The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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48 THE WOLVERINE ❱ NOVEMBER 2026 BY ETHAN MCDOWELL M ichigan's 2027 class sits just out- side the Top 10 nationally in Ri- vals' team rankings at No. 11, just .063 points behind LSU as of Oct. 15. The Wolverines will try to pull off at least a couple of blue-chip flips over the next couple of months, and that could cata- pult them above the Tigers. With 21 commitments having already been received by the U-M staff, there are only a handful of spots left to fill before the Dec. 2-4 early signing period. Michigan will pursue flips and senior risers at wide receiver, defensive line, offensive tackle, linebacker, safety and cornerback this fall. QUARTERBACK The Wolverines landed "their guy" this cycle — Kamden Lopati out of Salt Lake City (Utah) West High. U-M quar- terbacks coach Koy Detmer Jr. traveled to Utah on Michigan's bye week to see him play, and the four-star passer re- mains locked in with Michigan. At one point, the program wanted to sign two quarterbacks this cycle. Lopati is the only commit for now, and U-M remains very high on the nation's No. 9 signal- caller and No. 119 overall recruit in the Rivals Industry Ranking as of Oct. 17. RUNNING BACK Michigan secured two top running back targets before official visit sea- son this year. Both Tyson Robinson (No. 212 overall nationally, No. 16 at RB) and Lundon Hampton (No. 979 overall nationally, No. 30 at RB) remain solid with the Wolverines. Assistant coach Tony Alford locked in on both as prior- ity prospects in the spring, and U-M quickly surged to the top of their re- spective recruitments. The Wolverines seem focused on the 2028 class now at running back, meaning they are happy with their two 2027 commitments. WIDE RECEIVER Four-star pledge Quentin Burrell (No. 99 overall nationally, No. 19 at WR) is the program's only commitment at his position, but Michigan is not going to take another wide receiver just to fill another roster spot. The Wolverines are taking a patient approach to filling out this class because of the youth and tal- ent already in that room. Five-star Oregon commit Dakota Guerrant remains an elite target. Michi- gan will recruit him through the sign- ing period and do everything it can to keep the Harper Woods (Mich.) High standout home. He's done traveling, The Wolverine learned during the Penn State week, as he prepares for his senior-sea- son playoff run. That means Oregon likely won't get him back on campus be- fore the signing period if Harper Woods goes on a championship run. Michigan hosted him for the Oklahoma game, but we're expecting the program's real push to start closer to Dec. 2-4. Notably, U-M did not visit Harper Woods during the bye week. In our opinion, that's because the staff is saving its trip to the local school for later in the year when it tries to flip the nation's No. 21 recruit who is ranked No. 5 at his position. Three-star target Chad Willis (No. 756 overall nationally, No. 98 at WR) is another in-state pass catcher to closely monitor. The North Carolina commit flipped to the Tar Heels from Cincinnati earlier this year, but now the Wolverines are pushing for the West Bloomfield (Mich.) Orchard Lake St. Mary's star. He caught the staff's attention during a 7-on-7 camp over the summer, and now U-M hopes to flip him. Willis visited in September, and while it sounded like the trip went well, he remains solid with North Carolina. TIGHT END Assistant coach Freddie Whitting- ham wrapped up his 2027 tight end class after landing Colt Lumpris (No. 221 overall nationally, No. 9 at TE) as his No. 1 target for the cycle, and Christian Hanshaw (No. 682 overall nationally, ❱ FOOTBALL RECRUITING Flip Targets Could Secure Michigan's Top 10 Class Kamden Lopati from Salt Lake City (Utah) West High School is Michigan's only 2027 commitment at the quarterback position through mid-October. PHOTO BY ETHAN MCDOWELL