The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1532537
2025 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ 48 THE WOLVERINE ❱ MARCH 2025 BY EJ HOLLAND Three-star interior offensive lineman Kaden Strayhorn was supposed to be a lock to end up at Michigan State. After all, his father, Jason, suited up for the rival Spartans in the late 2000s and is still actively involved with the program as its radio analyst. Many pun- dits assumed Kaden would follow in his footsteps and don the green and white. They were wrong. Kaden wanted to build his own legacy and went against the grain, committing to Michigan over Mich- igan State and others in the summer. " M y l o v e f o r M i c h i ga n s t a r te d young," Strayhorn said. "I went there for a camp in the e i g h t h g ra d e a n d wo n M V P. C o a c h [ Jim] Harbaugh al- ways saw past the w h o l e M i c h i g a n State legacy thing. He didn't let that change his approach with me. "I remember he was on the 50-yard-line, and he said, 'Where is Strayhorn?' He got my dad out of the stands. That was special. "This summer, I went on my official visit, and I committed in Coach [Sher- rone] Moore's office. It was a big deal. Ever since then, I was solid. I never wa- vered. I helped recruit guys. I just felt like Michigan was the best fit for me. I want to create my own path and my own legacy." Moore served as Strayhorn's primary recruiter during his time as the team's offensive line coach. The two built a strong relationship over the years, and that didn't change when Moore took charge of the program. "Coach Moore and I got really close," Strayhorn said. "I would always Face- Time him and pick his brain and ask questions. He had so much success and was the best coach in the business. We just had a really close bond. "He always told me 'You need to be a Wolverine.' When he became the head coa c h , I wa s l i ke 'Why would I wait for anything else?'" Michigan offen- sive line coach Grant Newsome took over as Strayhorn's lead recruiter going into t h e s u m m e r a n d helped Moore seal the deal. "Coach Newsome k n e w h o w c l o s e Coa c h Mo o re a n d I were," Strayhorn said. "He told me he wanted our relation- ship to get there. He stood on that. He would call me all the time. He was con- stantly on me. He came down to see me. He's a great coach and a great per- son, too." Strayhorn, the No. 48 interior offen- sive lineman prospect nationally, was a multi-year starter at tackle for na- tional powerhouse Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, helping lead the Ascenders to a high school national championship in 2023. While Strayhorn impressed dur- ing his time at tackle, the 6-foot-2, 299-pounder projects as a center at Michigan. Strayhorn enrolled early and is ready to compete at a spot that didn't have a full-time starter last season. "There is nothing negative that came from me playing tackle," Strayhorn said. "It was all positive. I think it's a good thing for me. "I'm excited to focus on center at Michigan and get better. I think coming in early is going to be huge for me. I can get my body right and execute. I want to get on the field early." ❑ Michigan State Legacy Kaden Strayhorn Decides To Create His Own Path At U-M After lining up at tackle for IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., Strayhorn will play cen- ter at Michigan. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND HONORS • Selected to play in the 2004 Under Armour All-American Game. • MaxPreps Junior All-American second-team selec on. • Helped lead IMG to a high school na onal championship in 2023. • MaxPreps first-team Sophomore All-Ameri- can. RECRUITMENT • Pledged to Michigan June 23, 2024, a er receiving offer in June 2022. • Picked U-M over LSU, Michigan State, Ohio State and others. • Recruited by U-M offensive line coach Grant Newsome. DID YOU KNOW? • Son of Jason and Alicia Strayhorn. • Father played for Michigan State. • Brother, Kody, holds a Michigan offer in the 2028 class. • Born Jan. 6, 2006. THEY SAID IT On3 director of scou ng and rankings Charles Power: "Kaden Strayhorn has played tackle at IMG. Certainly, I think he's considered a center only. He doesn't have the biggest frame or high-end length, but he has quick feet. His experience playing tackle at IMG against top compe on will help him in pass protec on. He's a guy who might need to be beside some big guards to offset his lack of size, but he has poten al as a second-level blocker and certainly seems to be a good fit as a center." KADEN STRAYHORN INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE 6-2 • 299 IMG ACADEMY (FLA.) NOVI, MICH. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ 577 48 76 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 93 133 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 40 75 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 10 46 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 18 57 INDUSTRY 2025 Projection Strayhorn will likely redshirt in his first year but will be in the mix for the star ng center job down the line. He has a compact build at 6-foot-2, 299 pounds and plays with plenty of physicality in the trenches. His experience playing tackle should also allow him to excel in pass protec on as a center. The son of a former college offensive lineman, Strayhorn is advanced technically and really under- stands the game.