The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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JANUARY 2026 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 53 ❱ MICHIGAN RECRUITING NOTEBOOK Michigan already holds one blue-chip edge pledge from Kitchen. Smith's com- mitment would give the Wolverines an elite in-state pass rushing duo. TOP-100 OT ELIJAH HUTCHESON U-M made a significant jump into con- tention for Elijah Hutcheson during his visit for the Ohio State game. He spent a couple days in Ann Arbor, and the nation's No. 15 overall recruit liked what he saw. Hutcheson is a 6-6, 255-pound offen- sive tackle with an elite offer list that in- cludes Alabama, Ohio State and Tennes- see amongst others. His grandmother is a big U-M fan, and the lineman decided to check out the program for the OSU game after picking up an offer earlier this year. The nation's No. 4 offensive tackle out of Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School in Geor- gia, will return to Michigan at some point, and he's looking forward to that trip. TOP-100 RB NOAH ROBERTS Noah Roberts recently told Rivals that Oregon and Texas are setting the pace in his recruitment, but Michigan and Ohio State are closing in on the longtime fa- vorites after taking visits this fall. The Chandler (Ariz.) Basha High rusher has now made multiple trips to Ann Arbor and continues to hold the school in high regard. U-M will remain a real contender for the top-ranked re- cruit in Arizona moving forward. The 6-1, 190-pound Roberts is the No. 5 running back and No. 80 overall player nationally. U-M running backs coach Tony Alford is one of the best re- cruiters in the country, and he has locked in on Roberts as one of his top targets. TOP-100 ATHLETE MATTHEW GREGORY Matthew Gregory was considered a heavy Penn State lean going into the fall. James Franklin's firing gave other pro- grams room to creep into the picture, including Michigan. The Pottstown (Pa.) Owen J. Roberts High playmaker projects as a receiver for U-M and ranks No. 55 overall in the 2027 class. He visited for the Washington game and enjoyed the trip. Nebraska is also a contender for the 6-0, 170-pound athlete. Gregory keeps his decision-making process pretty quiet, but Michigan ap- peals to him on and off the field. Expect PSU to reenter the picture with a new staff in place, but U-M should remain in the mix as well. RIVALS300 TE ANTHONY CARTWRIGHT III Anthony Cartwright III is a Michi- gan State legacy, but U-M looks like the early team to beat for the jumbo pass catcher from Detroit Country Day. He has visited the Wolverines more than any other program, stopping by Ann Ar- bor for three game days this fall. Tight ends coach Steve Casula built an excellent connection with the Cart- wright family and treats the No. 233 overall recruit in the country as an ab- solute top priority. The 6-4, 235-pound junior is the No. 14 tight end nationally. Ohio State, Oregon and Miami are also schools to keep an eye on here. RIVALS300 S TAVARES HARRINGTON Tavares Harrington has not been on campus since middle school, but that didn't stop Michigan from establishing itself firmly in his top group. He really likes secondary coach LaMar Morgan and what the Wolverines have to offer. The Chicago Mount Carmel standout planned an Oct. 3 visit, but the noon kickoff conflicted with his practice schedule. He will definitely get on cam- pus at some point— the sooner the bet- ter for the Wolverines. Harrington is the No. 121 overall recruit in the country as a 6-3 defensive back. Notre Dame, Miami, Georgia and Auburn all caught his attention early in the pro- cess. He will have a truly national recruit- ment, and U-M should have a chance to establish itself as a top contender when he makes it to campus next year. THREE-STAR LB BLAKE BETTON Blake Betton is the only three-star prospect on this list because the staff clearly thinks more highly of him than the recruiting services. The Shakopee (Minn.) High standout is Rivals' No. 21 linebacker prospect nationally. He holds offers from Iowa, Vanderbilt and the Wolverines among others. U-M hosted him twice this fall, including a multi-day visit the weekend of the Ohio State game. At 6-3, 200 pounds, he plays safety at the high school level and caught the Wolverines' attention early as a pri- ority target on its 2027 recruiting board. U-M sits in a strong spot early with the No. 3 recruit in Minnesota. ❑ Michigan is competing with Notre Dame, Miami, Georgia and Auburn to land Chicago Mount Carmel safety Tavares Harrington, who is the No. 121 overall player in the country per Rivals. PHOTO BY KYLE KELLY/ON3