Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
The Michigan Wolverines received their eighth verbal commitment of the 2014 class in offensive lineman Juwann Bushell-Beatty. The 6’6″, 300 lbs. Bushell-Beatty, ranked as a four star prospect by some recruiting services, picked Michigan over offers from Florida, Florida State, Miami (Fla.) and Michigan State. He joins Mason Cole as the second offensive line commitment in the class.
Bushell-Beattys’ teammate at Paramus Catholic High School in New Jersey is five star defensive back Jabrill Peppers. The highly coveted Peppers has a top two of Michigan and Stanford, but has gone on record stating his affinity for Michigan and most believe that the Wolverines have a sizable lead in his recruitment. Academics are a high priority for Peppers, along with program tradition, which explains his strong interest in both Michigan and Stanford.
Peppers tweeted recently that he may move his timetable for a decision up to early June which puts his planned official visit to Stanford in question. Peppers’s head coach, when asked about the tweet, said that his star player will visit Stanford before a decision is made.
The duo has not said definitively that they are a package deal, but they have expressed that it would be great to play together in college. Michigan’s 2014 class will be on the smaller side with around 18 spots available. With eight prospects already verbally committed and many others possibly looking to give their commitment soon, will Peppers move his decision date up even further? If he does that bodes well for Michigan, especially with Bushell-Beatty now in the class and presumably in Peppers’s ear.
Mitchell Weiss is a Big Ten Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him/her on Twitter @Mitchell_JWeiss, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
