With Michigan’s new staff set in place and the 2026 roster all but set, Kyle Whittingham and the Wolverines have been hard at work on the recruiting trail. They have been touching base with recruits and securing visits for later this spring.
But we begin today’s Recruiting Roundup with an in-state prospect that took a visit earlier this week and walked away with an offer.
New coaching staff offers first in-state recruit
Whittingham and his staff are setting their sights on some in-state recruits, and they recently offered one for the first time.
Michigan extended an offer to Bryce Kish, a 2027 athlete who was teammates with defensive lineman Bobby Kanka at Howell High School. The offer came after Kish visited earlier this week.
“I think both coach Whittingham and (defensive coordinator Jay) Hill are winners,” Kish told 247Sports’ Allen Trieu ($). “I spoke with coach Whittingham briefly, but he, as well as coach Hill, seemed to have genuine interest in me…coach Hill sees me being a linebacker and likes that I can get after the quarterback as well.”
He also got a chance to connect with his former teammate on that visit.
“I talked with Bob toward the end of the visit, we talked about workouts, class, and just caught up with life a little,” Kish said. “I see Bob a good amount he comes by the high school a good bit. He was excited to hear I got offered.”
The connection with Kanka is one Michigan should continue to rely on during the recruiting process; former high school teammates can swing recruitments just as much as assistants.
While Kish is not yet ranked on the composite, he has also earned offers from Michigan State, Minnesota and Toledo, to name a few.
Four-star safety plans to visit for Spring Game
With all the Utah connections on this staff, Michigan is also recruiting players out west. Defensive ends coach Lewis Powell recently stopped by St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, California to see a number of targets, including 2027 four-star safety Isala Aisa Wily-Ava.
“Our talk was great,” Wily-Ava told The Michigan Insider’s Brice Marich ($). “Coach Powell is a great person. He was saying how he sees me playing in their defense and how the Michigan environment can help me accomplish lifelong goals! He’s also big on family, which is big for me as well.”
Wily-Ava had Michigan in his top-eight in November, and even with the regime change, Wily-Ava says Michigan is “definitely top-three.” He also confirmed he will be Michigan for the Spring Game, which apparently will take place on Saturday, April 18.
On the composite, Wily-Ava is ranked 232nd overall, 24th among safeties and 23rd among recruits from California. He has other offers from Ohio State, Texas, Washington, Notre Dame and Cal, among others.
Three-star ATH from Utah planning multiple visits
Whittingham and his staff know the state of Utah just as well as anyone, so it only makes sense for them to go after 2027 three-star athlete Peyton Higginson. The 6-foot-3, 181-pounder from Salem, Utah has about a dozen offers, with BYU being the first Power 4 school to offer him, and that includes his recent offer from Michigan.
“Michigan is for sure a top school for me and, when I get out there, I’m positive that will only make me more interested!” Higginson said to Ethan McDowell of The Wolverine ($).
Higginson is set to visit Ann Arbor in the spring, and will likely follow that up with an official visit this summer. It sounds like his connection with Hill gives Michigan a massive advantage with this recruitment.
“He told me that, ever since the day he came and watched me practice, he fell in love with me, and he said he wants me with him no matter where he is at!” Higginson said. “He likes how I am a versatile player that’s not afraid to lay a hit and can get downhill fast to make tackles!”
Quick Hitters
-Michigan offered Mikyal Davis, a 2027 three-star cornerback who is committed to Oklahoma.
-Michigan extended an offer to 2027 four-star safety Gabe Jenkins earlier this week and almost immediately made his top-eight list.
