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New York Times
09-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Ten thoughts on Michigan's summer recruiting surge: How high can Wolverines climb?
For Michigan fans who don't follow every twist and turn in recruiting, two stretches of the calendar have become especially important: early December and late June/early July. December is when the late action happens, as it did last year when quarterback Bryce Underwood flipped from LSU to Michigan. June and July, meanwhile, are when the building blocks of the class fall into place. After another summer surge, Michigan's 2026 recruiting class jumped from the mid-40s to No. 7 in the 247Sports Composite rankings. Michigan isn't finished, but with 20 commitments, the class has a definitive shape. Here are 10 thoughts on Michigan's class now that the smoke has started to clear. 1. Michigan's class has its headliner, at least for the moment. It's Carter Meadows, the four-star edge prospect who picked Michigan over Ohio State. If you could design an edge prospect in a lab, you'd probably come up with a player who looks a lot like Meadows. There's a wide variation in his recruiting rankings — On3 has him as the No. 6 player in the case, while Rivals has him at No. 241 — and time will tell which of those evaluations comes closest to the mark. Michigan clearly saw Meadows as one of the top edge prospects in the class and prioritized him accordingly. Advertisement Derrick Moore and TJ Guy are seniors, which means Michigan is headed for a changing of the guard at the edge positions. Sophomore Dominic Nichols appears to be next in line, and freshman Nate Marshall shouldn't be far behind. Add Meadows to that list as another young pass rusher with a chance to hear his name called in the early rounds of the NFL Draft. 2. There's plenty of buzz about Meadows, but don't overlook Julian Walker, another four-star edge prospect who committed to Michigan last week. Walker may not be the flashiest player in the class, but he's a big, strong edge defender who plays with great effort, similar to Nichols from the Class of 2024. His father is a strength coach at South Carolina, so the weight room shouldn't be an issue. Beating out South Carolina for one of the top players in the Palmetto State was more fuel for Michigan's hot streak. 3. Defensive line coach Lou Esposito continues to stack recruiting wins. Remember, Esposito wasn't Sherrone Moore's first choice for the job; that was Greg Scruggs, whose short tenure at Michigan ended with a drunken-driving arrest. Esposito got the job instead and has assembled two excellent D-line classes. A dominant front four has been one of Michigan's keys to success, and the Wolverines have the young talent to sustain that trend. We'll see if Michigan ends up taking another defensive tackle, but as it stands, this is a strong class with Meadows, Walker, McHale Blade and Tariq Boney on the edge, a versatile defensive line prospect in Titan Davis and a true three-technique defensive tackle in Alister Vallejo. 4. Quite a few Michigan fans tuned in to watch wide receiver Calvin Russell's announcement on Saturday. When the livestream eventually started, they watched Russell commit to Syracuse, a program not known for reeling in top-50 prospects. Advertisement That was a huge recruiting upset for Syracuse coach Fran Brown and a disappointment for Michigan, the perceived favorite. It's relatively rare for Michigan to chase blue-chip wide receiver prospects from Florida, and perhaps Russell's announcement shows why. The silver lining is that Michigan has commitments from two other wide receivers with similar skill sets in Travis Johnson and Zion Robinson. 5. Johnson, a top-150 player from Chesapeake, Va., looks like the most polished all-around wide receiver prospect in Michigan's class, and that might have been true even if Russell had committed. Johnson has the hands, the speed, the size and the route-running ability to play early in his career. Pairing him with Robinson gives Michigan two more big targets to fill out the offense. The Wolverines needed to win some recruiting battles at wide receiver in this cycle, and they've done that, even with Russell committing elsewhere. There's room for another player or two, but beating out Penn State and South Carolina for Johnson was a must-have recruiting win for wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy. 6. On the same day that cornerback Brody Jennings flipped to Miami, Michigan landed a commitment from Dorian Barney, a four-star cornerback from Carrollton, Ga. On paper, it's an upgrade: Barney is a top-150 prospect, while Jennings is ranked No. 277. Michigan presumably would have liked to have both, but landing Barney and defensive back Andre Clarke Jr. gives Michigan a solid foundation in the secondary. Barney can cover a lot of ground and has the instincts and closing speed to be a ballhawk at one of the outside corner spots. Clarke, a top-200 prospect from Richmond, Va., looks like one of those versatile DBs who could play almost anywhere in the secondary. It wouldn't be a surprise if Michigan tries him at both nickel and safety to see where he sticks. Advertisement 7. A lot of Michigan's efforts in this class have been concentrated on a swath of the country from Washington, D.C., down through Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia. It's too early to declare this a trend, but Michigan seems willing to venture a bit further from home to land players in the top-200 range, even if it means taking fewer players from the Midwest. Maybe that's just how the chips fell in 2026, and the 2027 class will have more of a Midwest flavor. It's still notable for Michigan to have one player from Ohio and no in-state commitments at this stage of the game. 8. Cue up Savion Hiter, another prospect from Virginia who's among the last big names still on the board for Michigan. Hiter, the No. 1 running back in the class and a top-20 overall prospect, has yet to set a commitment date after visiting Michigan, Tennessee, Georgia and Ohio State. If there's a must-win recruiting battle left for Michigan, this is it. Even with Underwood playing quarterback, Michigan doesn't plan to deviate from its identity as a run-first offense. That means paying for running backs who can perform at an elite level. Michigan has a commitment from Jonathan Brown, a three-star running back from Columbus, Ohio, but otherwise the Wolverines appear to be pinning their hopes on Hiter. He's the player who could elevate this class into top-five territory. 9. The offensive line is another position with remaining needs. The Wolverines landed two of their top tackle targets in Malakai Lee and Marky Walbridge but missed out on Felix Ojo, who agreed to a headline-making deal with Texas Tech. John Turntine (Texas), Zaden Krempin (Texas A&M) and Kelvin Obot (Utah) also visited Michigan before committing elsewhere. True tackles are the hardest offensive line prospects to find, and Michigan has a readymade one in Lee, plus a developmental player in Walbridge who has the frame to play tackle as he adds weight. Adding another interior lineman would make sense, but it's not urgent. Michigan could wait to assess the options in the fall or monitor potential flip targets as the signing period approaches. 10. That leaves linebacker, a position that's still in process. Michigan added an intriguing prospect in Markel Dabney, a three-star athlete from Richmond, Va., who flipped from SMU. Dabney plays everywhere for his high school team, including safety and wide receiver, but likely projects as a college linebacker at 6 feet 1 and 205 pounds. Adding another inside linebacker or two would be prudent, and Michigan has players on the board who could fill that need. Anthony Davis Jr., a four-star prospect from Loganville, Ga., visited Michigan in June and included the Wolverines alongside Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss and Florida on his list of finalists. Michigan is also in the running for Nick Abrams, a top-250 player from Owings Mills, Md., who will choose from a final four of Michigan, Oregon, Alabama and Georgia next week. (Photo of Sherrone Moore: Matt Pendleton / Imagn Images)
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Michigan Adds Blue-Chip Receiver Commitment to Top 10 Recruiting Class
Michigan Adds Blue-Chip Receiver Commitment to Top 10 Recruiting Class originally appeared on Athlon Sports. In recent weeks, coach Sherrone Moore and the Michigan Wolverines football team have been on a recruiting hot streak. The 2023 national champs have secured 14 commitments since June 1. Advertisement One of those commitments was from five-star EDGE Carter Meadows, who is ranked No. 6 player in the country by On3 and 36th overall in their industry composite rankings. On Friday, Michigan earned another blue-chip commitment when four-star wide receiver Travis Johnson announced his pledge. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound receiver from Chesapeake, Virginia, caught 21 passes for 490 yards and five touchdowns in five games played. When discussing what it meant to join the Big Ten program, Johnson shared his enthusiasm. 'It's amazing to be a Michigan man,' Johnson said. 'Michigan was the best fit for me.' Hailing from Oscar Smith High School, Johnson had more than 30 offers but chose Michigan over North Carolina, Penn State, South Carolina, Indiana and more. Advertisement 'Coach Bellamy and coach Moore, we clicked from day one when they offered me," Johnson continued. "Then Chip Lindsey, the new offensive coordinator, I love the new system, and with Bryce Underwood being the new quarterback, I could see myself thrive there for sure.' Michigan Wolverines quarterback Bryce Han / USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images The Wolverines now boast the No. 9 class in On3's 2026 team rankings. Michigan has 21 commitments, 13 of which are four-star players. 'Just the culture for real and they won the (national championship) two years ago,' Johnson added. 'I want to win one, too. I'm trying my best, I'm going to give my hardest every step of the way to try and get another one.' Advertisement Related: Michigan Adds Third Blue-Chip Commitment in Three Days Related: Paul Finebaum Gets Real About Jeremiah Smith's Fiery Jab at Michigan This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
02-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Is good Ohio State recruiting news coming soon? Where Buckeyes stand after D-line misses
Ohio State may have a top-five recruiting class as the calendar turns to July, but there isn't a celebratory feeling around Columbus right now. Sunday brought bad news when top-100 defensive end Carter Meadows chose Michigan over the Buckeyes. Losing a high-priority prospect to rival Michigan is never easy, and Meadows being a defensive end made it even more difficult. The rough run got worse on Monday when four-star defensive end Landon Barnes chose Ole Miss over Ohio State and Washington. Both of those misses come just a week and a half after four-star end Luke Wafle chose USC over the Buckeyes. Advertisement Should fans be panicking, or is this just a brief lull? Now that June official visits have wrapped up, commitment season is in full swing and preseason camp is nearing, there are plenty of recruiting storylines to watch for the Buckeyes, who have 19 commitments in a 2026 class that ranks No. 5 in the 247Sports Composite behind USC, Georgia, Notre Dame and Texas A&M. What's next? Let's reset some of Ohio State's recruiting storylines. Ohio State is notably without a quarterback in the 2026 class after signing five-stars Julian Sayin (who quickly transferred from Alabama) and Tavien St. Clair in the past two classes. That could change in the coming days. Four-star Mission Viejo, Calif., quarterback Luke Fahey will make his decision on Thursday. Ranked No. 356 (24th among QBs) in the 247Sports Composite, Fahey got an offer from Ohio State on June 22 just after visiting Columbus. He also visited Stanford and Indiana and is the third-highest-ranked uncommitted quarterback in the class. If he chooses Ohio State, he'll be the lone quarterback in the 2026 class and fill a notable void. A pair of five-star Ohio State targets are nearing decisions this summer. The first is Mansfield, Texas, offensive tackle Felix Ojo, who is expected to announce his decision on Friday, choosing between Texas, Michigan, Florida and Ohio State. New offensive line coach Tyler Bowen has done a nice job filling out the offensive line class, adding four prospects thus far and looking for more. Ojo could end up with the home-state Longhorns, but these recruitments are hard to call until they are finalized, especially in the NIL era. Missing on Ojo wouldn't be a massive hit for the Buckeyes, who already have two top-130 offensive tackles. They are big fans of Sam Greer and Maxwell Riley. Greer made a strong impression at the Rivals Five-Star Camp a week ago. This is an important class for Ohio State along the offensive line, and Bowen has done a solid job, though landing Ojo would push the haul over the top. Advertisement The other five-star with a known decision date is Flowood, Miss., safety Bralan Womack. He's set to announce on Aug. 22 and could be a game-changer for safeties coach Matt Guerrieri. The Buckeyes already have one five-star safety on board with Blaine Bradford, but they want to pair him with Womack in this class and continue their momentum at the position. Womack visited Ohio State on June 20 with Bradford. The Buckeyes appear to be in a good position battling with Auburn, Texas A&M and Florida. A win here would help Ohio State's final ranking and depth and give the Buckeyes plenty of long-term options at safety after Caleb Downs leaves for the NFL. The Buckeyes are also awaiting decisions, dates unknown, from a pair of five-star running backs and an offensive lineman who visited in June: Ohio State's defensive line class is in a difficult position entering July. On one hand, defensive line coach Larry Johnson has done a nice job rebuilding the defensive tackle position, which is one of the team's biggest question marks entering this season and beyond. Already having Damari Simeon and Cameron Brickle is a solid start, and if the Buckeyes can flip three-star Jamir Perez (who plays at Cleveland's Glenville High School) from Florida, it'll be a very good group of interior defensive linemen, even without a highly ranked player. Still, no matter what happens at tackle, the misses at defensive end will be hard to shake. Edge commit Khary Wilder, ranked No. 241, does appear to be the real deal. The four-star prospect from Gardena, Calif., was the MVP of the Rivals Five-Star Camp. The question is who Ohio State pairs with him in this class. With Wafle, Meadows and Barnes off the board, options are getting slim and may be down to one: KJ Ford, who's ranked No. 116. Advertisement Ford, a four-star end from Duncanville, Texas, visited on June 20, just after Wafle committed to USC. Ohio State appears to be pursuing him aggressively. Ford doesn't have a commitment date set publicly, but he has also visited Texas A&M, Florida and Alabama. Simply put, Ohio State has to land Ford, because if it doesn't, the options become limited. Johnson is one of the best defensive line coaches in the country, and his development of JT Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer, Ty Hamilton and Tyleik Williams played a big role in Ohio State's national championship run. His on-field resume can't be debated, so he deserves a little bit of leeway here. But at some point, Ohio State has to close on these edge targets.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hours After Landing 5-Star EDGE, Sherrone Moore, Michigan Secure Another Recruiting Win
