Under past coaching administrations, Michigan started official visits the weekend after Memorial Day, with the current regime under Kyle Whittingham being no different, as the first set of 2027 recruits will be in Ann Arbor starting Friday.
The unique part about these next few days is that only one target will arrive. Keep in mind the Wolverines are piling on the names for the final slate during Victor’s Weekend on June 17-19 and the two weekends prior to that. Commit numbers are also not a issue
facing the program either, with the Wolverines’ having 15 pledges already.
Time and attention will be given solely to four-star offensive lineman Niko Kampas. It’ll be his first time on campus since earning an offer by the previous staff last August.
Reporting at 6-foot-7 and 287 pounds, Kampas is listed as the No. 268 overall prospect and No. 21 offensive tackle in the class, according to the Rivals Industry Rankings. He hails from the NFL Academy in London, England, and grew up in Germany. He’s also considered the top international prospect this cycle.
Michigan currently yields three commits from offensive linemen, with the most recent being four-star in-stater Jakari Lipsey, so the window for further pickups is closing in fast. Right now, Kampas is one of the few remaining guys on the board at the position alongside Lincoln Mageo, Tye Kennedy and others. Of the commits, Lipsey is the lone projected tackle, which is the case for Kampas, too.
How Michigan sets up its pitch in bringing Kampas onboard and how that correlates with his timeline will be worth following as well.
Auburn will have concluded its time with Kampas right before he gets to Michigan. In June, he’ll be at Tennessee and Vanderbilt. A commitment date has yet to be decided.
“From a football perspective, they have a history of developing OL guys, and his next goal will be the NFL after college,” NFL Academy offensive lineman coach Gavin Collins told The Wolverine. “The previous staff and current staff have shown the ability to develop OL, so that was important. The history of the school has also been a factor, and I believe the surrounding area (forests) appeal to him on a personal level. And he has also looked at their classes, and seen quite a few that interest him.”
Michigan is all too familiar with recruiting outside the United States boundary and even has one rostered player native to Germany as well in Manuel Beigel. From a scouting perspective, international prospects carry immense potential from a growth and developmental standpoint. Social media and other platforms through organizations like NFL Academy have also helped teams discover talent outside the country.
Kampas fits that mold and Michigan looks to fine-tune his raw ability. Offensive line coach Jim Harding is credited with getting the team in the picture for Kampas after the change in January. He even ventured across the Atlantic Ocean to see the junior.
Check out some of Kampas’ junior highlights below:
