National Signing Day is quickly approaching, and with that, the 2026 recruiting cycle will be wrapped up. At this point, a lot of players are committed already, so most of the Michigan Wolverines’ targets are guys who would be flipping their commitment from somewhere else.
The Wolverines secured a flip from a top target on the defensive side of the ball, and now he’s explaining why he made the decision to do so.
Newest commit explains why he chose Michigan Football
The Wolverines officially pulled off the flip of 2026 three-star linebacker Aden Reeder
on Friday. He originally committed to Wisconsin, but he couldn’t turn down his “dream” at Michigan.
“The staff and the way they develop players just made it a dream opportunity,” Reeder told On3’s Greg Smith ($). “It was a dream from the get-go. I feel like I can develop there and I can make my mark there.”
Reeder was on campus for an official visit for the Purdue game two weeks ago, and that helped sway him away from the Badgers.
“The OV was great,” he said. “What kind of stood out was the tradition. And all the coaches and staff with how they treated me. I’ve definitely seen that tradition as a kid. You kind of know all about Michigan, but seeing the tradition firsthand it was something eye opening for me.”
Not only is this a big commitment because of the flip from another Big Ten school, but Reeder is also an Ohio kid, hailing from Cincinnati. It’s always nice to land a player from the Buckeye State.
“Michigan is a great school academically and athletically and being a kid from Ohio I grew up knowing all about the history and players that Michigan has developed,” Reeder told On3’s Steve Wiltfong.
Flip predictions coming in for another LB
Reeder may not be the only linebacker to flip to Michigan before the cycle is over, as On3’s EJ Holland ($) logged a prediction over the weekend for the Wolverines to flip 2026 three-star linebacker Kaden Catchings. Holland’s colleague, Ethan McDowell, made the same prediction as well.
Catchings took an official visit to Michigan for the Purdue game, but not much has been said about his recruitment since he got the offer from the Wolverines over the summer. He committed to Liberty shortly after, but then flipped to USF last month. Now, it appears he may be honing in on Michigan as his final destination.
Should he flip, he’d be the third linebacker to commit to Michigan in the 2026 class.
Four-star TE breaks down Michigan interest
2027 four-star tight end Cooper Terwilliger recently named his top four schools, and Michigan remains in the hunt. The 6-foot-5 pass-catcher from South Dakota is between the Wolverines, Nebraska, Iowa and Iowa State.
“I really like Michigan’s tough, blue-collar culture that I look for in a school,” Terwilliger told 247Sports’ Allen Trieu. “I like way they develop tight ends and use tight ends in their offense. It’s a Midwest school that matches what I’m looking for as well. Coach Casula and I have spent time together. He’s visited Pierre and I’ve gone and visited Ann Arbor. It’s been great. I really like Coach Casula and the way he coaches the tight end position. I like the passion he brings to it and like him as a person as well.”
Terwilliger wants to commit in the spring. Before that, he will attend The Game in Ann Arbor later this month.
“All I have scheduled is Michigan and then my focus is on finishing the season with a state title,” he said. “My plan as soon as the season ends is, spring semester, if I have to take any visits that are necessary to help with my decision, I will take some to those four schools. Until then I’m focusing on the season. I’m not entirely sure, but I see myself committing some time in the spring, before summer, but you never know, it could extend into summer.”
Quick Hitters
- Michigan extended an offer to 2027 three-star defensive lineman Jasper Ngokwere last week.
- 2027 four-star running back Tyson Robinson is down to 10 schools, and Michigan is one of them.
