Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines are in fantastic position when it comes to the 2017 recruiting class. The Maize and Blue are often associated with a top-five class nationally for the coming year, and with that and the current construction of the roster, things are just fine in Ann Arbor.
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However, the 2018 recruiting class is beginning to take shape, and Harbaugh's group lost a potentially impactful commit on Monday in the form of four-star defensive end/tight end Leonard Taylor.
— Lenny T 😛 (@_Lenny_T_20) August 22, 2016
Taylor, who hails from Springfield, Ohio, had been committed to the Wolverines since April, and while no defection this far in advance is a shock, it isn't ideal for Michigan. Recruiting rankings are famously all over the board at this juncture for the 2018 class, but Taylor is solidly included among the top 200 players nationally, and the 6-foot-6, 258-pound prospect has big-time growth potential as a player.
At this point in time, Michigan remains firmly in the mix to eventually land Taylor, but teams like Ohio State and Notre Dame have been rumored to be pursuing his services in recent days. The Wolverines have their sights set firmly on the 2016 season and even the 2017 recruiting class right now, but planning ahead is important, and this defection could hurt the program long-term.
