Michigan Football's 2025 recruiting campaign was very successful until Coach Moore let the team down with his outrageous behavior on December 10. Kyle Whittingham was hired to replace Moore on December 26. President Grasso on December 17 ZRG Partners conducted the Coaching Search with former University of Michigan grad, Len Purna, leading the team.

We can expect an entire new coaching staff as the Wolverines will "clean house." We can also expect big changes in the athletic department with a new athletic director after Warde Manuel's tenure since 2016. The "Good Old Boys Club" at Michigan will be over as a new era of a "Michigan Man" begins. An new UofM President was approved on January 12, Kent Syverud, and he will take over duties on July 1, 2026. Syverud earned both Master's and Doctorate degrees from the University of Michigan in 1981 and 1983, and served as Associate Dean of the Law School, 1995-1997.

The team morale has been at an all-time low, and Coach Poggi reports that as many as 25 players are leaving; he said "they'd do the best they can" in the bowl game with so many players leaving. Poggi has termed the Michigan Football Program as a "Malfunctioning Organization" over the past 5 years; this includes not only the Moore era, but also the Harbaugh era. Poggi has spent the majority of the time in the last two weeks trying his best to retain players, and calm down their parents; the trust is that the Michigan Football program is a "sinking ship," and whoever the new coach is will have an uphill struggle to piece together a competitive roster for the 2026 football campaign.

The transfer portal opened on January 2, 2026 with nearly 5,000 candidates, and it was reported on January 14 that 10,576 football players were in the portal with 6,846 still active; it ends on January 16 with the exception of the 2 teams still in the playoffs, Indiana and Miami-FL, and those players get to January 25. Whittingham and staff had a real challenge reataining players and adding from the portal. Michigan was ranked 68th nationally, and 18th in the Big Ten by On3.com with an index score of -23; 247sports.com had the Wolverines ranked 17th nationally and 4th in the Big Ten. We were not the big spenders this season as we were last season. The football program has had more attrition in the previous decade than any other in its history, and it looks like massive attrition is part of NCAA Division I football at every school now; that is the challenge of the new coach to create stabilization while the program underoes transformation. I have identified at least 78 transfer prospects that the Wolverine coaches were interested in; they may have offered or contacted over 100 prospects; they signed 18 transfer prospects to replace the 28 who left. Here is a summary of Michigan Football Recruiting over the past year with 26 signees (13 previously pledged to other schools), 9 decommitments, and 28 transfers:

On Offense, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks coach, Chip Lindsey and Assistants Josh Sinagoga and Travis Russell, offered at least 17 quarterbacks; they received the pledge of Brady Smigiel on April 26. Smigiel injured his left knee with a torn ACL with 3 torn ligaments and meniscus on October 6. As a backup plan, Michigan gained the commitment of Tommy Carr, grandson of Lloyd Carr and brother of Notre Dame Quarterback C.J. Carr, on November 16 after a previous commitment to Miami-Ohio. Other quarterbacks the Wolverines offered included: Jared Curtis (Vanderbilt), Keisean Henderson (Houston), Brandon Faizon (Tennessee), Ryder Lyons (BYU), Jonas Williams (USC), Will Griffin (Florida), Troy Huhn (Penn State, then Virginia Tech), Matt Ponatoski (Kentucky), Noah Grubbs (Notre Dame), Jaden O'Neal (Florida State), Nathan Bernhard (Maryland), Kene Archer (Utah), Hugh Price (Southern Mississippi), Bo Polston (Toledo, then Connecticut), and Quinn Murphy (Baylor). Michigan Quarterbacks Lindsey announced he's leaving Michigan for Missouri on December 21 after one season. Jason Beck will be the new offensive coordinator, and Koy Detmer Jr. will coach Quarterbacks. Michigan showed interest in 9 transfer portal quarterbacks, and signed Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and Colin Hurley. Davis Warren left for Stanford, Jadyn Davis exited to East Tennessee State, and Mikey Keene went to Arizona State.

