The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1540586
NOVEMBER 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 51 ❱ MICHIGAN RECRUITING NOTEBOOK elite blend of power and speed. He runs with bad intentions between the tackles and has superb ability and long speed, allowing him to double as a home run hitter. An early enrollee, Hiter will be a significant part of Michigan's offense as a true freshman next season. FLIP WATCH? GEORGIA COMMIT VISITS U-M Michigan is doing everything it can to flip a linebacker before the end of the recruiting cycle. Rivals300 Owings Mills (Md.) Mc- Donogh prospect Nick Abrams has long been at the top of U-M's board. Abrams committed to Georgia this summer, but that hasn't stopped Michigan from be- ing extremely aggressive in this recruit- ment. The staff 's hard work paid off with Abrams making an unofficial trip to Michigan for the Wisconsin game weekend. "It was a great visit," Abrams said. "I got to see everyone again — the recruit- ing guys and the coaches. I chopped it up with Coach BJ [Brian Jean-Mary] and Coach [Sherrone] Moore. They made it known how big of a priority I am and how much of a need I am for this class. It was great talking to them and hearing them reiterate everything. They didn't sell anything. I can see why Michigan is a great school." As Abrams mentioned, Michigan didn't really have a pitch. Instead, the Wolverines let their program do the talking. "They feel like everything is a fit and a match in terms of what I want with edu- cation, branding, the alumni base and the football," Abrams said. "They feel like they are going to be a champion- ship contender this year and next year, especially with Bryce Underwood. They feel like I could be the quarterback of the defense — the Bryce Underwood of the defense. They think I can take control of the room and be that kind of guy." A big reason Abrams committed to Georgia was scheme fit. However, Michigan runs an NFL-style defense under coordinator Wink Martindale, and Abrams was able to see firsthand how he would be used in Ann Arbor. "The game was really good," Abrams said. "The defense was flying around. The linebackers were making plays. Jaishawn [Barham] was getting after it. The linebackers play fast, physical and blitz a lot. That's my style. They were playing in space and making plays in coverage. Michigan fits me in terms of my style of play." Michigan also checks the education box. Abrams is a top student in the class- 2026 MICHIGAN COMMITMENTS Name Rating* Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown (High School) McHale Blade HHHH EDGE 6-5 255 Chicago (Simeon) Tariq Boney HHH EDGE 6-1 230 Washington, D.C. (St. John's College) Mason Bonner HHH TE 6-6 200 Denver (Mullen) Jonathan Brown HHH RB 6-1 200 Columbus, Ohio (St. Francis DeSales) Andre Clarke HHHH S 6-0 165 Richmond, Va. (Hermitage) Markel Dabney HHH LB 6-1 210 Richmond, Va. (Huguenot) Titan Davis HHHH DL 6-4 262 St. Louis (De Smet) Jordan Deck HHHH S 6-3 180 Frisco, Texas (Lone Star) Colton Dermer HHH LS 6-1 235 Phoenix (Sandra Day O'Connor) Micah Drescher HHH K 6-2 190 Hinsdale, Ill. (Hinsdale Central) Savion Hiter HHHHH RB 5-11 200 Mineral, Va. (Louisa County) Travis Johnson HHHH WR 6-3 180 Chesapeake, Va. (Oscar Smith) Malakai Lee HHHH OT 6-7 310 Honolulu (Kamehameha Secondary) Matt Ludwig HHHH TE 6-4 240 Billings, Mont. (Billings West) Bear McWhorter HHH IOL 6-3 308 Cartersville, Ga. (Cass) Carter Meadows HHHHH EDGE 6-6 235 Washington, D.C. (Gonzaga) Jaylen Pile HHH WR 6-0 178 Dallas (Parish Episcopal School) Zion Robinson HHH WR 6-2 175 Mansfield, Texas (Mansfield) Brady Smigiel HHH QB 6-4 215 Newbury Park, Calif. (Newbury Park) Alister Vallejo HHHH DL 6-3 310 Liberty Hill, Texas (Liberty Hill) Marky Walbridge HHHH IOL 6-5 285 Needham, Mass. (St. Sebastian's School) Julian Walker HHHH EDGE 6-6 255 Columbia, S.C. (Dutch Fork) 2027 MICHIGAN COMMITMENTS Name Rating* Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown (High School) Peter Bourque HHHH QB 6-4 195 Hingham, Mass. (Tabor Academy) Tristan Dare HHH IOL 6-4 260 Southlake, Texas (Southlake Carroll) Louis Esposito HHH IOL 6-4 255 Saline, Mich. (Saline) * Rivals player ratings as of Oct. 20 Owings Mills (Md.) McDonogh prospect Nick Abrams is ranked as the No. 237 prospect and No. 14 linebacker in the land by Rivals. He committed to Georgia over Michigan, Oregon and Alabama this summer, but the Wolverines are pushing hard to change his mind. PHOTO BY CHAD SIMMONS/RIVALS