November is going to be one of the biggest recruiting months of the year for the Michigan Wolverines, as they hosted a number of recruits for the win against Purdue and will have a ton of elite prospects
in Ann Arbor for The Game. Here are the latest recruiting updates, including Michigan’s pursuit of a few top in-state recruits.
In-state edge rusher speaks on Michigan offer and visit
Myles Smith, a 2027 edge rusher making a meteoric rise up recruiting rankings, made the 40-minute drive to Ann Arbor for the Purdue game last week and picked up an offer from the Wolverines.
“It was for sure a surprise to me,” Smith said of the offer to The Wolverine’s Ethan McDowell ($).
Smith is not yet ranked on the 247Sports composite, but Rivals has him ranked as the No. 1 recruit in his class from The Mitten State. Smith said Michigan’s main appeals come from development and the school’s reputation in the classroom.
“They have a great background in just developing their players,” Smith said. “It’s obviously a great school academically. I need that in my schools. They develop their defensive line very well. They just had a few go to the NFL in the first round. I feel like they’re very stable as a team right now, and they could improve a lot too.”
Smith is set to play basketball this winter, so he has a busy few months ahead. He’s already visited Indiana, Michigan State and Purdue, and he plans to come back for The Game at the end of the month.
“(Michigan is) very high on the board right now, but I’m still open to a lot of schools,” Smith said.
Michigan making progress on top in-state TE
Speaking of in-state recruits, it appears Michigan is making progress on landing a top in-state tight end. 2027 four-star Detroit Country Day tight end Anthony Cartwright made a last-minute decision to come to Ann Arbor last weekend for the Purdue game.
“It wasn’t a planned visit,” Cartwright told The Wolverine’s EJ Holland ($). “I was at Ohio State, but I got back there for the night game. Now, it’s to the point where I know what to expect. I know the fans are going to bring it. I know the team and the coaches are going to bring it. For me, it’s just about watching the tight ends, so I can see exactly how I’m going to fit into the scheme.”
Cartwright visited Michigan this past summer and is ranked 290th overall in his class, 18th among tight ends and fifth among Michiganders on the composite. He has several major offers, including but not limited to Ohio State, Oregon, Alabama and Florida.
Cartwright has a tight bond with tight ends coach Steve Casula, with the recruit saying they talk every day. It’s also no secret tight ends have thrived in Michigan’s offense.
“I really like how the offense is being ran,” Cartwright said. “Coach Casula emphasizes how much they use their tight ends every time I see him. They are living up to that. They utilize their tight ends in many different ways. I definitely feel like I can fit in.”
Cartwright said Michigan is “one of the top schools that I’m taking a closer look into.” Holland reported a return visit is locked in for The Game.
Michigan hosts South Florida LB commit
Flips are a huge part of Michigan’s recruiting game plan, and with all the recent head coach openings, this cycle may include more flips than ever before.
One recruit Michigan is recruiting is 2026 three-star South Florida linebacker commit Kaden Catchings, who committed on Oct. 23 after initially verbally pledging to Liberty. The Flowood, Mississippi native is the 40th-ranked player in his state on the composite. He was at Michigan for an official visit over the weekend.
“It was great,” Catchings said. “The environment was something I didn’t even expect. It was great being back out there in Ann Arbor. They had a couple of freshman play at linebacker, and it shows me anybody can get on the field and have an opportunity to play. I also got to see the campus and do the photoshoot. It was great.”
With Jimmy Rolder and Ernest Hausmann running out of eligibility after this season, there could be playing time up for grabs as soon as next season. Combine that with the relationship Catchings has with linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary, and it’s easy to see how Michigan could secure a flip.
“My relationship with coach BJ is really good,” Catchings said. “He’s a cool dude. He’s a family guy. He said he wants me to come in and play linebacker for him because I fit with what they do. He thinks Michigan is a great place for me to develop.”
Catchings said he hopes to choose between flipping to Michigan and staying at South Florida by National Signing Day sometime within the next month. It’s important to note South Florida could undergo a coaching change, with head coach Alex Golesh’s name being brought up in the coaching carousel. That change could push Catchings towards the Wolverines.
Quick Hitters
-After visiting Michigan this past weekend, 2027 four-star wide receiver Tre Smith told Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong ($) he’s excited to get to know head coach Sherrone Moore and wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy more.
-Linebacker is a clear priority for the Wolverines, with 2026 three-star Pitt commit and Cass Tech linebacker Marcus Jennings recently being offered a scholarship.
–McDowell ($) reported that Moore is set to visit Harper Woods for its second round playoff game to see two recruits — 2027 four-star wide receiver Dakota Guerrant and 2028 five-star wide receiver Deandre Bidden.
-Moore isn’t the only coach set to make visits during the team’s bye week. Defensive line coach Lou Esposito is visiting 2026 four-star edge commit Julian Walker, running backs coach Tony Alford is meeting with five-star running back commit Savion Hiter, and Bellamy is visiting four-star wide receiver commit Zion Robinson.