At Running Back, Tony Alford and Assistant Jack Clark offered at least 21+ prospects; the Wolverines signed Savion Hiter and Jonathan Brown. Whittingham retained Alford, and has offered his son, Braydon, a preferred walk-on opportunity as he is transferring from Butler. Michigan gained a big transfer commitment on January 8 with Taylor Tatum; as a result, Justice Haynes entered the tranfer portal on January 9 as his NIL asking price was too high. The coaches were able to persuade Bryson Kuzdzal to stay at Michigan. It was announced on January 21 that Tatum will play Safety. Alford lost Jasper Parker to Arkansas. Alford also expressed interest in: Javion Osborne and Jonaz Walton (Notre Dame), Ezavier Crowell (Alabama), K.J. Edwards and Carsyn Baker (Texas A&M), Brian Bonner (Washington), Jae Lamar and Messia Mickens (Georgia), Amari Latimer (Wisconsin, then West Virginia), Ryan Estrada (Minnesota), Javian Mallory (Miami-FL), Davian Groce (Florida), Tradarian Ball (Oregon), Jonathan Hatton (Oklahoma), Ja'Michael Jones (Mississippi), Evan Hampton (Vanderbilt), Jaeden Hill (Mississippi State), Kaj Baker (Central Florida), and Jayreon Campbell (Indiana). Michigan's Greatest Running Back

At Wide Receiver and Tight End, Ron Bellamy, Steve Casula, and Erik Campbell offered over 75 high schoolers as a point of recruiting emphasis; they signed Mason Bonner, Travis Johnson, and Jaylen Pile. They lost previous signee, Matt "Moose" Ludwig to Texas Tech after the Sherrone Moore fiasco. With the coaching change and imminent release of Coach Ron Bellamy, Brady Marchese asked for a letter of intent release on December 26 and signed with Auburn. They also lost decommitment, Zion Robinson, to Stanford after his pledge on June 25 was reversed on December 4. Michigan lost a solid Tight End Recruit early in the process when Lincoln Keyes chose Georgia. The coaching staff also passed on Gideon Gash who gained the attention of many major college programs late in the process. Michigan coaches passed on two outstanding Michigan prospects, Jack Janda, who signed with Iowa after first pledging to Wisconsin along with Charlie Jilek (Minnesota, then Texas). Others they pursued the most included: Calvin Russell (Syracuse), Davion Brown (Penn State, then Virginia Tech), Gordon Sellars (Clemson), Jerquaden Guilford and Chris Henry (Ohio State), Brock Harris (BYU), Lincoln Keyes and Braydon Fogle (Georgia), Ian Premer (Notre Dame), and Carson Sneed (North Carolina), etc. Michigan Ends (Wide Receivers, Tight Ends and Wingbacks (Slots) Willingham hired Freddie Whittingham, his brother, to coach Tight Ends with new assistant, Ali'i Niumatololo, son of Navy Head Coach, Ken Niumatololo, and Micah Simon will coach wide receivers with new assistant, Marques Hagans. The new coaches have expressed the most interest in gaining wideouts with interest in over 20 prospects and 3 tight ends; we signed Jaime Ffrench from Texas and J.J. Buchanan from Utah. One report claimed that Michigan offered Quincy Porter of Ohio State $10 million to sign, but he signed with Notre Dame. Freddy Moore signed with Michigan State and Semaj Morgan left for UCLA.

On the Offensive Line, Grant Newsome, Nick Gilbert, and Nick Rossiello offered 50+ candidates; the Wolverines signed Adrian Hamilton, Tommy Fraumann, Malakai Lee, and Marky Walbridge. Michigan lost signee, Bear McWhorter, to Auburn after he had been committed since February 28 when he decommitted from Arkansas. Michigan passed on some outstanding Michigan Offensive Linemen including Ben Nichols, Sullivan Garvin, and Greg Patrick (Notre Dame), Benjamin Eziuka (Penn State, then Virginia Tech), and Khalief Canty (Missouri). Michigan pursued many others including: Jackson Cantwell (Miami-FL), Leo Delaney and Carter Scruggs (Clemson), Zaden Krempin (Texas A&M), Jax Tanner (BYU), Felix Ojo (Texas Tech), Darius Gray (South Carolina), Kelvin Obot (Utah), John Turntine (Texas), Kannon Smith and Breck Kolojay (USC), Sean Stover (Duke), Sam Greer and Max Riley (Ohio State). Jim Harding is the new offensive line coach with assistance from new analyst, Mike Lynch; they have expressed interest in at least 9 transfer portal targets, and signed Hawaiian, Houston Kaahaaina-Torres from Nebraska. They also retained Wolverines, Andrew Stueber, Lawrence Hattar, and Jake Guarnera, after they entered the portal. Michigan lost Ben Roebuck to Western Michigan, Kaden Strayhorn and Ty Haywood to Alabama, and Connor Jones to Georgia State. Michigan Offensive Line

