Which prospects have been the biggest catches for the Wolverines and what players and positions do they need most of to propel this class into elite status?

Last year's football recruiting class for Michigan saw the Wolverines take on more 3-star prospects than fans were accustomed to seeing, but also netted a couple of potential superstars in QB Ryan Mallett and CB Donovan Warren along with some very good 4-star prospects.

Many of those 3-star guys were taken due to their upside potential, a contrast from the past when UM would snag every established prospect they could, even if that prospect had already reached much of his potential.

The 2008 class appears to be even better than last year, and Michigan is currently battling it out with Notre Dame and Ohio State for the rights to the best class in the Midwest region, a three-way battle that should last into the next decade.

Michigan's current commit list is as follows:

DT Mike Martin, Redford, MI

CB Boubacar Cissoko, Detroit, MI

OT Rocko Khoury, Traverse City, MI

OLB Marcus Witherspoon, Abescon, NJ

OT Dan O'Neill, Grand Haven, MI

OL Kurt Wermers, Crown Point, IN

QB John Wienke, Tuscola, IL

OT Elliot Mealer, Wauseon, OH

TE Brandon Moore, Trotwood, OH

Here are some answers on the important issues facing UM as several top prospects ponder whether to play for the Wolverines or other football powers in 2008:

Q: Which commit has been the biggest catch so far for Michigan?

A: Cornerback Boubacar Cissoko from Detroit Cass Tech. He is one of the top 3 corners in the nation and this is an area that UM really needs help in both now and in the future, and Cissoko is talented enough to step in right away and help.

Fans are already excited about the prospect of him teaming with Warren in the future. Cissoko is a bit short at 5'9 but a tremendous athlete who has been a star at every camp he's attended and has the sheer quickness and recovery speed to dominate at the next level.

Q: What has been the biggest disappointment about the class so far?

A: The fact that UM hasn't been able to land some of the top offensive line recruits they've been targeting. They lost Texan and top prospect J.B. Shugarts to the Buckeyes and he was one of their top targets for the season. Shugarts is also friends with Michigan lean and star RB Sam McGuffie so many had him pegged for Ann Arbor.

The class is pretty good right now with Dan O'Neill and Rocko Khoury from in-state, Kurt Wermers from Indiana, and Elliot Mealer from Ohio State, but not quite on the level of the amazing O-line class Ohio State has signed.

Q: Who is Michigan's biggest remaining target?

A: Easily McGuffie, who has put up video game-like numbers at a high level of Texas football, Class 5A, and whose signature hurdle move and amazing speed have made him a legend on youtube.com.

The Wolverines wanted him so bad that they virtually ignored in-state stud Jonas Gray, who wanted to go to UM, so they could court McGuffie with all their energy and not risk turning him off with another back coming aboard.

McGuffie is down to Michigan and Texas A&M and reportedly wanted an Ohio State offer as well, allegedly so he could turn them down. That sounds like a true Wolverine to me.

UM insiders would be shocked if the elite RB doesn't pick Michigan.

Q: Wide receiver Daryl Stonum from Texas was a great pickup and Detroit's Fred Smith would be too, but is Michigan getting too many WR's and not enough help on defense?

A: It's a concern because Michigan really needs some pass-rushing DE's, as that is something they've been lacking for a long time now and they don't have many guys who can rush the passer in the pipeline.

Also, UM could use a couple more linebackers with the talent and versatility to both stop the run and cover the pass.

UM got a ton of good WR's in the past 2-3 classes and is loaded at the spot for the future, and they're still in on another one in Jonathan Baldwin, who is a tall, rangy phenom, but with Mallett aboard at QB, UM is wise to load up on talent because he could make their passing offense unstoppable.

Plus, many of these guys have the ability to switch to DB if necessary like current CB's Morgan Trent (okay, so that didn't work out too well but it might this season) and Doug Dutch.

Q: Which top prospects are the best bets for committing to UM in the coming weeks?

A: McGuffie and Pennsylvania fullback/tight end Christian Wilson. DE/LB prospect Shayne Hale, also out of Pennsylvania, is another a potential commit and could be the guy to turn this class into one of the absolute best in the nation because he fills and need and is a top-notch talent.

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