Michigan Football added a new member to its 2026 class on Tuesday, as three-star cornerback Ernest Nunley has announced his commitment to the Wolverines.
The 6-foot, 180-pounder from Anaheim, California originally signed with the hometown Cal Golden Bears, but he backed out of his national letter of intent last Thursday and quickly took an official visit to Michigan
on Monday.
Cornerbacks coach Jernaro Gilford and safeties coach Tyler Stockton have seemingly been working behind the scenes on this recruitment, and their efforts have paid off. It also helps that Stockton had a relationship with Nunley, as the new Michigan assistant coach was recruiting him when he was on staff at Boise State.
247Sports’ Blair Angulo had good things to say about Nunley’s skills: “A talented cover corner with really good fluidity, the 6-foot, 180-pound Nunley has been a steady riser the last couple years and has seen his stock shift in an upward trajectory. He has shown a knack for man coverage and the ability to impact plays at the catch-point. Nunley had a strong senior season at Western where he was rarely tested on the perimeter, and he was one of the more consistent performers in the off-season showcase circuit.”
The stats from that “strong” senior year — 57 total tackles, 20 pass deflections, five interceptions and two forced fumbles. He also recorded 26 tackles, two interceptions and 10 total passes defended his junior season.
With former Michigan signee, four-star cornerback Andre Clarke Jr., being released from his letter of intent earlier this month, it’s good that Kyle Whittingham and company were able to seal the deal here and bring in another cornerback. He joins four-star safety Jordan Deck as the only members of the secondary for the Wolverines in the 2026 recruiting class.
Nunley is ranked No. 101 in the state of California, No. 108 at the cornerback position and No. 1,277 overall in the 2026 class on the 247Sports composite. Check out some of his senior year film down below.
