The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1532537
2026 – LOOKING TO THE FUTURE ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ MARCH 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 53 Michigan had the lead for Hiter on the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine with a 32.1 percent chance of landing him and will host him for an official visit on June 13. While Michigan appears to have the inside track here, the Wol- verines will face stiff competition from Georgia, Ohio State and Tennessee. U-M is also a strong contender for Forney (Texas) High prospect Javian Os- borne, the No. 5 running back and No. 61 overall prospect nationally. Osborne has Michigan and Texas at the top of his list going into the new year. However, the Longhorns just lost running backs coach Tashard Choice to the NFL. That means the door is wide open for Michi- gan to make a move. The Wolverines are right at the top for Tyrone (Ga.) Sandy Creek prospect Amari Latimer, the No. 25 running back and No. 222 overall recruit nationally. While Hiter and Osborne are the dream duo, Michigan likes what Latimer has to offer and has already hosted him on multiple occasions. The Wolverines are still recruiting other running backs like Cibolo (Texas) Steele's Jonathan Hatton Jr., the No. 2 running back and No. 44 overall recruit nationally, Carthage (Texas) High's KJ Edwards, the No. 3 running back and No. 53 overall recruit nationally, West- lake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian's Deshonne Redeaux, the No. 9 running back and No. 98 overall recruit nation- ally, and Santa Clarita (Calif.) Valencia's Brian Bonner, the No. 10 running back and No. 102 overall recruit nationally. However, no back from this group has been to campus. WIDE RECEIVER Commits: 1 Need: 4 Michigan is expected to take a bigger wide receiver class this cycle and al- ready holds a commitment from three- star Dallas Parish Episcopal prospect Jaylen Pile, the No. 155 overall recruit nationally. Pile committed to Michigan in Oc- tober over offers from Auburn, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn State, Wash- ington and others and has remained locked in. At 6-foot, 178 pounds, he is a strong route runner who consistently gets open. Pile projects as a slot receiver in Ann Arbor. Michigan is trending up for another slot receiver in Detroit Cass Tech's CJ Sadler. The No. 37 wide receiver and No. 244 overall prospect nationally, Sadler is a dynamic Swiss Army Knife who can also make plays in the return game. Michigan has the heavy lead on the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine with a 94.6 percent chance of landing him. U-M added size to its wide receiver room last cycle and is looking to do the same in 2026. Chesapeake (Va.) Oscar Smith's Travis Johnson, the No. 21 wide receiver and No. 137 overall recruit na- tionally, fits the description at 6-foot-3, 180 pounds. Johnson has already visited Michigan twice and has the Wolverines in his top group along with Miami, Penn State, South Carolina, Texas A&M and others. Michigan is also in the top groups for Rochester (N.Y.) James Monroe's Mes- siah Hampton, the No. 23 wide receiver and No. 165 overall recruit nation- ally, Marietta (Ga.) Walton's Christian Ward, the No. 25 wide receiver and No. 189 overall recruit nationally, Powder Springs (Ga.) McEachern's Nalin Scott, the No. 28 wide receiver and No. 206 overall recruit nationally, Richmond (Va.) Trinity Episcopal's Davion Brown, the No. 35 wide receiver and No. 238 overall recruit nationally, Houston (Texas) Legacy's Mike Brown, the No. 39 wide receiver and No. 254 overall recruit nationally, Norman (Okla.) North's Ma- son James, the No. 47 wide receiver and No. 282 overall recruit nationally, and three-star Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day prospect Gordon Sellars, the No. 152 overall wide receiver nationally. The Wolverines may look to make an NIL run at a true elite prospect at the position like five-star Ohio State com- mit Chris Henry Jr., the No. 1 wide re- ceiver and No. 4 overall recruit nation- ally. Moore and company stopped by his high school last month. TIGHT END Commits: 0 Need: 2 The Wolverines finished with just one tight end last cycle after losing Top 100 recruit Andrew Olesh to Penn State during the early signing period. That means Michigan is in desperate need of a high-end receiving tight end — or two — in 2026. The Wolverines are making a strong run at Saint George (Utah) Pine View's Michigan is targeting several tight ends in the 2026 cycle, including Billings (Mont.) West's Matt Ludwig, the No. 15 athlete and No. 216 overall recruit nationally. PHOTO COURTESY MATT LUDWIG