The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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JANUARY 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 47 ❱ MICHIGAN RECRUITING NOTEBOOK and No. 204 overall prospect nationally, was a rankings riser in the last update, and that should continue thanks to a very strong junior campaign. Michigan hosted him for The Game last month and has the lead on the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. 1. OL DAVID SANDERS Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day Class of 2025 Sanders was an easy pick here. The No. 1 offensive tackle and No. 6 overall recruit for next cycle, per On3, Sanders is a man among boys at the high school level. He served up a number of pancakes and displayed tremendous athleticism and feet in pass protection to help lead Providence Day to another state title. He is the true definition of a dancing bear. Sanders also lined up on the defen- sive side of the ball and recorded a sack. Simply put, he is one of the country's most coveted prospects for a reason. Michigan is making him a priority and hosted him for the first time for the BBQ at The Big House in the summer. RECRUITS REACT TO MICHIGAN EARNING NO. 1 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF RANKING Michigan clinched its spot in the College Football Playoff for the third straight year, this time as the No. 1 seed. "We all expected this," On300 defen- sive back commit Jacob Oden, the No. 5 in-state 2024 prospect and No. 25 safety in the country, per the On3 Industry Ranking, told The Wolverine. "Now, it's just time to finish the drill." In-state 2025 University of Detroit Jesuit High defensive back Elijah Dot- son, who's visited Michigan four times, most recently for the Ohio State win, agrees. He was offered by co-defensive coordinator and area recruiter Steve Clinkscale in May. "They've been the No. 1 team regard- less of what the poll says," Dotson said. Capping off the regular season with another undefeated campaign and Big Ten championship, the Wolverines head to the Rose Bowl against Alabama as the top program in the country in the CFP rankings and both the Associated Press and coaches polls. "Super excited, and I definitely think they can win it all this year" said Tucker Kattus, 2025 Cincinnati (Ohio) St. Xa- vier offensive lineman, who's visited Michigan twice this year, and is the son of former U-M tight end Eric Kattus. It's the first time Michigan has been No. 1 overall in the AP Poll since its 1997 national championship run. It's also the first No. 1 seed for the team since the playoff's inception in 2014. "We deserve it," top-100 running back commit Jordan Marshall, who won the Ohio Mr. Football Award af- ter compiling 2,008 all-purpose yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior, told The Wolverine. He also received OHSAA Division I All-Ohio first-team offense honors. "We are the best team in the country, but we play 'Bama and it's what have we said all year … BET." Oden and Marshall were frequent visitors to Ann Arbor in the fall to see Michigan's run and attended multiple home games, most recently for the 30- 24 win over Ohio State. Joining them were multiple priority 2025 targets, in- cluding former Arkansas safety commit Marcus Wimberly, who reopened his recruitment soon after his trip to Ann Arbor. He and his father drove the 13 hours from Bauxite, Ark., for the game. U-M safeties coach Jay Harbaugh offered Wimberly in June, and they've built a close relationship. "It's really cool to see," Wimberly told The Wolverine. "Great things happen when you have a team full of players who play for the person next to them." The 2025 recruiting class for Michi- gan currently ranks No. 10 on the On3 Industry National Team Recruiting Rankings, with three four-star com- mits, including Howell (Mich.) High defensive lineman Bobby Kanka. He announced his decision soon after his visit for the annual late July BBQ at The Big House. Kanka has visited campus at least 13 times, going back to the offsea- son of last year. U-M's top-100 running back commit Jordan Marshall won the Ohio Mr. Football Award after compiling 2,008 all-purpose yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior at Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller this year. He also received OHSAA Division I All-Ohio first-team offense honors. PHOTO BY ZACH LIBBY U.S. Army Bowl Monday, Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. (Bally Sports Network) The Ford Center at The Star, Frisco, Texas • S Jacob Oden • OT Ben Roebuck • WR I'Marion Stewart Under Armour NEXT All-America Game Wednesday, Jan. 3 at 4 p.m. (ESPN) Camping World Bowl Stadium, Orlando, Fla. • LB Jeremiah Beasley • OL Jake Guarnera • RB Micah Ka'apana • RB Jordan Marshall All-American Bowl Saturday, Jan. 6 at 1 p.m. (NBC) Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas • QB Jadyn Davis • ATH Jo'Ziah Edmond • OT Andrew Sprague Polynesian Bowl Friday, Jan. 19 at 9 p.m. (NFL Network) Kūnuiākea Stadium, Honolulu, Hawai'i • TE Hogan Hansen • RB Micah Ka'apana • DL Deyvid Palepale * all times Eastern 12 Michigan Commits Invited To National All-Star Games Twelve of Michigan's 26 commits in the 2024 class have been invited to national all-star games during the next month, although not all will play. All games, TV, times, locations and invitees are listed below: