The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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JUNE/JULY 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 41 ❱ MICHIGAN RECRUITING NOTEBOOK Overall, these punishments aren't ideal, but they could certainly be worse. The NCAA Committee on Infractions will consider Michigan's situation at a June 6 hearing. RECRUITS REACT TO RESTRICTIONS, ANTICIPATED COACHING SUSPENSION Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore is expected to be suspended for two games this season. This punishment is self-imposed and also features several recruiting restric- tions. While it's easy to think this situation will negatively impact Michigan recruit- ing, some of U-M's top targets say oth- erwise. "They got in trouble, but I have respect for them. They're like 'Hey, let's do our punishment and be done,'" said four-star Prosper (Texas) High offensive lineman Zaden Krempin. "It's not going to impact me. If I really want to go to Michigan, I'll be going to Michigan. I already know who they are as people, and that's all I need to know." Krempin, the nation's No. 218 pros- pect and No. 16 interior offensive line- man, is set to make his official visit on June 20 and has the Wolverines in his top group going into the summer. The same can be said about On300 Galena Park (Texas) North Shore de- fensive back Chace Calicut, who shared similar sentiments. "It's crazy," said Calicut, who is listed as the country's No. 128 prospect and No. 11 safety per the On3 Industry Ranking. "I definitely don't think they deserve that. It's old. It's not winning them games right now. It most defi- nitely does not affect my recruitment. They are doing everything they can to get me." One of Michigan's highest-rated tar- gets on the board this cycle is five-star Mansfield (Texas) Lake Ridge offensive tackle Felix Ojo. Ranked as the No. 4 overall prospect nationally, Ojo was shocked when the Moore suspension news broke in early May. However, he fully intends to make his official visit on June 6. "It doesn't impact my recruitment," Ojo said. "It happened. It was the old staff. It was crazy that they suspended Coach Moore. We all know the master- mind behind it was Connor Stalions. I find it crazy because Coach Moore wasn't really a part of it." Four-star Mansfield (Texas) High wide receiver Zion Robinson will visit Michigan the following weekend and gave a similar response as Ojo. "I heard it has nothing to do with them," said Robinson, the No. 166 pros- pect and No. 24 wide receiver in the 2026 class. "It was someone from the past who has already left. As long as that's the case, I'm not really too concerned about that." On300 Frisco (Texas) Lone Star's Jor- dan Deck, the No. 293 talent and No. 26 safety in the nation, is set to officially visit Michigan on May 30 and said he supports Moore. "It doesn't mean anything to me," Deck said. "Stuff happens. He's still a good dude to me." John Turntine of Fort Worth (Texas) North Crowley, the No. 41 player and No. 2 interior offensive lineman in the country per the On3 Industry Ranking, sees the situation as a non-issue and doesn't be- lieve a real "hammer" is coming down any time soon. Turntine will officially visit Michigan on May 30. "They are going to get it situated and handled," he said. "I've never gotten any negative feeling from the Michigan coaches. It's not going to affect anything with me." — EJ Holland MICHIGAN DIRECTOR OF RECRUITING TALKS STRATEGY When Sam Popper broke into the in- dustry, he was one of the youngest re- cruiting directors in the country. He grad- uated from Michigan and jumpstarted his career with a one-year stint at Howard University that set off a chain of events that eventually led him back to Ann Arbor. 2026 MICHIGAN FOOTBALL COMMITS Name On3 Rating Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown (High School) Tariq Boney HHH EDGE 6-1 230 Washington, D.C. (St. John's) Brody Jennings HHHH CB 6-1 185 Jacksonville, Fla. (Mandarin) Bear McWhorter HHH IOL 6-3 308 Cartersville, Ga. (Cass) Jaylen Pile HHH WR 6-0 178 Dallas (Parish Episcopal School) Brady Smigiel HHHH QB 6-4 215 Newbury Park, Calif. (Newbury Park) Sam Popper, U-M's director of recruiting operations, is known for his strategic approach, detailed preparation and relationship-building with recruits and their families. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND