National Signing Day for the 2026 recruiting cycle was last week, and members of the Wolverines’ class are very likely scrambling trying to figure out what is going to happen in Ann Arbor. Who will the new head coach be? Will their position coach be retained? Will they even have a roster spot with the new coaching staff?
With so many unknowns at the moment, it’s fair for recruits to be reacting to the news of Sherrone Moore’s firing on Wednesday night. One player that flipped to and signed with Michigan
just a week ago — four-star wide receiver Brady Marchese — reacted to the news on his Instagram story.
One of the longtime members of the class — four-star edge rusher McHale Blade — spoke with On3’s Ethan McDowell ($). While he has questions about what the new staff will look like, Blade is set to enroll early next month and remains locked in.
“At the end of the day, it’s still Michigan,” Blade said. “I chose this school for reasons far beyond football, so I’m not really too worried about things that’s going on.
“I chose Michigan because of that Block M —that logo — so I’m not really too worried.”
Three-star offensive lineman Tommy Fraumann is also completely locked in with the Wolverines. This one should not be a surprise considering he’s a legacy prospect, but it’s reassuring nonetheless.
“Michigan always will be my home,” Fraumann said. “It has made such an impact on my life and how it’s played out.”
Another 2026 class member that is firmly locked in with the Wolverines is three-star linebacker Kaden Catchings, as he told The Michigan Insider’s Brice Marich ($) that the news “doesn’t really affect my signing.” Additionally, three-star linebacker Markel Dabney said “everything happens for a reason. I know God got me and as of right now, I’m locked in with the Wolverines.”
However, that sentiment doesn’t extend to all members of the class, as three-star edge Tariq Boney told Marich ($) that “I have no comments right now. I still have to talk with my family.”
Meanwhile, 2027 four-star quarterback commit Peter Bourque told Rivals’ Hadyn Hollin ($) that “it sucks. College football is crazy now. I loved coach Moore.” 2027 four-star edge rusher Recarder Kitchen, who committed to the Wolverines just a couple weeks ago, told Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong “it sucks (Moore) got fired, but I’m still going to be a Wolverine no matter what.”
Finally, 2027 four-star safety Myles Baker told Rivals’ Adam Gorney ($) that “even with everything going on, Michigan is still a top school for me. Outside of what’s happening, Michigan is still a great school with great opportunities. If the new head coach comes in and changes the defensive staff then that is something to talk about but I am going to college to get my degree and play football. In college, there are going to be distractions, but I have to stay focused on my main goal.”
A very level-headed response by a junior in high school.
All in all, we are certainly in a wait-and-see mode regarding how this news will impact Michigan’s 2026 class and beyond. But overall, it doesn’t seem too bad for the first batch of reactions.
