Early top targets in 2025 class for Michigan
For the Michigan Wolverines, this marks the end of their 2024 recruiting class. There’s always the traditional signing day in February if they want to try to flip unsigned prospects, but as of right now, it seems like everything is pretty well fixed in stone.
The staff’s primary focus may now be on the 2025 class. The Wolverines have already begun to lay some foundation with the commitment of three talented players: four-star defensive lineman Bobby Kanka, four-star cornerback Chris Ewald, and four-star quarterback Carter Smith. It’s a good start, even though there is still much to be done.
Here are some of Michigan’s early top targets in the 2025 cycle.
Bryce Underwood – Five-star QB, Belleville (MI)
It’d be a disservice to not begin this list with one of the most highly regarded prospects from Michigan this century. Underwood is the top ranked player in the country and is a major priority for the Wolverines, even though they already have a committed quarterback. Michigan is in a heated recruiting battle with LSU for Underwood’s services. We will find out soon enough — Jan. 6, to be exact — where he will play in college.
Kaliq Lockett – Four-star WR, Sachse (TX)
A stud out wide, Lockett is coming off a monster junior season where he accumulated 59 catches for 1,299 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was recently deemed a five-star on 247Sports’ personal rankings, and is just inside the top-100 on the composite. Ron Bellamy offered Lockett back in May before his recruitment took off, as he has garnered other offers since then from Texas, LSU, Penn State, Ohio State, USC and more blue bloods. He visited Michigan for the BBQ at the Big House back in July and has a former teammate in Ann Arbor in quarterback Alex Orji. Admittedly, this will probably be the hardest recruitment of all these prospects listed, so I would temper any expectations here.
Eli Owens – Four-star TE, Alcoa (TN)
Michigan utilizes tight ends as much as any blue blood in America, and Owens has taken notice. He visited for the win over Ohio State and almost instantly received three Crystal Ball predictions in favor of the Wolverines. At 6-foot-1.5 and 243 pounds, Owens seems like a perfect fit at the FB/TE position made famous the last couple years by Max Bredeson.
Carter Lowe – Four-star OL, Toledo (OH)
A major Michigan/Ohio State recruiting battle is taking place for Lowe, the No. 119 overall player in the country. Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 290 pounds, Lowe can play either tackle or guard at the next level. Sherrone Moore is prioritizing the Ohio native, and the Wolverines have hosted him on a number of visits already. Two Crystal Balls are in for the Buckeyes, but this recruitment is far from over.
Avery Gach – Four-star OL, Franklin (MI)
Gach, another elite prospect in the state of Michigan this cycle, is a priority target for the Wolverines on the offensive line. Ranked among the top 200 players overall, he is expected to play interior ball at the next level. The six universities he is “kind of” concentrating on are Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Penn State, Georgia, and USC, he just revealed to Allen Trieu ($) of 247Sports. Although he had one Crystal Ball prediction for the Wolverines, he says he plans to take official visits and commit this summer and isn’t in a rush to decide.
Andrew Babalola – Four-star OL, Overland Park (KS)
Another beast of an offensive tackle, Babalola stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 275 pounds. He has yet to visit Ann Arbor, as he just received his offer back in September, but he did tell 247Sports ($) he intends on visiting Michigan sometime after the season. A top-100 player ranked at No. 80 overall, Babalola holds other great offers from Oklahoma, Washington, Wisconsin, Ole Miss, Miami, Tennessee, Florida and more.
Jaylen Williams – Four-star DL, Palatine (IL)
Williams is among the better defensive linemen in the Midwest, as he ranks No. 227 overall and No. 26 among defensive linemen in his class. Three Crystal Ball predictions were put in for the Wolverines after he had rave reviews following his visit for the win over Ohio State. He’s listed at 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds, and holds other offers from Florida State, Ohio State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Auburn, USC, Missouri and more.
Nathaniel Marshall – Four-star DL, Oak Park (IL)
Ethan Utley – Four-star DL, Nashville (TN)
Another top defensive line prospect, Utley is just outside the top-100 at No. 107 overall. At 6-foot-4 and 270 pounds, Utley has flexibility and could play on the outside and the inside. He was at Michigan most recently for the win over Ohio State, and was with his high school teammate and future Wolverines, 2024 four-star Mason Curtis. He has other offers from Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, Penn State, Miami, Oklahoma, Florida and more.
Xavier Newsome – Four-star edge, Detroit (MI)
As of right now, the Wolverines don’t have many obvious top target edges, but Newsome is one of the best. Newsome plays at Detroit’s Martin Luther King High School. He is 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 220 pounds. After the game, he stated that Michigan is among his top three teams. He was most recently in Ann Arbor for the significant victory over Ohio State. Penn State, Kansas, Louisville, Pitt, Minnesota, Purdue, Rutgers, Tennessee, and other schools have extended offers to him.
DJ Pickett – Five-star S, Zephyrhills (FL)
Picket has been elevated to the top of the defensive priority list for the 2025 class by Steve Clinkscale, Jay Harbaugh, and company. Pickett, a talent ranked in the top ten overall, has visited Ann Arbor on a few occasions, most notably for Michigan’s victory over Ohio State. He still has family in the area, and his mother is a U-M alumna. A few other schools vying for his commitment are Miami, Florida, Florida State, and Oregon.
Marcus Wimberly – Three-star S, Bauxite (AR)
Another top target at the safety position, Wimberly recently decommitted from his hometown Arkansas Razorbacks and immediately received Crystal Balls for Michigan. Jay Harbaugh loves what Wimberly brings to the table at the position — speed and physicality — so don’t be afraid of him being the No. 508 overall player in the class; his ranking is surely to be adjusted in the future.
Alex Graham – Four-star DB, Detroit (MI)
Another highly touted defensive back near the top of Michigan’s board, Graham is right inside the top-100 at No. 99 overall and No. 13 at the cornerback position. Originally from Detroit, Graham played in Florida at IMG Academy this past season. At 6-foot-1, Graham is a Swiss Army Knife type defensive back and can play either corner or safety. Michigan has the lone Crystal Ball prediction.
Mark Zackery IV – Four-star CB, Indianapolis (IN)
As you can see, there are a lot of top targets in the secondary, and Zackery IV may be the top at the corner position. He isn’t incredibly built at 5-foot-10.5 and 164 pounds, but he sure would make a perfect sit at the slot position. He was last in Ann Arbor in the fall for a mid-week visit. He has other offers from Ohio State, Georgia, Notre Dame Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, Penn State and others.
Elijah Dotson – Three-star ATH, Detroit (MI)
Dotson, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 175 pounds, is a versatile athlete who can play wide receiver or defensive back at the collegiate level. In 2023, he recorded 43 receptions while playing wide receiver. On defense, he recorded 66 tackles, 11 pass breakups, and three interceptions. Right now, Michigan has three Crystal Ball predictions. He visited for the victory over Ohio State, just like many of the recruits discussed in this article. Other offers that he has received include from Tennessee, Tennessee State, Pitt, Louisville, Michigan State, and Wisconsin.