Michigan met a primary need in the 2021 class on Wednesday, and did so by casting a perspective on its rival in the state.
Rayshaun Benny, who has been verbally committed to Michigan State since November, signed on to the Wolverines on Wednesday, the traditional February signing day.
The 6-foot-5, 275-pound car seemed to have changed its mind late. He told Detroit News on Tuesday that he was planning to sign with the Spartans, but the Wolverines and their renewed technical team continued to give a strong boost.
Benny, who has had 32 tackles and 5 1/2 sacks in five games this season, becomes the Wolverines’ best-ranked defensive line prospect in the 2021 class, in 195th overall, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. He is the No. 6 overall player in Michigan.
Michigan didn’t get any chance of a defensive tackle during the initial signing period in December, but added two four stars to the position last week. George Rooks of St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City (NJ) committed to the Wolverines last Wednesday.
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Benny joins Rooks, four-star Kechaun Bennett, three-star TJ Guy and three-star Dominick Giudice as a line of defense in Michigan’s 2021 class. Bennett, Guy and Giudice are all listed as tips, although Giudice is likely to move in at the university level.
Meanwhile, MSU loses its best-ranked prospect in Mel Tucker’s 2021 class. Benny was the only 2021 recruit who didn’t sign in December.
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Michigan’s 2021 class, with 22 members, moves up one place to tenth in the national ranking, while MSU’s class drops to 48. Jim Harbaugh and his team are also in the mix to launch another defensive tackle prospect on Wednesday . All four predictions from the 247Sports Crystal Ball are in favor of Michigan landing at three-star Lakeview Centennial Ikechukwu Iwunnah, which pledged to Colorado on January 19.