2018 Recruit Rankings: #8 Michigan Wolverines

During the initial publication of this article, we failed to mention a handful of Michigan recruits. Unfortunately, that information was not readily available or reported like we thought it was. We have since corrected and updated the article. Our apologies on the omissions.

When you look at the names in this recruiting class you can't help but be impressed. The pure volume of new additions is set to give the Michigan Wolverines an edge when matching up against their BIG 10 rivals. The coaching staff will have plenty of options to choose from as they build their future cross country and track lineups. The untapped potential of this group looks scary good.

Over the past few seasons, the Michigan men have slowly lost great talent simply due to expiring eligibility. Two years ago it was Mason Ferlic, one year ago it was Ned Willig, in 2018 it will be Ben Flanagan, Connor Mora, and Aaron Baumgarten. The Wolverines roster has finally outgrown its eligibility and in turn, have opened the gates to a new era of young talent ready to sport the block M on their chests. There may not have been a better time for these rising freshmen to join the program.

Let's begin our conversation with one of the top names in this group, Cole Johnson. The Rockford, Michigan native is a nationally recognized star with incredible talent. Earlier in these rankings, I mentioned how Virginia commit Colton Bogucki had impressive range that most high schoolers lack. That, however, couldn't be further from the truth when talking about Cole Johnson. He has run 49 seconds in the 400 and 15:12 in the 5000 meters. Is there anyone else in the nation with that kind of turnover and endurance?

Not only is his range impressive, but his times are flat-out fast. Johnson's 4:08 mile PR indicates that he could have an immediate impact in his first year at Michigan. Having a legendary miler like Kevin Sullivan at the helm of his training could make Johnson a dangerous BIG 10 competitor early on in his career.

As good as Johnson is, his future teammates are arguably just as talented. I see the duo of John Tatter and Brian Hill playing a key role for the Wolverines in cross country. They could potentially find themselves in the top seven as the team looks to strengthen their depth.

Tatter's 14:55 personal best may be flashy, but his accolades on the grass are just as impressive. After taking the win at the Footlocker South region this past fall, Tatter went on to place an incredible 4th place at Footlocker Nationals. It was a race that would establish him as one of the best cross country runners in the nation.

Meanwhile, Brian Hill was leading yet another accomplished CBA program. There may not be a recruit in the nation with as much experience as Hill. The Christian Brothers ace appeared in a remarkable THREE NXN Championships throughout his high school career. Most high school stars may not even qualify for one NXN Championship, let alone three. Admittedly, two of Hill's NXN qualifiers can be attributed to the success of his team. It wasn't until his last NXN Northeast appearance that he would place 8th overall, enough to get him and his teammates to the National Championships. Still, don't underestimate what Hill can bring to the table. A 15:10 PR, running on (arguably) the best high school team in the nation, and three NXN appearances makes Hill extremely valuable.

Anthony Dekraker brings some excellent range to Ann Arbor with strong personal bests in the mid and long distances. His 4:10 PR in the mile matched with a runner-up finish at New Balance Outdoor Nationals makes him a big name to watch. What's even more exciting is that every PR on Dekraker's resume was from his senior year. That just goes to show that he hasn't even reached his full potential yet.

Anthony Giannobile is an interesting name to discuss. In a recruiting class that is crowded with fast times and accomplishments, Giannobile may not get the recognition he deserves. His 4:11 personal best makes him the third best miler of this group. Not only that, but his win total is super impressive. According to Milesplit, Giannobile has 28 wins throughout his high school career. Fast times are great in college, but if you can't win (or at least score) then a new personal best isn't going to do all that much. That's where the value lies with Giannobile.

Speaking of fast milers, Evan Meyer from East Lansing could end up doing some serious damage during his time on the collegiate scene. With personal bests of 1:54 and 4:12, he brings some speed to a Michigan squad that is crowded with long distance runners. Of course, the long distance version of Meyer would most likely be Will Landowne who owns times of 4:12 and 9:02. The Connecticut distance star has been a top finisher in his state for the past few years. He even walked away with the mile title in the New England Championships as well as a win in the prestigious Yale 3k this past indoor season.

Remember the indoor track season where three different Michigan men broke the 4 minute barrier in the same race? That could potentially happen again with this group again.

When talking about Gabriel Mudel, his resume holds a little bit of everything. He has 23 wins, four New Balance Nationals appearances, and a 9:09 personal best. He's well-rounded and I think that will bode well for him as he makes his transition to collegiate training. It's a change that not all freshmen are capable of handling.

Austin Remick has a 4:13 personal best which could make him a valuable mid-distance runner in the future under a coach like Kevin Sullivan. Nick Trevisan and Thomas Weiss will be underrated additions as the Wolverines build their depth after graduating a heavy number of veterans. Those two will be key developmental pieces and will prove to be useful when Michigan needs to fill XC varsity spots or DMR legs.

Of these 13 men, the most underrated has to be Jack Nicholson. On paper, his times are strong, but they don't necessarily pop-out. That, however, can be misleading. In the 98 races throughout his high school career, Nicholson has been a top 10 finisher 88 different times. Almost 90% of the time, Nicholson is finishing 10th or better. That is mind-blowing consistency especially when you consider the talent he was facing as a freshman and sophomore. Give him enough time to develop his fitness, and Nicholson could be the best kept secret of this entire recruiting class.

I would also put Colton Yesney into that group as well. With the exception of his 5k, all of his personal bests came from his senior season. He likely has a lot more in the tank and may have the highest ceiling out of everyone I have mentioned.

We could go on for days talking about this group. Each of these rising freshmen have unique skillsets and are incredibly versatile. The Michigan men may have graduated a handful of talented seniors, but these 13 recruits have shown that the blue and maize are not content on rebuilding.

Instead, they want to reload.