The recruiting dead period continues and won’t end until next month, but the new Michigan coaching staff as set themselves up for success once the dead period is lifted. The Wolverines have locked in visits with some of their top targets, and it sounds like they are on the verge of setting up an official visit with one of the state’s top prospects in the 2027 class.

In-state four-star TE ‘definitely going to set up an OV’ to U-M

In-state recruiting will be key for Kyle Whittingham and company moving forward, and it appears they have hit the ground running to set themselves up for success. One of their top targets early on is 2027 four-star tight end Anthony Cartwright, who goes to school at Detroit Country Day.

The 6-foot-5, 235-pounder visited Ann Arbor three times this past fall and visited again just last month prior to the start of the dead period. He spoke with On3’s Ethan McDowell ($) to update his recruitment, and it sounds like he still holds Michigan in very high regard.

“Definitely still one of my top priority schools,” Cartwright said. “I’m going to be back up there a couple times in the spring just because it’s so easy to get there. And then, I haven’t set up an OV yet, but I’m definitely going to set up an OV.”

He was able to connect with some of Michigan’s coaches when he took his most recent trip, including tight ends coach Freddie Whittingham. They watch some Utah film together to get an idea of how Cartwright would be used in the offense at Michigan.

“Their offense allows me to showcase everything that I have,” Cartwright said.

Cartwright — who ranks No. 302 overall and No. 6 in the state of Michigan on 247Sports’ composite — is also high on Oregon and Michigan State, two schools he also visited last month and also plans to take official visits to this summer, along with Miami.

Four-star DB to visit for Michigan’s spring game

Michigan’s yearly spring game is set to take place on Saturday, April 18 at the Big House, and you can bet there will be several top recruits in attendance. One of them will be 2027 four-star safety Isala Wily-Ava, who recently told Rivals’ Greg Biggins ($) how much he is looking forward to the trip.

“I’ve never been so I’m really excited,” Wily-Ava said. “I like the new Michigan staff a lot and I’e had some great conversations with them but how they see me fitting in.

“They told me they love the way I play and want to move me around and play multiple positions and I love that. Ever year Michigan has a chance to compete for a National Championship and that’s another reason I like them so much.”

The St. John Bosco (Bellflower, California) standout will also take a spring trip to Washington from March 7-8. He recently took a visit to Arizona State, a program he admitted is “pushing really hard” for his commitment. Those three programs make up his top-three as of now.

Wily-Ava — who plans to make a late spring or early summer decision — is ranked No. 232 overall, No. 24 at the safety position and No. 32 in the state of California, according to the composite.

2027 commit discusses reason for sticking with Michigan

The Wolverines lost several members of their 2026 class following the firing of Sherrone Moore, but the 2027 class has not taken any hits just yet. One of the top members of the class, four-star edge rusher Recarder Kitchen, committed to Michigan a couple weeks prior to Moore’s firing. However, the Muskegon native recently told On3’s McDowell ($) that he didn’t commit to Michigan because of any single coach.

“I wasn’t going there for no coaches at all,” Kitchens said. “I was going there for the tradition and just Michigan.”

That doesn’t mean other schools weren’t checking in on him to see if he was reconsidering his commitment to the Wolverines. Despite other programs checking in on him, he made it abundantly clear he wasn’t thinking about any other schools.

“A couple of other schools came in to see where my commitment was, and I let them know that I was solid,” Kitchen said. “I’m still, of course, building relationships because you never know what happens, but I just let them know, as far as anything else, I can’t do none of that.

“My loyalty with Michigan is very strong.”

Those relationships that are being built include Michigan’s new staff. Kitchen recently had the chance to meet with several of them, including head coach Kyle Whittingham, who he called “a real great dude.” Moving forward, Kitchen plans to visit Michigan “as much as possible” this offseason to watch practices and see how the new coaches work with the players on the field.

Kitchen is ranked No. 110 overall, No. 16 along the edge and No. 2 in Michigan in his class on the composite.

2027 four-star linebacker Broncs Baker announced on social media that he will be visiting for Michigan’s spring game before returning in June for an official visit.2027 three-star athlete Peyton Higginson announced on social media over that weekend that he will also be visiting for the spring game on April 18.2027 five-star defensive lineman Marcus Fakatou included Michigan in his top-10 list.Finally, Michigan recently made the top-12 list for 2027 three-star safety Elijajuan Houston.