterback Jadyn Davis, a solid foundation of four-star prospects ranked in the top 300 and a few three-star prospects who flew under the radar.

A loss to Alabama would reignite debate about whether Michigan recruits at the elite level needed to win a national championship. That’s a question Michigan can answer Jan. 1 in Pasadena.

In the meantime, the Wolverines are set to welcome another crop of players who can help them continue their run in the Big Ten once Blake Corum, Mike Sainristil and others depart.

Here are five storylines for Michigan’s class heading into the December signing period.

When Channing Goodwin was heading into the eighth grade, he toured Providence Day School in Charlotte, N.C., with his father, former Michigan and NFL offensive lineman Jonathan Goodwin. Their tour guide that day? Jadyn Davis, who was already being recruited by schools like Georgia and Alabama.

“I remember sitting in the office and seeing Jadyn walk in,” Jonathan Goodwin said. “I’m thinking, ‘Who is this big kid?’ They’ve known each other ever since then.”

Davis and Channing Goodwin became teammates the next year before Davis enrolled at Catawba Ridge High School in Fort Mill, S.C. Davis returned to Providence for his junior season and led the school to back-to-back state championships with Goodwin as one of his favorite targets.

Goodwin, a three-star wide receiver, picked Michigan over North Carolina, South Carolina and NC State and will join Davis next year in Ann Arbor.

“They have a great connection,” said Jonathan Goodwin, who coaches the offensive line at Providence.

“Jadyn is a smart quarterback and has arm talent. They’ve been playing together since middle school.

Channing’s speed and athleticism will be big.

For Jadyn, having a receiver that he’s familiar with should be helpful when they first get there.”

Building a connection with the Providence program was a smart move for Michigan.

In addition to Davis and Channing Goodwin, the Providence roster included UNC-bound wide receiver Jordan Shipp and five-star offensive tackle David Sanders Jr., the No. 2 prospect in the Class of 2025.

Michigan has a natural ally in Jonathan Goodwin, who played for Lloyd Carr at Michigan and for Jim Harbaugh with the San Francisco 49ers.

He said he didn’t push Michigan on Channing or anyone else at Providence but was happy to share his thoughts when asked.

He sees Michigan as the ideal landing spot for his son.

“Coach Harbaugh wants guys that truly, truly love to play the game and enjoy the grind of football,” Jonathan Goodwin said.

“Channing has done that since Day 1. I don’t have to preach to him, ‘You’ve got be ready to work.’ He’s always been that way.”