Michigan Football Recruiting Surges into Top 10, ESPN Rankings Reflect Momentum
Michigan’s 2026 recruiting class is rapidly ascending, capturing the attention of national analysts at ESPN. After debuting at No. 17 in the network’s initial rankings, a strong June has propelled the Wolverines to No. 7 overall, positioning them just outside the top five.
The program’s recruiting success comes on the heels of signing Bryce Underwood, the nation’s top quarterback prospect for the 2025 cycle. However, Michigan isn’t resting on its laurels, continuing to bolster the quarterback position with the addition of Brady Smigiel, an ESPN 300 signal-caller who previously committed to Florida State. One observer noted Smigiel possesses “the confidence and swagger” needed to compete with a five-star talent like Underwood.
The Wolverines are also addressing needs on the defensive line, having lost two players to the first round of the NFL draft. They’ve added several highly-rated defensive linemen, including ESPN 300 defensive ends Titan Davis and McHale Blade. Talent evaluator’s are also highlighting Tariq Boney as a player to watch, praising his technical skills despite a lack of ideal length. Michigan also secured Carter Meadows, a versatile edge defender known for his ability to bend around offensive tackles.
Currently, Smigiel holds the highest ESPN ranking among Michigan’s commitments at No. 44. While wide receiver Calvin Russell, who committed to Syracuse this past Saturday, would have been the top-rated offensive player in the class at No. 28, Carter Meadows currently leads the defensive commitments at No. 88.
Here’s a breakdown of where each current commit ranks in the ESPN300:
- No. 44 – Newbury Park (Calif.) QB Brady Smigiel
- No. 88 – Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga EDGE Carter Meadows
- No. 101 – Richmond (Va.) Hermitage CB Andre Clarke
- No. 110 – Carrollton (Ga.) CB Dorian Barney (not included in the current overall ranking)
- No. 112 – Chesapeake (Va.) Oscar Smith WR Travis Johnson (not included in the current overall ranking)
- No. 116 – Mansfield (Tx.) WR Zion Robinson
- No. 164 – St. Louis (Mo.) Desmet DT Titan Davis
- No. 193 – Cartersville (Ga.) Cass OG Bear McWhorter
- No. 235 – Irmo (S.C.) Dutch Fork EDGE Julian Walker
- No. 263 – Honolulu (Hawaii) Keakai, Hawaii TE ThisTide
- No. 270 – Billings (Mont.) West TE Matt Ludwig
- No. 273 – Chicago (Ill.) Simeon EDGE McHale Blade
With 10 commits currently featured in the ESPN300 and 12 total pledges secured, Michigan appears poised for continued success on the recruiting trail. Several highly-rated targets remain on the board, including Mineral (Va.) Louisa County running back Savion Hiter (No. 24), Ogden (Utah) Fremont athlete Salesi Moa (No. 35), Suwanee (Ga.) Collins Hill defensive tackle Deuce Geralds (No. 40), Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy linebacker DQ Forkpa (No. 41), Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian cornerback Davon Benjamin (No. 63), and Marietta (Ga.) Kell linebacker Brayden Rouse (No. 153).
