The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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150 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2024 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY EJ HOLLAND L ast year, Michigan's 2024 recruiting class saw a strong finish, flipping USC defensive line commit Deyvid Palepale and adding On3 Top 100 Forestville (Md.) Bishop McNamara edge Lugard Edokpayi during the early signing period. With both additions, Michigan moved up the On3 Industry national team recruiting rankings and finished with the No. 15 overall group with a total of 26 signees. Now, it's time to look ahead to the next cycle. Through mid-June, Michigan had just eight verbal commitments in the 2025 class due in large part to a change at head coach in January and several staff departures. Michigan had the No. 13-ranked 2025 class nationally, per the On3 Industry Ranking as of June 18, but the Wolverines could still contend for a spot in the top 10 before all is said and done next Febru- ary. New head coach Sherrone Moore has promised a more aggressive approach on the recruiting trail. Here is a position-by-position look at Michigan's needs and where the Wol- verines stand with top 2025 targets. All player ratings are from On3, unless oth- erwise denoted. Quarterback Commits: 1 Need: 1 Michigan already has its quarterback commit in the 2025 class in Fort My- ers (Fla.) Bishop Verot prospect Carter Smith. Ranked as the No. 19 quarterback and No. 209 overall prospect nationally, Smith committed to Michigan in No- vember over offers from Florida, Florida State, Miami, Penn State and others. At 6-foot-3, 180 pounds, Smith is a true dual-threat quarterback who passed for 2,223 yards, rushed for 715 and ac- counted for 48 total touchdowns en route to earning Gatorade Player of the Year honors in the state of Florida as a junior. Michigan made five-star Belleville (Mich.) High quarterback Bryce Under- wood its top priority for the majority of the cycle, but the No. 1 overall recruit in the country gave LSU a verbal pledge, and he is unlikely to waver. U-M is comfortable with Smith leading the way this cycle and will not explore adding a second quarterback moving for- ward. Running Back Commits: 1 Need: 2 New Michigan running backs coach Tony Alford scored his first recruiting win in Ann Arbor, landing three-star New Orleans (La.) Archbishop Shaw run- ning back Jasper Parker on his June of- ficial visit. Parker, the No. 31 running back na- tionally, notched a Michigan offer be- fore Alford's arrival. However, Alford re- cruited him hard throughout the spring and made it a point to close with Parker before the end of his official visit. At 6-1, 200 pounds, Parker is a physical runner between the tackles and has the makings of a quality RB2 at Michigan. With Parker in the fold, Alford will now shoot for a more highly touted back. On300 Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei pros- pect Jordon Davison is still at the top of the wish list. Michigan impressed Da- vison and those around him on his offi- cial visit in June. Alford also has a strong bond with Davison dating back to the coach's time at Ohio State. However, Ohio State and Oregon are also pressing for Davison, the No. 18 run- ning back and No. 240 overall prospect, and both schools also hosted him for June official visits. RecRuiting Wants & needs Wolverines Look To Finish Strong Again After Slow Start With 2025 Class Fort Myers (Fla.) Bishop Verot quarterback Carter Smith, who committed to U-M in November, is ranked by On3 as the No. 19 quarterback and No. 209 overall prospect nationally in the 2025 class. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND