Michigan football sees a resurgence after wave of commitments

Michigan’s football program found itself in a difficult position as it entered the crucial recruiting period from May 30 to June 23, during which candidates for the class of 2025 were allowed to officially visit eligible schools.

Under new head coach Sherrone Moore, recruiting has largely stagnated, with the class finishing outside the top 40 in the country and only two additions since Jim Harbaugh left for the NFL in January.

But the Wolverines haven’t taken long to close the gap thanks to a recent upswing in recruiting. In June, they received a whopping seven verbal commitments for the 2025 class, giving them 12 this cycle. They now sit 15th in the 247Sports Composite rankings, and their blue-chip ratio is outstanding: Nine of the 12 players are rated as four-star prospects and two are ranked in the top 100 nationally.

Carter Smith, the four-star quarterback from Bishop Verot in Fort Myers, Florida, was one of two Michigan recruits to commit when Harbaugh was still at the helm and has remained true to his commitment throughout the coaching transition.

His father, Dan Smith, said it’s only a matter of time before Michigan hits its stride under Moore, who has seven new assistant coaches on his staff. The Smiths attended Victors Weekend in Ann Arbor on June 21 and 22 with more than a dozen other new recruits and their families, including several other previously signed young players.

Four more guests from last weekend have since committed, and more could soon follow as the Wolverines head into the summer with good feelings.

“People don’t realize when there’s a coaching change like this — Harbaugh was there for almost 10 years,” Dan Smith told MLive. “Nobody knew what to expect. We just had to give them time to settle in and get everything in order. (Moore) had to hire a lot of new staff.”

“They almost had to do the big (visiting) weekend for 18- to 20-year-olds because they had to catch up. But I’ll tell you right now, Coach Moore is definitely going to ruin the recruiting game. It’s going to be a whole different game.”

It’s been a busy month with a lot of activity for the Wolverines, so what exactly happened during the recent quiet period?

Michigan welcomed new recruits to campus every weekend from May 30 to June 23, but the first weekend saw the smallest group, with only a handful of 2025 candidates visiting.

The first week passed without any firm news, suggesting that it could potentially be another quiet month for the program.

Then four-star defensive lineman Jaylen Williams of Palatine, Illinois, opened the floodgates on June 10, committing after his official visit on June 7 and 8, signaling another recruiting success for defensive line coach Lou Esposito, the newest member of the team.

Michigan has now signed two top-250 defensive linemen in Williams and Nate Marshall, while Howell’s Bobby Kanka is also considered a four-star player.

The Wolverines signed their first defensive back on June 14: Kainoa Winston, a safety from Gonzaga in Washington DC. The 88th-ranked prospect in the country visited Ann Arbor on May 31 and traveled to Penn State the following weekend, but then decided to stop his recruitment.

Winston should add a lot of flexibility to Michigan’s secondary and is a big asset for new defensive backs coach LaMar Morgan, who has no experience recruiting players from power conferences.

The Wolverines traveled to Louisiana on June 15 to sign their first running back. Jasper Parker, the three-star prospect from Marrero Archbishop Shaw, announced his decision after his official visit to Ann Arbor. He made a splash on the recruiting scene with his stellar junior season and is coached by Hank Tierney, who also coached Michigan receivers coach Ron Bellamy and current Wolverines receiver Amorion Walker.

RELATED: What Michigan gets with the signing of running back Jasper Parker

Perhaps the most notable recruiting news this month had nothing to do with the 2025 class. Four-star quarterback Brady Hart of Cocoa, Florida, became Michigan’s first recruit of the 2026 cycle when he announced his decision on June 18 – one day after attending training camp at Ohio State and receiving an offer from the Buckeyes.

Hart, whose name will immediately spring to mind for Michigan fans, is a top-100 prospect who led his team to the state title in his sophomore season. The 6-foot-4 playmaker also needed just one trip to Ann Arbor to feel comfortable with the commitment and immediately formed a bond with quarterback coach Kirk Campbell.

After signing Jadyn Davis, a top-125 prospect last season, and receiving commitments from Smith, a top-200 prospect, and Hart, Michigan’s quarterback recruiting has improved dramatically under Campbell.

Victors Weekend was by far the biggest recruiting event for the Wolverines this month, and it seemed like they had hit a home run. Teammates at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, Donovan Johnson, a four-star running back, and Kaden Strayhorn, a three-star offensive lineman, both committed on Sunday, while three-star linebacker Chase Taylor of Stockbridge, Georgia, and four-star receiver Jacob Washington — a teammate of Parker’s — announced their decisions on Monday.

Johnson is one of the most intriguing players in the class, as he was a top-100 prospect before missing all of last season with a torn ACL. If he can return to form, the Wolverines could get a bargain.

Strayhorn is the son of former MSU defensive lineman Jason Strayhorn. The Spartans never seriously pursued Kaden after hiring Jonathan Smith, but it’s always notable when a legacy joins a rival school.

Michigan also appears to have bolstered its position with previous commitments. Kanka, who committed last August, has continued to draw interest from other schools as the Wolverines had three defensive line coaches last year.

The promising freshman from the state took an official visit to East Lansing earlier this month, but participating in Victors Weekend solidified his commitment to the Wolverines.

“Victors Weekend was a blast, especially because of the time I spent with all the other newcomers and recruits,” he told MLive. “I think Michigan was able to generate so much momentum because they have a successful program and continue to recruit kids that they know will help the culture and the team.”

The positive momentum could continue next week. Hardy Watts, a four-star offensive lineman from the Dexter School in Brookline, Mass., and Andrew Olesh, a four-star tight end from Southern Lehigh in Center Valley, Pa., visited Ann Arbor last weekend, and the Wolverines are the 247Sports Crystal Ball frontrunners for both. Commitment announcements could be imminent for both, and Michigan is hoping for more good news.

The early signing period for the 2025 class is still six months away, but Michigan appears to have ramped up its recruiting efforts after a slow start. More success on the field following last year’s national championship could put the Wolverines in position to land in a top-10 class after ranking outside the top 15 each of the previous two years.