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 55 No. 248 overall recruit nationally, and three-star Tennessee commit Tyson Bacon, the No. 27 defensive lineman nationally. All three are looking to visit soon. At edge, Michigan is working to make a dent with Pensacola (Fla.) Catholic's Trenton Henderson, the No. 4 edge and No. 22 overall recruit nationally. Esposito also saw him on the road and is looking to get him on campus soon. However, several SEC schools are high on his list early on, as well as home state programs Florida State and Miami. Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy's Jake Kreul, the No. 10 edge and No. 88 over- all recruit nationally, Chicago Simeon's McHale Blade, the No. 9 defensive line- man and No. 105 overall recruit in the country, Malvern (Pa.) Prep's Jackson Ford, the No. 20 edge and No. 217 over- all recruit nationally, and Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga's Carter Meadows, the No.25 edge and No. 259 overall recruit nationally, have all visited U-M in the past. LINEBACKER Commits: 0 Need: 3 Linebacker recruiting is critical this cycle. Michigan took just two at the po- sition in 2025 and is in need of more elite talent in the room. The theme in 2026 is flips. Michigan is in the mix with several linebackers committed to other schools, including Miami Carol City's Jordan Campbell, the No. 3 linebacker and No. 64 overall recruit nationally. Campbell is commit- ted to Miami but has been to Michigan in the past and is looking to schedule an official visit soon. USC commit Xavier Griffin, the No. 6 linebacker and No. 79 overall recruit nationally, and Auburn commit Sha- darius Toodle, the No. 8 linebacker and No. 98 overall recruit in the land, are two other prime flip targets. Toodle has already scheduled a June official visit with Michigan. Michigan recently made the top group for Strongsville (Ohio) High's Storm Miller, the No. 19 linebacker and No. 262 overall recruit nationally. He is looking to plan a June official visit as well. Some under-the-radar options in- clude Charlotte (N.C.) Independence's Dallas Brannon, the No. 31 linebacker nationally, Peoria (Ariz.) Liberty's Hud- son Dunn, the No 32 linebacker in the class, Inglewood (Calif.) High's Ken- neth Goodwin, the No. 33 linebacker nationally, and Barnesville (Ga.) Lamar County's Kaden Carter, the No. 53 line- backer in the country. All have been on campus in the past. DEFENSIVE BACK Commits: 1 Need: 4 Michigan already holds one commit- ment in the secondary in Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin's Brody Jennings, the No. 21 cornerback and No. 263 overall recruit nationally. However, Jennings is planning to make official visits to schools like Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Miami. Michigan will work to keep Jennings committed and steal other top cor- nerbacks away. Illinois commit Victor Singleton, the No. 4 cornerback and No. 36 overall recruit nationally, Clem- son commit Shavar Young, the No. 16 cornerback and No. 199 overall recruit in the land, and Notre Dame commit Chaston Smith, the No. 17 cornerback and No. 242 overall recruit nationally, are all top flip options. The Wolverines will also shoot their shot with Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Ho- ban's Elbert Hill, the No. 2 cornerback and No. 13 overall recruit nationally. Michigan is in his top group. However, Ohio State and Oregon seem to be the frontrunners. Michigan and Penn State are battling it out for Roanoke (Va.) North Cross' Jaziel Hart, the No. 23 cornerback and No. 288 overall recruit in the country. Hart will make official visits to both schools before announcing a final deci- sion this summer. Michigan is all in on Las Vegas Bishop Gorman's Jett Washington at safety. Ranked as the No. 10 safety and No. 123 overall recruit nationally, Washington visited Michigan in the fall and is look- ing to get back for an official visit this summer. The Wolverines are also in the mix with Des Moines (Iowa) Valley's Jayden McGregory, the No. 15 athlete and No. 200 overall recruit nationally, Frisco (Texas) Lone Star's Jordan Deck, the No. 19 safety and No. 272 overall recruit nationally, Richmond (Va.) Hermitage's Andre Clarke, the No. 22 safety and No. 289 overall recruit nationally, and Boca Raton (Fla.) West Boca's Jaydin Broad- nax, the No. 32 safety nationally. ❑ Michigan recently made the top group of schools for Strongsville (Ohio) High's Storm Miller, the No. 19 linebacker and No. 262 overall prospect nationally. PHOTO BY MATT HARPER/ON3