The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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46 THE WOLVERINE ❱ JUNE/JULY 2026 ❱ MICHIGAN RECRUITING prospect's lacrosse game the next day. "It was definitely cool getting to hang out with him for the day, two days actu- ally," Lumpris said. "We weren't really talking too much football, just to get a good vibe. My parents, my family all love Coach. The way he is off the field is the way I saw him coaching from the practice. That's why I feel like the prac- tice was so vital for me to go to see." He can talk to Whittingham about anything, football, fishing or golf- ing. Consistency on and off the field checked one key box Lumpris and his family needed to fill. After getting to know the Wolverines' new staff this spring, Michigan feels like a very real option for him. "I've always loved Michigan," Lum- pris said. "It's a great program. I've been watching them since I was younger, and I've always had an interest in them. And with Coach Freddie now, it feels like something that could potentially hap- pen, but we've got to figure out what's right right now." A tight ends coaching change at Al- abama opened the door for Michigan and others to creep back into the pic- ture here, but he remains pledged to the Crimson Tide with an official visit set for May 29 and a critical meeting loom- ing in early May. "Alabama is coming up to see me," Lumpris said. "This is the first time I actually get to meet the new tight ends coach and learn what they see me as. With [tight end] Coach [Richard] Ow- ens being new. I want to hear out what his vision is and then see it a little bit when I go up for my OV." The Wolverines have already ex- p l a i n e d t h e i r p l a n fo r t h e 6 -7, 240-pound pass catcher. He "defi- nitely" feels good about how the staff would utilize his unique skill set. "Michigan said they're going to start me out as a big receiver and see how that works," Lumpris said. "And then, I'm going to still work with the tight ends and do all that, but just being able to be versatile, I could play literally whatever." Lumpris and his parents talk all the time about what makes each school a good fit, breaking down location, the path to playing time and all of the finer details that make up the decision. At the end of the day, his top schools check all of his boxes. Now, it will come down to relationships. He's going to trust his gut. "I'll get that feeling where home re- ally is," Lumpris said. "There's not really any other way." TOP 100 OT MATAIO FANO DISCUSSES FAMILY CONNECTION TO MICHIGAN Mataio Fano watched his older broth- ers — Spencer and Logan — start their NFL careers last month. His family watched the draft from home in Utah as Spencer landed with the Cleveland Browns as the No. 9 pick in the first round and Logan signed with them as a free agent. A few weeks earlier, Michigan offered the younger Fano. He's the Rivals In- dustry Ranking No. 5 offensive tackle in the 2028 class and the No. 49 overall recruit out of Orem (Utah) High. Ala- bama, Oregon and Miami all offered the 6-4, 225-pound sophomore over the past couple of weeks. He's enjoying the recruiting process so far. "It's been really fun," Fano said. "I would say this is probably the best time in my life right now." Michigan was the sixth Power Four program to offer the elite tackle pros- pect. His connection to the Wolverine staff stretches back years. Offensive line coach Jim Harding and defensive ends coach Lewis Powell coached Fano's older brothers. "Coach Powell, I've known him since I was a kid, ever since he was coaching my older brothers," Fano said. "Him and Coach Harding, I've known them for a while, and I've just basically grown up with them." Fano is working on setting up a trip to Ann Arbor, and he's eager to see if Harding is any different in the Maize and Blue. His brother developed into an elite pro prospect under his coaching. "Spencer has nothing but great words for Coach Harding," Fano said. "He loves him so much. He even tells me he thinks Coach Harding is the best offen- sive line coach in the country, and Logan is the same with Coach Powell." The Top 100 tackle said his connec- Mataio Fano, the No. 5 offensive tackle and No. 41 prospect in the rising junior class, has two brothers, Spencer — the No. 9 pick in the recent NFL Draft — and free agent signee Logan, who were coached at Utah by members of Michigan's staff. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS