The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1545685
140 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2026 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY ANTHONY BROOME U -M's 2021 recruiting class came into the program during an awk- ward time. Much of their recruit- ment took place against the back- drop of the COVID-19 pandemic and came off a 2020 season that went poorly, finishing with a 2-4 record in a truncated season and raising questions about the future under Jim Harbaugh. The class, headlined by four-star quarterback J.J. McCarthy, largely stuck together and decided it wanted to be the group that helped propel the program through its 10-win plateau that had been established in Harbaugh's first six years. What followed was one of the most spectacular stretches of football in U- M's storied history — a 57-12 record (and counting, for Rod Moore), with three Big Ten championships, three College Foot- ball Playoff appearances and a 15-0 na- tional championship season in 2023. The class, which placed 15th in the On3 Industry Ranking, saw nine players stick it out through the duration of their ca- reers, while another 13 finished elsewhere. Harbaugh and company signed 22 players in the cycle, headlined by running back Donovan Edwards (No. 34 overall), Mc- Carthy (No. 47) and linebacker Junior Col- son (No. 90) among the top-100 recruits in the country. Each of them would have storied careers and iconic moments wear- ing the winged helmet. The class featured eight other four- star prospects, including defensive line- man Rayshaun Benny (No. 164), offen- sive linemen Giovanni El-Hadi (No. 218) and Raheem Anderson (No. 345), safety Rod Moore (No. 356), offensive lineman Greg Crippen (No. 360), linebacker Jaydon Hood (No. 384), wide receiver Christian Dixon (No. 386) and defensive lineman George Rooks (No. 387). Among the rest of the class, edge TJ Guy (No. 981) would be the closest thing to a consistent contributor, playing out much of his career as a rotational player. Wide receiver Andrel Anthony (No. 585), an East Lansing native, had a notable turn as a true freshman in the Michigan State game in 2021, but never amounted to more than lightning in a bottle in Ann Arbor. Punter Tommy Doman (No. 1,448) made 31 game appearances and earned All-Big Ten honors in 2023, but finished his career at Florida. Defensive lineman Ikechukwu Iwunnah did not see game action for the first three seasons of his career, but worked himself into a depth role in 2024 and 2025. Players like McCarthy and Edwards decided to come to Michigan because of the belief that they could be key figures in reestablishing the Wolverines as a na- tional power. The prophecy was fulfilled in almost every way, and the story of the 2021 class is not yet finished with Moore returning for a sixth season in 2026. Head coach Kyle Whittingham came to Ann Arbor to make the CFP and compete for national titles, and Moore could serve as a bridge between those eras as the lone Wolverine remaining on the roster from the 2021 recruiting cycle. ❑ Championship Contributors Michigan's 2021 Recruiting Class Fuels Epic Run J.J. McCarthy finished his career with a 27-1 record as Michigan's starting quarterback and led the Wolverines to the CFP national championship in the 2023 season. PHOTO BY DOMINICK SOKOTOFF