The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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56 THE WOLVERINE ❱ MAY 2026 ❱ MICHIGAN RECRUITING pect, but Muhammad said the Wolver- ines caught up to his top group during this trip. The elite lineman from South Houston (Texas) High went into the visit planning to meet a lot of new people and soak in the program atmosphere. "My expectations blew up. It was low-key way more than I expected," Muhammad said. "In person, every- thing's bigger. I love the coaching staff, everybody there." He traveled up to campus with his fa- ther and youngest brother. Defensive tackles coach Larry Black is leading his recruitment, and the staff 's con- stant contact helped the program put together a spring surge after offering earlier this year. "They reach out to me every single day, always texting, keeping up with me, what I'm doing on a day-to-day basis and also checking on my family too," Muhammad said. "And that's a big key to recruiting me." Muhammad definitely enjoyed the trip, and his father left with a positive impression as well. "He liked everything about it too," Muhammad said. "He liked seeing where they see me at and was asking the right questions. And my little brother, Bryson, he was just everywhere. He liked it too. His favorite part was the bowling alley. It was fun." Black started building a bond with Muhammad during his time at Vander- bilt. The nation's No. 8 defensive line- man already felt super close with the Wolverine assistant before the visit. "Right when I got there, the love and connection was already there," Muham- mad said. "We talked about different things, fronts and where they see me at. The bond with me and Coach Black just keeps getting stronger and stronger every time we see each other." Michigan took a step in a positive di- rection with the No. 13 recruit in Texas, and he spoke highly of the overall expe- rience in Ann Arbor. "I like the atmosphere there, and it was also my first time being able to see The Big House in person," Muhammad said. "And that was a very cool experi- ence. It felt surreal." Michigan "definitely" sits in his top five right now. A Victors Weekend of- ficial visit is the next step of his recruit- ment. He wants to see more of campus during that trip and just keep growing his connections with the staff. He kicks off his OV schedule, includ- ing Arizona State. Miami, Vanderbilt, Houston, Missouri and TCU over the next couple of months. Michigan will be the final stop on that visit tour. U-M LEADS FOR PRIORITY LB ETHAN HAUSER Ethan Hauser already held a high opinion of Michigan before his spring visit. He traveled to Ann Arbor April 9 and left campus with the Wolverines firmly in the lead and a Victors Weekend official visit scheduled. Missouri and Vanderbilt also remain high up in his recruitment. Those three programs will receive official visits. The three-star Buford (Ga.) High linebacker holds a bunch of SEC offers, but no school has more momentum here than Michigan despite the distance from home. "They definitely stand out to me," Hauser said. "They're definitely at the top of my recruitment. I see them as a great option, a fit for me down the road. The distance is far, but I love the stage that Michigan offers and, when it comes down to distance, my family's completely understanding. They want the best for me, so that's not really the biggest factor." Hauser said his trip to Ann Arbor with his father was "a great time." The Rivals Industry Ranking's No. 51 linebacker in the nation took in a day in the life of a Michigan football player and sat in meetings with the coaching staff. He said the Wolverines already reach out to him on an almost-daily basis. Buford (Ga.) High linebacker Ethan Hauser is a Michigan priority. He is the No. 51 player at his position per the Rivals Industry Ranking. PHOTO BY JEREMY JOHNSON/DAWGSHQ