The battle for 5-star OT Andrew Babalola

The Michigan football program has been in full swing recruiting this summer, landing eleven commitments since June.

Three top-100 players have been verbally committed for the 2025 class, but no five-star recruit has been signed since Will Johnson in the 2022 cycle. Could Blue Valley Northwest offensive tackle Andrew Babalola of Overland Park (Kan.) change that?

RANKING ORDER: He is the 27th best prospect and the 4th best offensive tackle in the country according to the 247Sports Composite and is ranked No. 1 in Kansas.

SIZE: 1.98m, 127kg

THE FIGHT: Babalola has 35 offers and has officially visited five schools this spring and summer: Michigan, Stanford, Auburn, Missouri and Oklahoma.

WHAT ARE MICHIGAN’S CHANCES? Among his finalists, none can offer as good a mix of academic achievement and on-field success as Michigan. Babalola places an emphasis on academics, which may be why Stanford is perceived as the frontrunner, according to On3. But the Wolverines have brought the talented lineman to campus twice in the past three months, including for an official visit on June 14.

“What excites me about the program is the continued success of the place and the vision for the future,” Babalola told On3 of Michigan. “They have great development all around.”

On3 Vice President Steve Wiltfong wrote on Sunday that he was convinced that Michigan had closed the gap on Stanford and that a decision from Babalola was imminent.

“Michigan is gaining traction as Stanford’s potential biggest challenger, but Auburn, Missouri and Oklahoma have also given their all and a decision could come very soon,” he wrote. “Babalola is believed to be looking for the perfect combination of academics and football. Stanford was the benchmark for the last round of visits. We’ll see if they can hang on.”

Michigan offered Babalola an offer last September when Sherrone Moore was offensive line coach. Now Moore has taken over the keys to the program and Greg Newsome has moved to offensive line coach.

“My relationship with Coach Newsome has been great,” Babalola told the Wolverine after his official visit. “When I was with him and met him, he was very emphatic that Michigan is going to develop me. We went over things, things I do well, things I need to work on and his plan on how to develop and help me in those areas of my game. When we looked at the video, the things they like to do are pretty much what I do in high school. But overall, it’s been great with him.”

Several of Michigan’s current 2025 players have also been actively recruiting Babalola on social media, trying to get him on board. Perhaps we’ll soon find out if the Wolverines’ efforts will pay off.

MICHIGAN’S NEEDS: Michigan signed two offensive linemen this cycle: four-star Avery Gach and three-star Kaden Strayhorn, but both are expected to play interior in college. The Wolverines are still looking for a true tackle, and Babalola would immediately become the headliner of the class. They’ve missed out on a few other tackle targets and don’t appear to have any clear fallbacks at the moment, meaning Babalola is a top priority.

WHAT IS THIS GUY DOING?: According to the scouting report from 247Sports scouting analyst Gabe Brooks, Babalola is a “big, athletic tackle prospect with excellent physical tools. He is relatively new to football and has an AAU basketball background, which is reflected in movement patterns and functional athleticism. He is quick on the ball. A confident down blocker who showed more confidence in completing blocks in general during his junior season. He also shows improved flexibility in bending his knees and resulting leverage advantages, an encouraging development for a young tackle. Jumping to the second level. Still developing consistency in striking power, but plays with better attacking power than expected. Feet are ahead of hands, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing at this stage, especially considering the physical gifting. He gets to his spots quickly and with purpose, but hand positioning and technique still need work. A fairly nimble, balanced athlete in space who can improve his body control in action. His demeanor on the field leans toward the running game, but his physical attributes indicate elite passing potential.”

HIGHLIGHTS

(Highlights embedded with permission from Hudl)