ESPN ranks Michigan at No. 3 in new Top 25 for 2016

A great signing day was enough to vault Michigan football into the Top 3, at least for one ESPN writer.

Mark Schlabach revisited his way-too-early Top 25 for 2016 ^[1] after National Signing Day, playing the Wolverines at No. 3, behind No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Florida State. All three schools had consensus top recruiting classes.

"Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh made a big splash with his first full recruiting cycle, signing a top-10 class," Schlabach wrote. "The crop includes No. 1 prospect Rashan Gary, who might be able to help on the defensive line right away. The Wolverines have to replace only three starters on offense, and Houston transfer John O'Korn is the early favorite to replace departed quarterback Jake Rudock. New defensive coordinator Dan Brown will have to replace the team's entire starting linebacker corps, but incoming freshman Devin Bush Jr. might be able to help."

Schlabach had U-M 7th in his previous way-too-early Top 25 ^[2].

Meanwhile, Michigan State fell from 11th to 14th despite one of its best recruiting classes of the Mark Dantonio era.

"It's a needed boost, because the Spartans have to replace all but three starters on offense this coming season," Schlabach wrote. "The departed senior class guided MSU to 43 victories, three straight top-10 finishes and two Big Ten championships. While the Spartans lost three starting defensive linemen, ESPN 300 end Josh King and tackles Naquan Jones and Mike Panasiuk might be able to provide depth. Quarterback Messiah deWeaver and ESPN 300 receiver Donnie Corley headline the offensive signees."

The momentum for Michigan has been building since the beginning of the Harbaugh era, with a 10-win season and a top recruiting class, but the Spartans, despite some key losses this off-season, are coming off a Big Ten championship and a College Football Playoff berth.

And then there's Ohio State, which ranks 10th in Schlabach's Top 25 after putting together a Top-5 recruiting class of its own. That's probably a good thing, considering all the players it loses (Ezekiel Elliott, Braxton Miller, Joey Bosa, Vonn Bell, Josh Perry, etc.)

Contact Brian Manzullo: bmanzullo@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrianManzullo ^[3].

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