The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1545685
THE WOLVERINE 2026 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 151 Wide Receiver Commits: 1 Need: 3 Michigan wants to pull off a couple of massive recruiting wins at the wide re- ceiver position after securing a pledge from Quentin Burrell, the No. 83 recruit and No. 15 wide receiver in the country. The 6-2 pass catcher from Chicago Mount Carmel was a top priority for receivers coach Micah Simon as soon as he joined the staff, and Burrell ended up committing in May after just one official visit to Ari- zona State. Notre Dame and Missouri were also contenders, but Michigan grabbed the momentum in his recruitment this spring and never gave it up. Top 100 in-state receiver Dakota Guer- rant is one of the program's top targets regardless of position. The Wolverines are doing everything they can to keep the na- tion's No. 46 recruit and No. 6 wideout at home. He's an elite receiver prospect out of Harper Woods High, and U-M sits squarely in his top two with Oregon. He plans on committing in July, but his re- cruitment will go until signing day. Guer- rant and his family will watch Michigan's offense closely this fall to see if the Wol- verines have a scheme that will set him up for success. Four-star wide receiver Damani War- ren also remains a priority for Simon and the rest of the staff. They recruited the Las Vegas standout during their time at Utah and really piqued his interest during a spring visit. The No. 395 recruit nation- ally lives with Thatcher, and the possibil- ity of playing together at the collegiate level intrigues them. Texas A&M is the other main contender in his recruitment, and he left his official visit with the Aggies without making a commitment. Look for U-M to make a big move during his Vic- tors Weekend official visit, June 19-21. Tight End Commits: 1 Need: 2 Michigan might only sign one true tight end this cycle. The Wolverines al- ready landed their top target when they flipped former Alabama pledge Colt Lum- pris. He's the No. 277 recruit and No. 11 tight end in the country, and Michigan was very excited to secure his pledge. The Lawrenceville (N.J.) School standout is a 6-foot-7 pass catcher who will continue to refine his tight end skill set but should be able to contribute early as a big receiver. The Wolverines are also continuing to push for three-star Utah native Chris- tian Hanshaw. He's a traditional in-line tight end who picked up a wave of Power Four offers this year. BYU was once viewed as the main competition for him, but it sounds like the Cougars are fading a bit in this process. That puts Michigan in a great spot going into his Victors Weekend of- ficial visit. He's really the only other tight end target on the board and plans on serv- ing a two-year mission after high school, so he's essentially a 2029 recruit. Offensive Line Commits: 3 Need: 4 Securing an early pledge from Jakari Lipsey was a major recruiting win for of- fensive line coach Jim Harding. The Ka- lamazoo (Mich.) Loy Norrix star watched his recruitment blow up over the past year, but Michigan always looked like the favor- ite. Harding made him an immediate prior- ity after joining the staff. At one point, he wanted to take official visits to UCLA, LSU and Tennessee. Michigan closed strong to secure his pledge. He's the No. 129 recruit and No. 11 offensive tackle in the country. Three-star interior offensive lineman Louis Esposito is the longest-standing pledge in Michigan's 2027 class. He earned an offer at camp last summer and contin- ues to grow and develop into someone who could finish the cycle as a four star prospect. Esposito, the son of former Michigan defensive line coach Lou Esposito (now with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens), is one of the program's most vocal recruiters and he attends school just a short drive away at Saline (Mich.) High. Sidney Rouleau rounds out the current group of commitments. Rivals considers him an interior prospect, but the Wol- verines see him as a tackle. He measured close to 6-foot-7 during his official visit and continues to reshape and develop his frame. He's also completely locked in, and his family loved his official visit. Rivals300 interior offensive lineman Lincoln Mageo is the main offensive line target left on the board, and his recruit- ment is shaping up well for the Wolverines. He holds a ton of reverence for Harding, and they have built a great relationship over the past few months. His official visit went well, and while Utah and Washington will continue to push, it will be tough to beat Michigan for the Oceanside (Calif.) High offensive lineman. Kalamazoo (Mich.) Loy Norrix standout Jakari Lipsey, the country's No. 95 player and No. 8 offensive tackle, was the Wolverines' highest-rated commit as of mid-June. PHOTO BY ETHAN MCDOWELL