The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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FOOTBALL RECRUITING fornia, and No. 13 wide receiver and No. 69 overall prospect nationally Michigan's shot at Crawford may have been reduced when the Wol- verines failed to secure a visit from his friend and teammate, quarter- back K.J. Costello (who committed to Stanford, one of Crawford's top options). However, he maintains in- terest in the Maize and Blue along with several West Coast programs. Crawford is a smooth, fast receiver capable of serving as a deep threat. While he has to build his physi- cal stature in the weight room, the tools are there. His chemistry with Costello — the two are longtime seven-on-seven teammates and will be a high school tandem this fall after Crawford transferred from St. Fran- cis Catholic — was a selling point for both before Costello picked the Cardinal. LB CALEB KELLY Fresno Clovis West • 6‑3, 215 Five-star recruit, No. 1 player in Cali- fornia, and No. 2 outside linebacker and No. 12 overall prospect nationally For the Wolverines to pull the top player out of California is a tall task, but they may just have a shot with Kelly. He does not include recruiting power USC in his final 10 schools (though Alabama, Florida State and others make the list), and took an unofficial visit to Michigan in the spring. He plans to return again in the fall. Kelly is an extremely athletic out- side linebacker prospect — he trains primarily with defensive backs in the offseason — but also has the size to pack a major punch in run de- fense. That combination makes him one of the highest-rated players in the nation. LB DARRIAN FRANKLIN Downey High School • 6‑1, 215 Four-star recruit, No. 21 player in California, and No. 9 outside linebacker and No. 120 overall prospect nationally Franklin plies his trade in the Los Angeles area — and holds USC and UCLA offers — but he has connec- tions to the state of Michigan. His father is a Detroit native, and his grandmother still lives in the area. Franklin visited Ann Arbor as a youngster and wants to return this summer as a football prospect. He is a true outside linebacker and excels at blitzing the passer. He is also capable in pass coverage and would be a nice complement to U-M's existing linebacker pledges, who are primarily inside run stuffers. LB CAMILO EIFLER Oakland Bishop O'Dowd • 6‑2, 210 Four-star recruit, No. 33 player in California, and No. 19 outside linebacker and No. 190 overall prospect nationally Eifler picked up a Michigan offer when Harbaugh and his staff arrived in Ann Arbor, and returned that in- terest with a spring visit to U-M. The trip went so well that the Wolverines are now squarely in the mix of his recruitment, along with the likes of hometown Cal and UCLA. Eifler is a run stopper from the