The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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DECEMBER 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 49 ❱ MICHIGAN RECRUITING NOTEBOOK While the Feister brothers were on campus as football recruits, they also double as excellent high school wres- tlers. Last season, Brydon won a Di- vision 2 state title at 190 pounds and Brayton was the runner up at heavy- weight. Bo has the unique opportunity to coach his sons on the mat at Hoban. "I started coaching them when they were little in football and wrestling," Bo said. "As they got older, I focused primarily on the wrestling side. From a coaching standpoint, their leadership stands out the most. They were raised and coached to have expectations of those around them. They lead by exam- ple. They've started to verbally express greatness to the players around them. It's really nice to see that rub off on the other players." Michigan puts a premium on recruit- ing multi-sport athletes with high character. Brayton seems to fit that and is quickly emerging as a top target for Michigan in the 2027 recruiting class. The 6-foot-2, 235-pounder notched an offer from the Wolverines back in April and enjoyed his first-ever trip to Ann Arbor. "I thought it was a pretty incredible school," Brayton said. "What stood out was the hospitality. Even though it was a game day, they still made us a focal point. They took us through the journey they have on a game day, and I thought it was really special. I really like how close the players are. The brotherhood stands out." Brayton is a big, physical linebacker who has even attracted some interest at running back; that's why he's listed as an athlete by Rivals. Through nine games this season, Brayton has racked up more than 100 tackles and 9 sacks to go along with 895 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns. Simply put, Brayton is a versatile prospect who could make a big impact in Michigan's defensive scheme. "Our high school runs a 4-2, which is essentially what they run," Brayton said. "They do switch up into some other for- mations, but I could see myself fitting in easily. The defense swarms to the ball. I noticed that everybody flies to the ball. That really stood out to me." Brayton, who also holds offers from Oregon, Penn State, USC, Wisconsin and others, is taking a measured ap- proach to the process early on, but it's clear Michigan has established itself as a true contender in his recruitment. "After the visit, I would say they are sitting pretty high up there," Brayton said. "I like how well they develop NFL players. They send a lot of guys to the league every year for a reason. That's really what piques my interest." The weekend visit also led to a Michi- gan offer for Brydon, a fast-rising line- backer in the 2028 recruiting class. "It meant a lot," Brydon said. "The coaches didn't sugarcoat anything. They were real with us from the start. They told us what it was. When Coach BJ [Brian Jean-Mary] gave me that of- fer, it really felt like he was offering me." Like with Brayton, Michigan also made a strong impression on Brydon. "The uniforms are really nice because they are sponsored by Jordan," Brydon said. "The weight room is really nice, and we're big weight room guys. I didn't know they were the winningest pro- gram of all-time, so that was great to learn. Growing up in Ohio, it was always 'Michigan is bad.' You could never even say Michigan in the classroom. But it was really good when we got up there. I can't wait to go back." A return visit may actually be in the cards for The Game on Nov. 29. Getting yet another win over rival Ohio State would certainly help Michi- gan continue to impress the Feister family. — EJ Holland Four-star 2027 Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban linebacker Brayton Feister visited The Big House for the Purdue game. PHOTO BY MICK WALKER/RIVALS RIVALS INDUSTRY TEAM RECRUITING RANKINGS Rk.* School Commits 1. Southern Cal 35 2. Georgia 30 3. Oregon 18 4. Notre Dame 27 5. Alabama 23 6. Ohio State 28 7. Texas A&M 26 8. Texas 21 9. Tennessee 23 10. Miami 29 11. LSU 16 12. Michigan 26 * As of Nov. 18