Michigan and Clemson just added superstar football recruits

Geography is still king, as both five-stars stay close to home.

Thursday was a great day for Michigan’s football future. Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines did what elite programs do: keep elite talent in state. In this case, it was five-star receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones, of Detroit’s Cass Tech, who chose Michigan over Ohio State, Florida State, and others.

Peoples-Jones is one of the truly elite players nationally. He is 11th in the 247Sports Composite, and is widely considered one of the three best receivers in the nation.

Peoples-Jones is a total package. He’s 6’2, 194 and has elite body control, speed, and athleticism. And he has a good feel for the position. Players like Peoples-Jones are rare, and Michigan will now have one of the unique talents in the Big Ten.

He’ll have a shot to play early, too, with Jehu Chesson and Amara Darboh both graduating.

Michigan also has four-star receiver Tarik Black, and is considered the favorite by some to land four-star receiver Nico Collins down the stretch.

Michigan set to close strong

With Peoples-Jones and Black, Michigan has had an awesome week. But it also has a shot to land five-star tackle Isaiah Wilson (Georgia is the main competition), and to perhaps flip five-star Oakland RB Najee Harris, an Alabama commit.

The Wolverines won’t catch Alabama or Ohio State in the national rankings, but have a shot to finish in the top five.

A prize for second place?

Given that Michigan was long seen as the only school to sign Peoples-Jones, why would schools like Ohio State and Florida State waste their time?

Reputation.

Let’s say that OSU and FSU knew they had no shot to get Peoples-Jones. But, they also knew that Peoples-Jones plays for a major talent factory of a high school, and is close with other elite prospects, both in his grade, and below.

If the staff makes a great impression on Peoples-Jones, and he has a great time on his visit, he’s likely to tell his friends about what a great opportunity that school is, even if he is not picking them. Sure, the school might lose the Peoples-Jones battle, but it could win a recruiting war down the line.

As long as a school is realistic about its chances, and is not recruiting him to the exclusion of other, more reasonable targets, there is very little downside.

Clemson lands the No. 1 2018 prospect

The Tigers got an even bigger win than Michigan Thursday night, but will have to wait 12 more months to see any on-field results, as Clemson gained a verbal commitment from Trevor Lawrence, the No. 1 QB and player in the country for 2018.

Out of Cartersville (Ga.), Lawrence is a special talent. And Clemson beat out Georgia, and pretty much every other team in the country, to land him. At 6’6 and close to 200 pounds, with the frame to carry more, Lawrence is physically gifted. He can make every throw.

But what is more impressive is his advanced mental approach to the game, and consistent mechanics. He gives himself a good base from which to throw, and his balance means he is usually able to deliver an accurate ball, with the right amount of touch and RPMs. Lawrence is one of the best junior QBs I have ever seen.

Clemson is signing 2017 five-star QB Hunter Johnson, of Bronsburg (Ind.), but Lawrence is widely regarded as a superior prospect.

Dabo Swinney has assembled the best recruiting staff in the ACC. And with defensive end Xavier Thomas in South Carolina, and running back Zamir White in North Carolina, Clemson has a shot to sign arguably the top three players in the nation for 2018.