On Defense, Don "Wink" Martindale has contributed to the recruiting process; however, he is not considered to be an outstanding recruiter as he has been coaching in the NFL most of his coaching career. Still, recruits certainly will value his expertise as they try to become NFL prospects. Jay Hill replaced him, and he is an excellent recruiter.

On the Defensive Line, Lou Esposito and David Denham offered at least 70 prospects; he signed Carter Meadows, Titan Davis, Alister Vallejo, Tariq Boney, and McHale Blade. The Wolverines gained one of the top defensive lineman in the transfer portal on January 8 with the addition of John Henry Daley. Julian Walker decommitted to South Carolina. Others that were pursued included: Deuce Geralds and Trenton Henderson (LSU), Jackson Ford (Penn State), Elijah Golden (Notre Dame), Damari Simeon (Ohio State), Jermaine Kinsler (Texas A&M), and J.J. Finch (Tennessee). Michigan Defensive Linemen Esposito and Denham will be retained by Whittingham, but Lewis Powell will coach the Defensive Ends. They have offered at least 7 prospects from the transfer portal including 3 former Utah players, and signed two of them: John Henry Daley and Jonah Lea'ea. Enow Etta is returning thanks to the coaches offering his brother, Ndi, at Linebacker; it was rumored that Texas A&M offered Etta $1 million to transfer.

At Linebacker, Brian Jean-Mary and Pernell McPhee offered at least 47 players, and signed Kaden Catchings, Markel Dabney, and Aden Reeder. He hoped to gain the services of: Duyon "DQ" Forkpa (North Carolina), Shadarius Toodle (Auburn), Nick Abrams (Georgia), Tank King (Texas A&M), Braylon Hodge (Oregon), Brayden Rouse (Tennessee), Kasen Thomas and Billy Weivoda (Iowa), Kaden Carter (Maryland), and Kenneth Goodwin (SMU). Michigan Linebackers  Alex Whittingham will be the new Linebackers coach. Michigan has offered at least 11 linebackers from the transfer portal, and signed Aisea Moa, Max Alford from Michigan State and BYU, Nathaniel Staehling from North Dakota State, and Christian Pierce, younger brother of Trey Pierce, from Western Illinois. Ndi Etta committed to Michigan on February 1. Michigan lost Cole Sullivan to Oklahoma.

In the Defensive Backfield,  Lamar Morgan, Lionel Stokes, and Brad Hawkins offered over 66 prospects; he signed Andre Clarke, Jordan Deck, Ernest Nunley, and Jamarion Vincent. Clarke decommitted on January 5 with previous decommitments from Dorian Barney (Mississippi) and Brody Jennings (Miami-FL). Nunley committed on January 20. They passed on Michiganders, Marcello Vitti (Iowa), and C.J. Sadler (North Carolina). Others that were efforted included: Khary Adams and Joey O'Brien (Notre Dame), Elbert Hill (USC), C.J. Bronaugh (Florida), Havon Finney (LSU), Jordan Thomas (Ohio State), Jaziel Hart (North Carolina), Davon Benjamin and Jett Washington (Oregon), Lasiah Jackson (Stanford), Blake Stewart and Chase Calicut (Georgia), Shavar Young (Clemson), Danny Odem (Nebraska), and Salesi Moa (Utah). Michigan Defensive Backs Jernaro Gilford will be the new coach for cornerbacks, and Tyler Stockton will coach Safeties; they have offered at least 13 prospects from the transfer portal, and secured the return of Zeke Berry and Jordan Young. They signed Chris Bracy from Memphis State and Snowden Smith from Utah. Michigan lost Jaden Mangham to Purdue, TJ. and Tevis Metcalf to Tennessee, Elijah Dotson to Missouri, and Jayden Sanders to Notre Dame.

