It’s no secret that a weakness for the Michigan offense the past couple seasons has been the passing game. A big reason for those struggles has been the lack of high school commitments at the position. Well, Kyle Whittingham and the new staff made a big splash earlier this week, and hopefully it is a sign of things to come for this program.
Michigan lands commitment from elite 2027 WR
The big commitment that came in a couple days ago was from 2027 four-star wide receiver Quentin Burrell. After committing to the Wolverines over Notre Dame, Arizona State and Missouri, the Chicago native explained why the Wolverines ultimately won him over.
“Michigan felt right because I know it will push me to be my best on and off the field,” Burrell told Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong. “The culture and the people around the program stood out from day one. The relationships I built with the coaches and the genuine way they invested in me and my family made me feel like a priority the entire time. What excites me most is the opportunity to carry on the tradition and excellence of Michigan football, compete on the biggest stage in the Big House, and play in the best conference in the country. Go Blue.”
It’s no secret Michigan’s on-field play hasn’t been up to par the last two seasons, but there are still many factors that continue to draw top recruits to the program.
“Coaches are really close like a family,” Burrell said. “And you can feel that, plus it’s a great school in the Big Ten with great history and traditions. Development. mentorship, opportunity to compete to play early. Coaches I can trust, strong academics.”
Burrell is the first wideout to commit to the Wolverines in this class.
Top in-state target weighs in on looming decision
One of the best players in the state of Michigan in the 2027 class is four-star defensive back Gideon Gash. He attends Catholic Central in Novi, and the Wolverines are hoping to keep this local star in the state of Michigan for his college career.
Gash recently named his top six schools, and Michigan made the cut. The Wolverines are joined by Alabama, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, LSU and Michigan State.
“It’s gonna be tough. It’s going to be a super tough decision,” Gash told On3 regarding his decision ($). “Just trying to find the best culture, the best place for me. Because I feel like everyone’s looking for something just a tad bit different. I’m trying to decipher what that is. And if I can get on the field early and it really just feels like home. It’s going to be a little bit of a gut feeling. I have a sports family, so they’ve all kind of processed this too. My mom always tells me, just go with your gut.”
Michigan is back in the running here after originally falling behind due to a lack of communication. But the Wolverines have since picked up their efforts in recruiting Gash and are hoping to get him to Ann Arbor for a visit in the near future.
Michigan targeting two Miami (Ohio) commits
A couple flip targets for Michigan right now are 2027 three-star cornerback DJ Mitchell and 2027 three-star safety Errol Kerns III. Both players are from Indianapolis, and Mitchell is teammates with recent Michigan commit, four-star edge rusher Jayce Brewer.
Mitchell recently received his offer from the Wolverines, and it came as a bit of a surprise.
“I first found out about the offer Saturday when coach Jernaro Gilford called me and told me that they were offering me,” Mitchell told The Michigan Insider ($). “My initial reaction was shock because I’ve always had Power Four Interest, but not any offers, so I was excited and grateful after I got off the phone.”
While Mitchell is committed elsewhere, he admitted he has a lot of interest in Michigan.
“I’m very interested in Michigan,” he said. “Michigan is at the top of the list of schools especially after my teammate Jayce Brewer just committed there, so I could myself flipping my commitment to Michigan. I like their program’s culture and how they strive off wanting to win and be winners. I think very highly of Michigan and what their school and program has to offer. This offer makes me reconsider the way I’ve viewed my recruitment and I’m uncertain about where I’ll end up, but Michigan is my No. 1.”
Meanwhile, Kerns also picked up his Michigan offer recently and is changing the way he looks at his recruitment. Like Mitchell, it is looking unlikely that Miami (Ohio) is going to be able to hang on to him.
“Michigan stands out because it’s a bigger opportunity to chase my dream,” Kerns told Rivals’ Wiltfong ($). “As of right now we’re just building and connecting with each other. I know they’re a bigger school but I also have to think about my future playing there like how I fit in their program.”