Welcome to the Recruiting Roundup, our twice-per-week series breaking down the latest developments on the recruiting trail for the Michigan Wolverines. We’ll keep you up to date on the top targets, the visits they take, the predictions that analysts make, and everything in between. Here’s what you need to know today…
Michigan predicted to flip WR from Toledo
Three-star 2027 wide receiver Yuto Kawamura-Johnson out of West Orange High School in Winter Garden, Florida committed to the Toledo Rockets back in June. He was on campus in Ann Arbor
to see the Michigan football team beat Penn State over the weekend, and now it seems like he is rethinking his commitment decision.
After the visit, On3 ($) is predicting that Kawamura-Johnson will flip his commitment from Toledo to Michigan. Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong also made a prediction for him to flip over to the Wolverines.
“I’m really excited about the opportunity,” Kawamura-Johnson told Wiltfong ($). “Being able to play for Coach Whittingham and be a part of a program like Michigan is something special. I feel like it’s a great place to develop and compete at a high level. I’m grateful for the opportunity and excited to see what the future holds!”
Kawamura-Johnson is the No. 2,243 player in the 2027 class. He recently caught Michigan’s eye, and he picked up an offer on his visit. Michigan State and West Virginia are a couple of other programs to watch here.
Recruits react to Michigan’s win over Penn State
Saturday was another big recruiting day for the Wolverines, and they came up big in the second half to pick up a much-needed victory over Penn State.
Michigan hosted four-star 2028 quarterback Levi Kerr for the big game against the Nittany Lions, and the Wolverines made a good impression and also extended an offer.
“This place is awesome!” Kerr told Rivals’ Steve Woltfong ($). “Meeting all of the people and seeing all history is so cool! Can’t wait to watch the game next.”
Kerr is the No. 303 player in the 2028 class, and he currently attends Marvin Ridge High School is Waxhaw, North Carolina.
The positive reviews came from just about every recruit who was on campus over the weekend. One of them was four-star 2028 athlete Camden Noe, who currently attends Portage Central High School in Portage, Michigan. He is the No. 110 player in the 2028 class, and a crucial in-state target for the Wolverines.
“My experience in Ann Arbor today was amazing!” Noe said. “That game was awesome, and my conversations with the coaches were even better! Something that really stands out to me about Michigan is the relationships I have with all of the coaches. Relationships are something that are super important to me throughout this process, and I think Michigan does a really nice job at it. I am very close with all the coaches, we keep in very close contact all week, and they really make me feel like a priority to them.”
No. 1 player in 2028 class recaps Michigan visit
The most important visitor on campus last weekend was five-star defensive lineman Kellan Hall. Hall is the No. 1 player in the 2028 class (Christian Academy of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky), and Michigan is one of his top options.
“I didn’t know what to expect, and I didn’t know much about this new staff, but it kind of makes things a little bit clearer in my decision and kind of moves the needle a little bit for some people in other aspects, but we’re still taking it day by day for sure,” Hall told On3’s Ethan McDowell ($).
Hall has taken multiple visits before this to Michigan, but it was crucial for him to see what things look like with the new coaching staff.
“I was here three times my freshman year and just liked the culture and the fans and the camaraderie that they had, and I just wanted to see what it looks like when you have a coach that has been successful at his previous school and brings it over to here,” he said.
Defensive tackles coach Larry Black has been the primary recruiter here, and it sounds like the relationship between him and Hall is only getting stronger.
“It’s a good relationship that’s been blossoming,” Hall admitted.
In terms of the game, Hall noticed the spark that Tommy Carr provided at quarterback. That second half performance was a good show for the nation’s top recruit.
“I feel like the team, with the quarterback switch, had a big energy boost, and it just totally changed the team, and they just came out different,” Hall said. “It looked like two separate teams in two separate halves.”
This is not going to be an easy commitment for Michigan to secure, but a strong track record of elite defensive linemen paired with a top defense in the country this year should go a long way. A decision is expected in January.
