The last time ESPN put out its recruiting rankings (of which it only does the top 15), Michigan football was nowhere to be found. And given the state of the 2027 class at the time, that made sense. However, a lot has changed since then.
In the month of May alone, the Wolverines have added eight commitments (with a ninth likely on the way on Friday night. Nearly all of the top pledges to the maize and blue in terms of ranking have come by way of this past month, with wide receiver Quentin Burrell, defensive lineman Xavier Muhammad, and offensive tackle Jakari Lipsey all having chosen to wear a winged helmet in just the past three weeks.
Thus, when ESPN updated its recruiting rankings, Michigan moved from unranked to 10th in the country.
Previous ranking: NR
SC Next 300 commits: 7Top offensive prospect: QB Kamden LopatiTop defensive prospect: DE Xavier Muhammad
Michigan begins a new era under Kyle Whittingham, who tapped into his Utah roots to land his quarterback in this cycle. Kamden Lopati, out of West HS in Salt Lake City, has demonstrated a high football IQ and sees the field well while possessing a strong arm and good mobility. A potential key target for Lopati is WR Quentin Burrell, a big, physical receiver with good speed and body control from nearby Illinois.
Tyson Robinson, a running back out of Mississippi, gives this class a trifecta of offensive weapons. He has good power and vision and demonstrated great effort and coachability during multiple in-person evaluations. To help protect their offensive skill additions, the Wolverines have landed several OLs, including SC Next 300 prospect Sidney Rouleau and Jakari Lipsey.
As mentioned, the Wolverines are not done yet. ESPN’s No. 102-ranked prospect, Chicago (Ill.) Mount Carmel four-star safety Tavares Harrington, is strongly favored to choose the maize and blue on Friday night. That would give Michigan eight SC Next 300 commits, with more likely coming during and after official visit season next month.
Here are the currently committed ESPN-ranked commits that the Wolverines have:
- Salt Lake City (Utah) West four-star QB Kamden Lopati (No. 46 overall)
- Chicago (Ill.) Mount Carmel four-star WR Quentin Burrell (No. 57 overall)
- Jackson (Miss.) Brandon four-star RB Tyson Robinson (No. 114 overall)
- Gatineau (Quebec) Brook Hill four-star IOL Sidney Rouleau (No. 123 overall)
- Houston (Tx.) South four-star DL Xavier Muhammad (No. 132 overall)
- Muskegon (Mich.) four-star EDGE Recarder Kitchen (No. 152 overall)
- Kalamazoo (Mich.) Loy Norrix four-star OT Jakari Lipsey (No. 265 overall)
Michigan is still behind No. 5 Ohio State, No. 7 USC, and No. 9 UCLA in the Big Ten, but also ahead of No. 11 Oregon, No. 12 Penn State, and No. 14 Washington.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football 2027 class jumps in ESPN rankings