MICHIGAN

MICHIGAN

UM loses LB Bush, but adds top recruit

ANN ARBOR, Mich.

In the same hour, Michigan had an expected departure and a surprise signing.

Star linebacker Devin Bush announced Wednesday he will skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft. He shared his decision on Twitter and Instagram on Wednesday shortly after the Wolverines welcomed five-star defensive back Dax Hill to its 20-plus player recruiting class .

The 6-foot, 190-pound Hill, who is from Tulsa, Oklahoma, had committed to play at Alabama after previously planning to attend Michigan. He is the younger brother of Oklahoma State running back Justice Hill.

PITTSBURGH

Panthers bolster their backfield

PITTSBURGH

Pittsburgh tried to lock up its backfield of the future during the early signing period that began Wednesday.

The Panthers signed 18 players in all, including quarterback Davis Beville from Greenville, South Carolina, and running back Daniel Carter. Carter played for powerful St. Thomas Aquinas High in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The 6-foot-5 Beville passed for 88 touchdowns against 20 interceptions during his high school career at Greenville High. The Panthers are trying to improve their depth behind quarterback Kenny Pickett, who was erratic during his first season as a starter. Pitt (7-6) won its first ACC Coastal Division championship and will face Stanford in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31.

The Panthers are also looking for fresh faces at running back with seniors Qadree Ollison and Darrin Hall (Austin Fitch) — both of whom topped 1,000 yards rushing this season — graduating. Carter ran for over 1,000 yards during his senior season at St. Thomas Aquinas, including 195 yards and three touchdowns in the state championship game.

WEST VIRGINIA

Mountaineers add to their secondary

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.

West Virginia has shored up its secondary by signing five defensive backs.

The Mountaineers landed 16 players Wednesday on the first day of the NCAA’s early signing period.

Osita Smith, a 6-foot-2 safety, is from Wilde Lake High School in Bowie, Maryland, and 6-2 cornerback Dreshun Miller is transferring from Eastern Arizona Community College. Both are four-star recruits according to 247sports.

West Virginia also signed three wide receivers that will have the chance to take over for departing stars David Sills and Gary Jennings. Coach Dana Holgorsen announced Wednesday Jennings has a sprained ankle and will miss his final game in the Camping World Bowl against No. 17 Syracuse on Dec. 28.

The Mountaineers previously signed two transfers for the 2019 season, linebacker Vandarius Cowan from Alabama and wide receiver Isaiah Esdale of Eastern Arizona.

NOTRE DAME

Kelly announces 23-player class

SOUTH BEND, Ind.

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly announced a 23-player recruiting class Wednesday and said it filled a lot of his program’s needs, no matter how the Fighting Irish fare in the College Football Playoff.

The class is ranked in the top 15 in the 247 Sports composite rankings.

Among the top prospects are defensive tackle Jacob Lacey (6-2, 285), defensive end NaNa Osafo-Mensah (6-4, 231), inside linebacker Osita Ekwonu (6-2, 220), offensive tackle Quinn Carroll (6-6, 295), offensive guard-center Zeke Correll (6-4, 285), Kendall Abdur-Rahman (6-1, 180) and quarterback Brendon Clark (6-2, 217).

Associated Press