In this piece, I analyze three areas—namely, where the Michigan football team needs to improve—and assess the Wolverines’ present standing in each heading into the 2025 recruiting class.
The 2025 recruiting process is currently in full swing, with scheduled visits taking place in the upcoming weeks and months. The Wolverines’ class of 2025 will be very important. If Michigan football wants to remain at the top of college football, they need an elite class after two consecutive disappointing classes.
Having said all of that, I believe the Wolverines need to excel in three key areas. Fortunately, the Wolverines are in a strong situation right now. However, it is unclear if that will continue to be the case. Let’s get started immediately.
Several Top DBs
It’s strange that Michigan football, a successful defensive team, has recently had trouble attracting wide receivers. Four-star Jyaire Hill, who was ranked in the 200s, was the standout recruit in the 2023 class. Jo’Ziah Edmond, a three-star who committed to Michigan but advanced to a prospect who is on the verge of the top 100, topped the 2024 class. The Wolverines have signed just those two four-star defensive backs in the last two cycles.
There are a ton of outstanding DBs in the 2025 class, and Michigan football has access to several of them. I think the Wolverines should sign at least three four-star defensive backs. It should also be feasible. A few of the players Michigan is succeeding with are four stars Alex Graham, Dawayne Galloway, and Jahmari DeLoatch; five-star safety D.J. Pickett; top-25 prospect Trey McNutt; and top-100 prospect Mark Zackery IV.
I believe Michigan’s best prospects are Graham, DeLoatch, Galloway, and Pickett. It’s crucial to remember that we don’t know what will happen with Lamar Morgan as the next DBs coach. It is extremely likely that certain recruits will get along better with Morgan and the new team than others.
At the moment, Jahmari DeLoatch and Alex Graham strongly like the Wolverines. That would make this DB class off to a fantastic start. Football at Michigan needs some of these elite recruits.
A Superior Wide Receiver
Given that Michigan football runs the ball a lot and hasn’t been a very spectacular passing team, it should come as no surprise that the club has struggled to find outstanding wide receivers. They will require a very good receiver, then. in particular, a large-framed receiver. Michigan needs a serious receiving threat because several of its 2023 roster’s players are no longer with the team.
Over the past few seasons, Michigan football has routinely found smaller receivers, which is fantastic, but they still need a player who can go up and consistently catch 50-50 passes. Michigan needs a player who can succeed against anybody, especially in light of the fact that rivals Ohio State keeps acquiring excellent defensive backs.
This list also includes a few outstanding names. At the top of the list is Texas’s five-star Kaliq Lockett. Though Michigan has a shot and is seen as a serious contender, he will be a very difficult pull. Other names include four stars Tayln Taylor and Taz Williams, Texas’s Andrew Marsh, a top 100 prospect, and Quincy Porter, a prospect who is on the verge of the top 100 from New Jersey.
Ideally, two of these players end up in Michigan. To be honest, I’m not sure how realistic that is in reality. Just by virtue of the others’ Texas origins, I believe Porter and Taylor to be the most realistic. It would be an enormous accomplishment for Michigan if it could secure any or both of those two.
Recruits will need to be persuaded by Sherrone Moore that he will throw the ball more frequently and give receivers more opportunities to excel in his offense. Any one of these guys is a serious contender if he can pull it off. However, at this moment, I simply lack confidence in my ability to attract elite receivers.
An Excellent Linebacker
This must land, in my opinion, has the greatest potential out of the three. A master recruiter, Brian Jean-Mary is not afraid to take a risk. He’s been in touch with the majority of the nation’s best linebackers, and given their defensive prowess, it appears likely that Michigan football will be able to sign at least one of them.
Among the players to keep an eye on are four-star Kamar Archie, top 100 prospect Matai Togoa’i, and TJ Alford, who is committed at the end of March but still wants to visit Michigan football. While by no means comprehensive, that is a respectable list of linebackers Michigan is actively chasing right now.
I appreciate Michigan’s stance on Archie right away, and the young man certainly looks like a tank. He would give the Wolverines a huge victory. Based on the hiring decisions that Sherrone Moore made and Warde Manuel approved, I have no doubt that Michigan’s NIL will increase. The Wolverines should be able to contend for the top prospects in the nation as a result.
The Wolverines desperately need elite linebacker talent because their depth is severely lacking. The 2025 class is ideal to fill the need for star power at the position, which they want. The Wolverines definitely need more than one elite linebacker, but they do need at least one.
The class of 2025, in my opinion, will be highly instructive for Michigan. The faculty and program are the subject of a lot of excitement. That excitement will only intensify if they can take advantage of it and attract a top class of recruits. Watch this space for updates. Go, Blue!
