Everyone thought the wheels were falling off. When Jim Harbaugh packed his khakis and headed for the West Coast, the narrative was basically written: Michigan's recruiting was going to crater. Add in those NCAA investigations looming like a dark cloud, and you had a recipe for a total disaster in Ann Arbor.
But then Sherrone Moore happened.
Honestly, looking at the michigan recruiting class 2025 today, it's kinda wild how they pulled this off. They didn't just survive the transition; they actually finished with the No. 6 ranked class in the country according to 247Sports. We're talking about 24 commits, including a massive late-cycle flip that essentially changed the entire trajectory of the program for the next three years.
The Bryce Underwood Effect and the Homegrown Flex
The biggest story—the one nobody can stop talking about—is obviously Bryce Underwood.
He’s the No. 1 overall recruit in the nation. A quarterback from Belleville, Michigan, who was committed to LSU for what felt like an eternity. Getting him to stay home was a heist. It wasn't just about NIL money, though reports suggest a massive $3 million valuation; it was about Sherrone Moore and Kirk Campbell convincing the best player in the country that he could be the face of the new era.
Underwood is 6-foot-4, 214 pounds, and throws a ball that looks like it's shot out of a cannon.
But he wasn't the only Belleville kid to sign. Elijah Dotson, a versatile four-star safety/cornerback, also joined the fold. Keeping that local talent in the state is something Michigan struggled with at times under the previous staff, but they planted a flag this time.
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Building the Great Wall 2.0
You can't have a Michigan team without a massive offensive line. It’s basically in the school's DNA at this point.
The 2025 group is led by Andrew Babalola, a 6-foot-6, 300-pound tackle out of Kansas. He’s a literal giant with a 4.0 GPA who chose Michigan over Stanford and Auburn. Then you've got Ty Haywood from Texas. Getting a five-star tackle out of Denton, Texas, is nearly impossible, but Moore’s reputation as an O-line whisperer clearly still carries weight.
- Andrew Babalola: The cornerstone left tackle of the future.
- Ty Haywood: A powerful run-blocker who gives them elite depth.
- Avery Gach: A local kid from Franklin who plays with a nasty streak.
- Kaden Strayhorn: An interior guy from IMG Academy who understands the pro-style system.
Why the Michigan Recruiting Class 2025 Is Defensively Scary
While the offense got the headlines because of Underwood, the defensive haul is arguably more balanced.
Nate Marshall is the name you need to know here. He’s a 6-foot-4 defensive lineman from Illinois who actually flipped from Auburn back to Michigan. That tells you everything you need to know about the "culture" fit. He’s twitchy, he’s explosive, and he’s exactly the kind of hybrid player that Wink Martindale (and now the current staff) loves to move around the line of scrimmage.
Then there’s the secondary.
Shamari Earls decommitting from Georgia to join Michigan was a massive "mic drop" moment for the coaching staff. People usually leave Michigan for Georgia, not the other way around. Earls is a 6-foot-2 corner with track speed. Pair him with Ivan Taylor—the son of NFL legend Ike Taylor—and Kainoa Winston, and you have a defensive backfield that is built to handle the "Big Ten expansion" era of pass-heavy offenses.
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The Under-the-Radar Names to Watch
Everyone focuses on the stars, but Moore talked a lot about "cultural fits."
Take Benny Patterson, for example. He’s a defensive lineman from Indiana who Moore described as having a motor that just doesn't stop. He might start as an edge, but the staff thinks he could bulk up into a disruptive interior force.
And don't sleep on Andrew Marsh.
He’s a wide receiver from Texas who spurned the local schools to come North. With Underwood throwing the ball, Marsh is going to be a vertical threat that Michigan hasn't really had since the days of Nico Collins or Braylon Edwards. He's got that "go-up-and-get-it" ability that makes a quarterback's life easy.
Addressing the NIL Elephant in the Room
Let's be real for a second.
Michigan's approach to NIL changed during this cycle. For a long time, the school was very "transformational, not transactional." That's a fancy way of saying they didn't want to pay high schoolers upfront.
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They realized they had to adapt.
The michigan recruiting class 2025 was the first one where the university truly leaned into its "Champions Circle" collective. While they still aren't "buying" classes like some SEC schools might be accused of, they finally leveled the playing field. Without that shift, Bryce Underwood is probably wearing purple and gold in Baton Rouge right now.
What’s Next for the Wolverines?
The work isn't done just because the ink is dry on the National Letters of Intent.
The focus now shifts to the 2026 cycle, where Michigan is already trying to capitalize on the momentum. They've already got eyes on elite talent like Savion Hiter and Carter Meadows. The goal is to prove that 2025 wasn't a fluke but the new baseline.
If you're a fan, you should be watching the spring game closely. Most of these top guys—especially Underwood and Babalola—are early enrollees. They’re already on campus. They’re already in the weight room.
The biggest challenge will be managing expectations. You don't just hand a true freshman the keys to the Big Ten and expect a natty immediately. But for the first time in a long time, Michigan has the raw talent at the most important position on the field to stay at the very top of the mountain.
Keep an eye on the transfer portal additions as well. While the high school class is the foundation, Moore has been active in filling gaps with veteran leadership, like interior lineman Lawrence Hattar. This blend of elite youth and experienced transfers is the blueprint for 2026 and beyond.
Actionable Insight for Fans: Follow the spring practice reports specifically for the "Belleville Trio." If Underwood and Dotson are clicking with the second-team defense and offense early, expect them to see meaningful snaps as soon as Week 1 of the 2026 season.