Hours After Landing 5-Star EDGE, Sherrone Moore, Michigan Secure Another Recruiting Win originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The recruiting wins keep coming for the Michigan Wolverines. The Big Ten powerhouse secured a commitment from one of the best players in the country on Sunday when five-star EDGE Carter Meadows announced his intention to join the program. Advertisement Some may view Michigan's 2024 finish as a disappointment due to its 8-5 record, but the Wolverines closed the regular season by beating their main rival, the Ohio State Buckeyes, and secured a signature bowl win against the SEC's Alabama Crimson Tide. Adding to that momentum, the Wolverines defied the odds in December by flipping five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood away from the LSU Tigers. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound signal-caller is projected to be the team's starter this season. Michigan and head coach Sherrone Moore received more good news on Monday upon earning another blue-chip commitment from four-star safety Andre Clarke from Richmond, Virginia. Hailing from Hermitage High School — which has produced some star talent in the NFL such as Duane Brown, Jamie Sharper, Darren Sharper and Shawn Barber — Clarke follows in the footsteps of the school's pedigree. Advertisement On3 rates Clarke as the 185th player in the country, the No. 16 safety and sixth-best player from Virginia. He visited Michigan earlier this month and upon committing to the Wolverines, Clarke described what helped him make his decision, per On3's EJ Holland. 'There is something about Ann Arbor,' Clarke said. 'It feels like home.' Michigan Wolverines head football coach Sherrone Moore.© Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images The 6-foot, 165-pound defensive back also spoke highly of secondary coach LaMar Morgan and coach Moore. 'I like Coach Morgan's knowledge,' Clarke said. 'I like the way he coaches. He's really smart. I think he can help me become a better man. I really enjoyed talking to Coach Moore, too. I like his story and how far he's come.' Advertisement Michigan has the 10th-best recruiting class according to On3's 2026 team rankings. Related: Former Michigan QB Delivers Verdict on Sherrone Moore After Major Recruiting Win Related: Michigan WR Makes Feelings Clear About Bryce Underwood Before 2025 Season This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Michigan Adds Third Blue-Chip Commitment in Three Days
Michigan Adds Third Blue-Chip Commitment in Three Days originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Michigan Wolverines are on a heater. Their 2026 recruiting class was already among the top 10 in the country, and it keeps getting better. Advertisement On June 29, "Big Blue" secured a commitment from five-star EDGE Carter Meadows. The following day, Andre Clarke, a four-star safety out of Richmond, Virginia, committed to the program. On Tuesday, Michigan earned its third commitment in three days with the addition of four-star EDGE Julian Walker. The 6-foot-6, 250-pound defender is from Columbia, South Carolina, and chose the Wolverines over several big-time offers from schools like South Carolina, North Carolina, NC State, Georgia Tech and more. The race for Walker's services seemed to be down to two schools: Michigan and South Carolina. Walker's father, Jamil, is a staff member with the University of South Carolina's Gamecocks. Advertisement In June, Walker took his official visit to Michigan and spoke positively about his experience. 'It was a great visit to Ann Arbor,' Walker said. 'I got some really good time with the defensive staff and Coach Moore. Definitely another elite visit, where they continue to show me how they see me playing across the line. They really like my ability to play any position up front and want to use me on the inside and outside. I love that they want to use my versatility on the field." Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore. Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Per On3, Walker is the No. 180 player in the country, the 24th-best EDGE and fourth-ranked prospect from South Carolina. Advertisement The Wolverines now have 20 commitments in this recruiting cycle. They have the ninth-best class and rank third in the Big Ten. With the addition of Walker, Michigan has nine players ranked in On3's industry top 200. Related: Hours After Landing 5-Star EDGE, Sherrone Moore, Michigan Secure Another Recruiting Win Related: Michigan WR Makes Feelings Clear About Bryce Underwood Before 2025 Season This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
