Man, recruiting is a wild ride. Honestly, if you blinked over the last month, you probably missed three coaching changes and a dozen flips. But let's talk about the Michigan 2026 recruiting class because, frankly, it’s one of the most bizarre and resilient groups we've seen in Ann Arbor in a long time. People keep saying the sky is falling because Sherrone Moore is out, but when you actually look at the names on the paper, this class is kinda... loaded?
Most fans are still reeling from the December drama. Moore gets fired on December 10, a week after the Early Signing Period, and everyone assumes the whole thing is going to implode. And yeah, losing a guy like Matt Ludwig—the 6-foot-4 tight end from Montana who runs like a deer—hurt. He was the first one to ask for his release. Then Andre Clarke (the four-star DB from Virginia) and Brady Marchese (the Georgia flip at WR) followed him out the door. It felt like the typical Michigan "death by a thousand cuts."
But here’s the thing. The core didn't just stay; it got weirdly stronger.
Why the Michigan 2026 Recruiting Class Still Matters
You can’t talk about this group without starting at the top. Carter Meadows and Savion Hiter. These aren't just "good recruits." They’re program-changers. Meadows is a 6-foot-6, 235-pound edge rusher out of D.C. who is basically a lab-grown quarterback hunter. Then you’ve got Savion Hiter, the top-ranked running back in the country according to some services. Seeing a five-star RB actually sign with Michigan in the NIL era feels like a fever dream, but he’s here.
👉 See also: Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers: Why This Is Still Cricket's Most Chaotic Rivalry
The narrative that recruiting died when Moore left is just factually wrong. Look at what happened in January. Kyle Whittingham takes the job, brings in his own guys, and suddenly the "Utah to Michigan" pipeline is a real thing. Landing Salesi Moa was a massive statement. Moa is that versatile 6-foot-1 athlete who can play corner or receiver, and basically everyone expected him to stay in Salt Lake City. Instead, he follows the staff to Ann Arbor. That’s not a program in a death spiral.
The Quarterback Situation: Smigiel and Carr
Most people are obsessed with Bryce Underwood in the 2025 class, and rightfully so. He’s the crown jewel. But the 2026 QB room is actually fascinating because it’s a tale of two very different players.
- Brady Smigiel: The California kid. He was a five-star at one point and has a cannon for an arm. He dealt with some injury issues late in his senior year, which is why his ranking dipped a bit, but his ceiling is still through the roof.
- Tommy Carr: This is the name that makes Michigan fans emotional. He’s Lloyd Carr’s grandson. CJ Carr’s younger brother. But get this—plenty of scouts think Tommy might actually be the better pure athlete of the two. He’s 6-foot-3 and can flat-out fly.
Having both of these guys in the Michigan 2026 recruiting class gives the Wolverines a level of depth they haven't had since... well, maybe ever. It’s insurance against the transfer portal era.
The Trenches: Where the Class Was Won
Michigan fans love to talk about "The Joe Moore Award," and the 2026 class doesn't disappoint on the line. Malakai Lee is a 6-foot-7 mountain from Hawaii. You don't see Michigan pull kids from the islands often, but he’s a legit elite tackle. Then you’ve got Marky Walbridge from Massachusetts and Adrian Hamilton from D.C.
💡 You might also like: Who in NFL is Undefeated: The Brutal Truth About the 2025-26 Season
It’s a very "Harbaugh-esque" haul of linemen, even if the coaches have changed. They’re big, they’re mean, and they’re technically sound.
Honestly, the most underrated part of the whole class is the defensive line. Titan Davis is a top-150 player out of Missouri who plays with a motor that just doesn't quit. Pair him with Alister Vallejo, a 310-pound interior plug from Texas, and you have the foundation of a very nasty defense. They lost Julian Walker to South Carolina at the last second—his dad is on the staff there, so you can't really blame him—but the remaining group is still top-tier.
Breaking Down the Flips and Saves
Recruiting is basically just a game of "who can we steal?" right now. Michigan lost a few, but they won some big ones too. Flipping Jamarion Vincent, the four-star corner from Waco, Texas, right before signing day was huge. He’s 6-foot-2 with track speed. In a Big Ten that now includes Oregon and USC, you need those long, fast corners.
| Player | Position | Status | Notable Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carter Meadows | EDGE | Signed | Consensus 5-star, #6 overall player |
| Savion Hiter | RB | Signed | #1 ranked RB in some services |
| Salesi Moa | ATH | Committed | Flipped from Utah in Jan 2026 |
| Travis Johnson | WR | Signed | 6-foot-3 target with elite vertical |
| Jamarion Vincent | CB | Signed | Flipped from Baylor late in the cycle |
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2026 Outlook
There’s a misconception that because Michigan didn't sign a top-500 linebacker, the defense is going to suck in three years. Look, they’ve got Aden Reeder and Markel Dabney. They aren't the highest-rated guys, but they fit the "Michigan mold"—high IQ, physical, and productive.
✨ Don't miss: Jameson Williams: What Most People Get Wrong About the Lions Deep Threat
The real concern should be the secondary depth. After some portal attrition in early 2026 (losing guys like TJ Metcalf and Brandyn Hillman), the pressure on Jordan Deck and Jamarion Vincent to contribute early is real. But getting Jordan Young to withdraw his name from the portal was basically like signing a five-star recruit all over again.
Basically, the Michigan 2026 recruiting class is a bridge. It bridges the gap between the Moore era and the Whittingham era. It’s a mix of national blue-chippers and specific regional targets that the new staff clearly values.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're trying to keep track of where this goes next, here’s what you need to do:
- Watch the Spring Game: Keep an eye on the early enrollees, specifically Savion Hiter. If the hype is real, he’s going to look like a man among boys even as a freshman.
- Monitor the Portal "Aftershocks": Even though the class is mostly signed, the one-time transfer rule means these guys aren't "locked in" forever. The first year of a new coaching staff is always the highest risk for departures.
- Follow the "Utah Connection": Now that Whittingham is the guy, Michigan is going to be a major player for West Coast and Mountain West recruits that they usually wouldn't touch. Salesi Moa is just the start.
- Check the NIL Numbers: The reason Michigan kept Hiter and Meadows despite the coaching change is largely due to a revamped NIL collective. That's the engine now. If the donors stay happy, the class stays together.
It’s been a stressful few months in Ann Arbor, no doubt. But the 2026 class isn't a disaster—it's actually a top-12 group that somehow survived a head coaching firing. That says more about the "Block M" than anything else.