Welcome back to the Recruiting Roundup! After taking a one-day hiatus, we are back to bring you the latest going on in the Michigan Football recruiting world. Let’s jump right into what has been going on the last few days.
WR target details recent visit to Michigan
The Wolverines have prioritized 2027 four-star wide receiver Damani Warren in recent months. The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder from Las Vegas took a trip to Ann Arbor this spring and will return in June for his official visit.
Speaking with On3’s Ethan McDowell ($), Warren detailed his recent
visit and how close he is with new wide receivers coach Micah Simon.
“Coach Simon, he was recruiting me when he was at Utah, and we’ve got a great bond from that,” Warren said. “And Detroit. I like Detroit a lot I ain’t gonna lie. It was my second time going up there.
“It’s a great city and a great place, and it’s a great college town to be around. And coach Whitt, he’s a great head coach as well and plays with a physical defense, and the offense is going to be great too. So really, they check a lot of good boxes.”
The Wolverines also recently offered Warren’s high school quarterback, 2027 three-star Thaddeus Thatcher. Despite taking four-star Kamden Lopati, Michigan remains interested in Thatcher, who was once committed to Utah before Whittingham and company left for Ann Arbor. Thatcher being recruited by the Wolverines has helped them with Warren as well.
“Me and Thad, the way we’ve been playing since middle school all the way to high school, the chemistry we have built, that’d be a great reason why I would go to Michigan as well,” Warren said.
Warren admitted “Michigan stands very high after my visit.” Other schools of note in this recruitment include UCLA, USC, Oregon and Cal.
Top 2028 TE target reacts to spring visit
Michigan seemingly always has quality players at the tight end position, and Whittingham and company are going after one of the best in the 2028 class in four-star Jack McNamara. The 6-foot-5, 235-pounder plays at Brother Rice High School in Chicago and is a Top 10 player at his position in his recruiting cycle.
He visited Ann Arbor last month and detailed that trip with On3’s McDowell ($).
“My expectations were pretty high because it’s such a good school, both academically and in football,” McNamara said. “So I came in with high expectations, and my expectations were definitely filled. I’ve definitely seen how they valued education and put it at the very top of the list, which is very important to me. They also valued football a ton, obviously, and they showed how they developed tight ends and what their plan is and stuff like that, so that was really great to see.”
McNamara also told McDowell that he and his family are “big” on academics, and that Michigan “holds that to the highest standard.” He also likes the history of Michigan’s usage at the tight end spot, saying “they know how to put people to the next level, so that’s very important to me.”
Other schools in the mix include Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Illinois, Ohio State, Purdue and Arizona State, to name a few.
Elite 2028 edge rusher breaks down latest visit to Michigan
One of the early top targets along the edge in the 2028 class is four-star George Parkinson IV. The Douglassville, Pennsylvania native is listed at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, and he is a Top 100 talent and a Top 10 edge rusher in his class on the Rivals Industry Ranking.
Parkinson took a trip in late March and told On3’s McDowell ($) all about it.
“It was a great visit,” Parkinson said. “I had a lot of fun, and it was definitely cool to see their coaching style and how everything was.”
Parkinson actually received his offer from the Wolverines during his visit. New edge coach Lewis Powell did something a bit unconventional before offering him — he reached out to Parkinson’s head coach to receive his blessing to offer him.
“That meant a lot to my head coach and meant a lot to me too because that’s very different than what anyone else had done,” Parkinson said. “So it was pretty cool for sure, definitely, definitely, definitely appreciative of the offer. Michigan football, combined with the academics, is top notch.
“I was really appreciative to have the opportunity to be there. To be honest, everything I expected was there. Their facilities are amazing, and they treated us very well. Coach Powell took the time to give us a little presentation, tell us what he was about, tell us how he coached.”
Parkinson is hoping to return to Michigan sometime this fall for a game. Penn State, Ohio State, Oregon and Tennessee have all hosted him on visits this spring as well.
Quick Hitters
- 2027 four-star running back Tyson Robinson is set to announce his commitment on May 16. Other schools in the running include Alabama, Miami and Arizona State.
- 2027 in-state four-star edge rusher Myles Smith also recently locked in his official visit to Michigan for the weekend of June 19. He will also officially visit Michigan State (May 29), Missouri, (June 6) and Kentucky (June 12).
- Finally, 2027 four-star cornerback Blake Jenkins also locked in his official visit for the weekend of June 19.