On Special Teams, Michigan, J.B. Brown, Garrett Clawson, and James Brown offered several placekickers, punters, snappers, etc. They signed Placekicker, Micah Drescher, and Long Snapper, Colton Dermer. Brown was fired on December 3, and Kerry Combs was hired on December 5 as the new Special Teams Coach; Whittingham retained Combs and Clawson, but both Drescher and Dermer opted out of their scholarships. Michigan added Pittsburgh Snapper Nico Crawford, Snapper, Marshall Snapper Gavin Magorien, Pittsburgh Placekicker Trey Butkowski, and Punter Cam Brown from UNLV in the transfer portal. Kickoff Specialist, Beckham Sunderland, left and signed with Minnesota; Snapper Evan Boutorwick signed with Northwestern. Dermer decommitted on January 9, and signed with Georgia. Drescher decommitted on January 14, and signed with Notre Dame on January 20. Combs signed Snapper Jack Treutelaar on January 30. Michigan Placekickers/Punters/Specialists

In all, Michigan offered approximately 362+ scholarships in 36 states. Michigan offered the most prospects with 53 in Georgia, 52 in Florida, 44 in Texas, 30 in California, 19 in Ohio, 18 in North Carolina, 15 in Virginia, 11 in Alabama and Maryland, 10 in Pennsylvania, Illinois and Tennessee, 9 in Michigan, 8 in New Jersey, 7 in Mississippi, 6 in Arizona, 5 in Louisiana, 4 in South Carolina, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, and the District of Columbia, 3 in Kansas, Missouri, and Washington, 2 in Idaho, Indiana, Utah, Kentucky, Hawaii, 1 in Oklahoma, Connecticut, Montana, Massachusetts, South Dakota, Nevada, and New York. Over 29% of the offers were in Florida and Georgia, and more than 58.5% of the coach's offers were in the Deep South.

Michigan has chosen to emphasize recruiting in the last decade in the Deep South which a dramatic shift from 30-40 years ago when it was the Midwest; they offered at least 105 prospects in Florida and Georgia plus 115 more prospects in the states of Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Texas, and South Carolina. The competition for those highly skilled prospects is intense; ironically, with as much emphasis the coaching staff has placed on two states, Florida and Georgia, they were only able to secure one signee. Michigan only gained 4 signees from the South of the 210 offered: Kaden Catchings (Mississippi), Jaylen Pile, Alister Vallejo, and Jamarion Vincent (Texas).

In Michigan, the Wolverines could only sign Tommy Carr. 16 different Division I programs outside of Michigan signed the top Michiganders this season.

In the Midwest and Big Ten states, Michigan gained zero propects from Ohio except for camper, Jonathan Brown and Aden Reeder. Ohio State signed 11 of their top prospects from Ohio. Michigan was completely shut out in the states of Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Maryland, and Nebraska; he rise of the Hoosiers, the Illini, and the Cornhuskers has left the Wolverines out of the competition. Likewise, the Wolverines could only pry two recruits out of Illinois: McHale Blade and legacy Tommy Fraumann. The Fighting Illini kept 8 of their best recruits in state as did the Maryland Terrapins. Iowa kept 5 of their top recruits in state.

USC was the #1 ranked recruiting class this season with 35 signees; other Big Ten Schools highly ranked included Oregon and Ohio State. Michigan, Washington, and Illinois were ranked in the Top 25. The SEC Teams continue to dominate recruiting with Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, and Texas A&M in the Top 10; LSU, Oklahoma, Florida, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Mississippi all ranked in the Top 25. In the ACC, Miami-Florida, Florida State, North Carolina, Clemson, Virginia Tech, and SMU were all ranked in the Top 25. Texas Tech, BYU, and West Virginia were the top teams in the Big 12. The 3 states that produce the most NFL players continue to be Florida, Texas, and California; that is where the biggest recruiting battles continue. The teams that raise the most NIL funds from donors and boosters are the most successful in recruiting in high schools, and on the transfer portal. Overall, the Wolverines ranked 11th nationally.

90 Years of College Football Recruiting: Where the Top Prospects come from