Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines have suffered something of a mass exodus when it comes to recruiting in the past week or so, but the future could be looking up if the coaching staff is able to land Elijah Gates. Gates, a four-star cornerback from Buena Park, Calif., released an updated top 7 list on Friday, and the Wolverines are firmly in the mix for his services.
The majority of finalists for Gates are located near the West Coast, though the 5-foot-10, 170-pound senior is also considering Nebraska. At this stage, UCLA is considered by some to be the favorite for Gates, but he has spoken highly of Jim Harbaugh in the past and that is a good sign for Michigan.
At this point in the process, Gates is largely seen as a four-star prospect, with 247Sports pegging him as the No. 32 cornerback in the country according to their composite rankings. Interest from Michigan at this stage should be inspiring in terms of what his future could bring, though, and Harbaugh's staff will be focused on securing a deep and talented 2017 group in the coming months.
Elijah Gates may not be ready to make his final decision just yet, but Michigan is in the mix and that is all anyone can ask for in late August.
