Welcome to the Recruiting Roundup, our twice-a-week series breaking down the latest developments on the recruiting trail for the Michigan Wolverines. We’ll keep you up to date on the top targets, the visits they take, the predictions that analysts make, and everything in between. Here’s what you need to know today…
The win vs Oklahoma on Saturday was huge for many reasons. This will probably be the biggest recruiting weekend of the season for the Wolverines, and the whole country was expecting Oklahoma to win. Instead, recruits were greeted by an amazing atmosphere in the Big House and an impressive 17-10 Michigan victory.
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Among those recruits was 2027 five-star wide receiver Dakota Guerrant, who attends Harper Woods High School in metro Detroit. Guerrant is currently committed to Oregon, but his visit to Ann Arbor on Saturday might have him rethinking his decision. And it certainly doesn’t hurt that Oregon lost to Oklahoma State as a massive favorite just a couple hours after Michigan’s win.
“It couldn’t have gone better,” a source told Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong ($).
In addition to Guerrant, Michigan also made a big impact with a number of other recruits. Wiltfong is confident that 2028 four-star cornerback Nasir Richardson (No. 12 player in the 2028 class out of Malcolm X Shabazz High School in Newark, NJ) is feeling good after his visit, and he also logged a prediction for Michigan to land 2028 three-star safety Mekhi McNair (No. 337 player in the 2028 class out of Winslow Township High School in Sicklerville, NJ).
2028 four-star edge rusher Asa Burch was also in town over the weekend, and he had a great time seeing Michigan take down Oklahoma.
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“The environment was absolutely fantastic,” Burch told Rivals’ Witlfong ($). “I loved how hard they played on defense, and how coach Whitt never took the foot off the gas.”
Something that really stood out to the Warren, Ohio native was how Michigan rallied together for this game despite a lot of outside noise buzzing around the program.
“Their ability to block out the outside noise and come together,” Burch told On3’s Ethan McDowell ($). “It was a great game.”
Burch’s dad, Alfie Burch, is a Michigan grad, and he accompanied his son on the trip.
“Visit was very good,” Alfie said. “Ace had a great time. Got the four-star treatment, had conversations with the 2027 commits on the d-line.edge position, kept them all together building a great family atmosphere.”
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Everyone that was in attendance on Saturday noticed the atmosphere. It was loud, and it was impressive.
“First of all, the atmosphere for the fans has grown,” Alfie said. “Sounds like a true football environment in there, got increasingly louder every quarter. Secondly, the team camaraderie. They look like they wanted to play for each other and a higher purpose. You saw that today. I saw the kids and the coaches drink some of that Michigan believe juice .”
Burch is the No. 132 overall player in the 2028 class.
2028 four-star wide receiver Armani Strong committed to Florida in June, but he was on campus to see Michigan beat Oklahoma. Like everyone else, he noticed the electric atmosphere.
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“It was crazy,” Strong told The Michigan Insider ($). “It was pretty loud. A hundred thousand people were there today. It was crazy.”
As Kyle Whittingham goes for the flip, he met with Strong this weekend and made sure to emphasize how important he is to the program.
“He was like, ‘You’re a top priority for our school, so had to come and get you up here and watch Michigan football,'” Strong said. “He’s a chill guy. I like him. He’s really chill, laid-back, and he’s somebody that you could talk to.”
It also sounds like current Michigan commits did a good job taking care of Strong during the visit, especially 2027 four-star cornerback Blake Jenkins.
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“It was nice talking to them,” Strong said. “Blake that’s committed in the ’27 class, he got with me earlier and was showing me around, telling me how it’s like. It was nice hearing that and pretty good listening.”
While Strong is still committed to Florida, the Wolverines are making a big push.
“I feel like on my top colleges, they’ve come up,” he admitted. “They’re really up there. So, them, pretty far up there.”
Strong will be back in Ann Arbor on Oct. 24 for the Indiana game. He is the No. 215 player in the 2028 class, and he currently attends Chaminade-Madonna Prep in Miami.
