The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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44 THE WOLVERINE ❱ OCTOBER 2026 BY ETHAN MCDOWELL G erald Guerrant wants his son Da- kota to focus on being a kid for the next 3½ months. A five-star wide receiver from Harper Woods (Mich.) High, Dakota Guerrant emerged into the recruiting spotlight as a freshman and has remained there for several years. But now, father and son are taking a step back. Guerrant, an Oregon commit, visited the Ducks in Week 1 and made the quick trip to Ann Arbor for Michigan vs. Okla- homa in Week 2. A trip to LSU later this year remains on the table as well. But those visits – and everything else recruiting-related – will take a backseat for the next couple of months as Dakota hopes to lead Harper Woods to a state title. "Football becomes a job starting in January, so he's trying to enjoy being a kid and enjoy that this ain't about a paycheck, it's not about NIL and none of that," Ger- ald Guerrant said. "He just wants to be a kid. So I told him, 'Hey, we're just going to shut out all the outside noise and just enjoy being 17 years old.'" Guerrant's trips for the rest of the year will be very limited. Gerald said they want to get out to LSU if things line up, mentioning the Sept. 26 game against Texas A&M as a potential date. The Guerrants would also like to get back to Eugene for the Oregon-Michi- gan game if possible. Their travel decisions will center entirely around Dakota's high school schedule — something that goes beyond football. If there's a party the receiver would rather go to, Gerald says he is go- ing to recommend his son picks that. Similarly, a trip to the state fair or an amusement park with friends will take priority over college visits. "It's all about trying to win a state championship and being the best Da- kota he can be for his team," Gerald Guerrant said. "So have we thought about any of the outside stuff? Nah, he doesn't even really try to talk to anyone outside of his team because he wants to stay focused on team activities." Michigan's approach to Guerrant's recruitment lines up with that mindset. The Wolverines pushed extremely hard for the No. 21 recruit in the country this spring, closing the gap on Oregon and making this a two-team race. One week before he announced his pledge to Oregon, he spent the day in Ann Arbor talking to the staff, hanging out with the coaches during team camp. Michigan backed off when he made his decision, giving him his space with plans to circle back later. Guerrant's game-day visit to Ann Arbor was the first step in Michigan's renewed pursuit of the five-star play- maker, but this was a casual visit, fo- cused more around the Guerrant family showing support for Bryce Underwood and Jacob Oden — Guerrant's god- brother. "The visit, overall, was great," Gerald Guerrant said. "We always have a nice visit when we go." Dakota Guerrant shares an agent, Brandon Grier, with Underwood. In the week leading up to the game, Grier ❱ FOOTBALL RECRUITING Michigan Begins Flip Effort With 5-Star, Top-Ranked In-State Recruit Prized five-star wide receiver prospect Dakota Guerrant (right) was in Ann Arbor for Michigan's 17-10 upset victory over No. 11 Oklahoma. PHOTO BY ETHAN MCDOWELL