ANN ARBOR, Mich. โ This time last year, Michigan had 14 commitments and a recruiting class ranked No. 1 by the 247Sports Composite.
The University of Michigan's 2025 class is operating on a different timeline due in part to major changes with Jim Harbaugh leaving the NFL and Sherone Moore taking over as head coach. Last month, the University of Michigan acquired four-star defensive lineman Nate Marshall, a top-50 prospect and Michigan's first commitment since Moore took over, resulting in a three-month commitment shortfall. is over. The current class also includes four-star quarterback Carter Smith, in-state defensive lineman Bobby Kanka and tight end Eli Owens, and is ranked No. 44 nationally.
Michigan State has a new target on Thursday in running back Marquise Davis, a top 200 prospect from Cleveland who has committed to Kentucky. Michigan's 2025 class hasn't assembled as quickly as previous classes, but Moore didn't raise any alarms when asked about the slow start.
“People make decisions when they want to,” Moore said after the University of Michigan's spring game. โWe take commits from time to time and make sure they are a good fit.โ
As the 2025 recruiting cycle heats up, here are 10 players to keep an eye on.
Avery Gatch, Office Lady
Gatch, a top-250 prospect from Franklin, Michigan, is expected to announce his selection from a final group that includes Michigan State, Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin on Friday. He played right tackle at Groves High School and has a slot to play guard or tackle in college. He is listed at 6-foot-5 and weighs 290 pounds, with room to play well over 300 pounds in the Big Ten.
Top 4! Thank you to all the schools that have adopted me. These are the schools I have my eye on. pic.twitter.com/AaCXaUGkkC
โ Avery Gach (@AveryGach) April 20, 2024
Gatchi's high school highlights credit him with 90 pancake blocks as a junior, and while we can't independently verify that number, he was credited with making defenders stand on the turf. There is sufficient evidence to show that. He moves his feet well, has strong hands, and finishes blocks with authority. As the state's No. 2 prospect, he is a priority for the University of Michigan this season.
Jadon Blair, S
Even without Rod Moore, Michigan's safety group will be one of the most experienced in college football next season thanks to Macari Page and Quinten Johnson. But that experience is rapidly declining, and Michigan will need to fill the ranks in 2025. Blair, a top-200 prospect from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is one of the primary targets. He has a lot in common with Paige as a 6-4 safety who can play in the box and cover a lot of ground. He has announced plans to visit Michigan State, Penn State and Notre Dame in June.
Taz Williams, WR
The University of Michigan's wide receiver outlook changed dramatically in a matter of hours Wednesday. The Wolverines added a commitment from Youngstown State transfer CJ Charleston, a sixth-year player who needs to add depth and experience at a position of need. Later that night, Amorion Walker announced he would return to Michigan after spending the spring at Ole Miss.
Walker was a two-way player in high school and came to Michigan for the opportunity to play wide receiver. He moved to cornerback last year, but was unable to win a starting job and subsequently transferred to Ole Miss. Given Michigan's wide receiver needs, offense is the logical position for him this time around.
Walker's return will help, but wide receiver remains a priority for Michigan in the 2025 cycle. Williams, a top 300 player from Red Oak, Texas, has emerged as one of the Wolverines' top targets. He's a 5-11 speedy wideout who can take over the top from the defense. If the Looney Tunes-themed recruiting graphics are to be believed, Michigan is competing against Texas A&M, Penn State and USC.
Those writers ignored me, but those coaches keep calling ๐๐พโโ๏ธ@TazWilliamsr pic.twitter.com/KqDCTSa6AI
โ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐$ ๐ฝ๐ (@Taz_1x) April 24, 2024
Jalen Williams, DL
Williams is another Chicago-area lineman Michigan State is keeping an eye on. He and Marshall visited Ann Arbor together this spring and will be a great tandem for the Class of 2025. Like Marshall, Williams is listed at 265 pounds and is projected as a defensive end or defensive tackle with stand-up ability. Raise it to the edge if necessary. He's projected to be a top-250 prospect and has interest from Purdue, Nebraska and Tennessee.
Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, LB
Owusu-Boateng, the younger brother of former Notre Dame star Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, is a top-100 prospect who began his career at DeMartha Catholic in the Washington, D.C., area before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida. Scouting services differ a bit on his measurements, with On3 pegging him at 6-2, while 247 pegs him at just over 6 feet tall. But he's big enough to withstand a downhill running game and quick enough to attack sideline to sideline. . He can also pop off the edge or drop into coverage, further increasing his versatility and making him one of the most popular linebacker prospects in the 2025 class.
Owusu-Boateng will visit Michigan State in April and return for an official visit in June. Georgia, South Carolina, Notre Dame and Stanford are also in the running.
Jordon Davison, RB
The University of Michigan appeared to be in a good spot with Davis, a four-star running back back from Cleveland, before heading to Kentucky this week. Where does Tony Alford go now? Davison, a top-100 player out of Mater Dei High School in California, is an Alford target at Ohio State and visited Michigan State earlier this spring. Rivals ranks him as a top-20 prospect in the nation and the No. 1 running back in his class, while other services rank him as a mid-four star. Either way, he has great talent. Michigan has some work to do, but this could be a battle between Alford and Ohio State's new running backs coach Carlos Loughlin.
Dawain Galloway, CB
The University of Michigan made a strong push to sign 2024 Ohio State cornerbacks Aaron Scott and Bryce West, but both ended up staying home and signing with the Buckeyes. Perhaps things will end differently for Galloway, a top-150 prospect out of Columbus who is not listed on an offer from Ohio State.
The University of Michigan has been successful in acquiring top prospects from other parts of the country in exchange for Ohio State prospects who were plucked by the Buckeyes, and Galloway could be one of them. Ohio State has committed to the top two cornerback prospects in the Class of 2025, Devin Sanchez and Naeem Offord, as well as top-100 prospect Blake Woodby. Michigan's class has a lot of room at cornerback, and Galloway would be a solid addition.
Michael Carroll, OL
The entire University of Michigan offensive staff recently traveled to Doylestown, Pennsylvania, to connect with Carroll, a top-250 prospect. He is a two-way star at Central Bucks East High School and plans to be an interior offensive lineman in college. He's already 6-6, has the size of a .300-plus Big Ten lineman, looks comfortable as a puller, and would be a good fit for the University of Michigan's offense. This could be a battle between Michigan and Penn State, but Carroll is also attracting interest from programs outside of the Big Ten.
Thank you for stopping by today!! #goblue pic.twitter.com/6GWhA2Hrxe
โ Michael Carroll (@BIIGMIKE_55) May 1, 2024
marco jones edge
Jones, a top-150 prospect from Danville, Calif., visited Ann Arbor on an unofficial visit this spring and plans to return for an official visit in the summer. He was 6-5, 230 pounds and athletic enough to play inside linebacker in high school, but will likely play on the edge in college. He may take some time to learn the position, but he has all the tools to be an effective pass rusher and is a natural fit for the role that Jalen Harrell has played the past two years. Dew. He also pursues Alabama, Texas and Oregon.
Andrew Babalola, OL
The University of Michigan moved into the Kansas City area last year and acquired Andrew Sprague, a top-10 offensive tackle in the 2024 class. The Wolverines are recruiting another tackle in the Kansas City area for 2025. Babalola is a five-star prospect ranked No. 26. Overall ranking. His quickness and natural athleticism make him one of the most promising offensive linemen in this class, and he'll only get better as he adds on to 280 pounds. For Grant Newsome, the University of Michigan's first-year offensive line coach, this is a chance to make his voice heard in what is expected to be a highly competitive recruiting battle.
(Photo by Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng: Manny Navarro / The Athletic)
