Michigan jumps past Notre Dame and Oklahoma in team recruiting rankings after 5-star pledge

The results on the field might not be what Michigan was hoping for this season under Sherrone Moore, but they’ve continued to remain hot on the recruiting trail despite that.

On Monday, U-M landed its biggest commitment to date under Moore when five-star offensive tackle Andrew Babalola out of Overland Park (Kan.) announced for the Maize and Blue.

The Wolverines ultimately beat out Stanford, Auburn, Missouri and Oklahoma, as well as more than 20 other reported offers.

Babalola took a summer official visit to each of his finalists and made it to each campus at least twice during his process. But the combination of academics and on-field success in Ann Arbor ultimately helped Sherrone Moore and Co. win out.

“Just overall fit,” he previously told On3’s Steve Wiltfong of what would make his decision. “From a relationship standpoint with coaches and players, development, academics, and the overall feel. … Most of the stuff above is really all that’s important to me, but I’d just say finding the place that can really develop me so I can get to the next level and get the most out of my abilities.”

He becomes Moore’s first five-star commitment as a head coach and also moves Michigan up two spots over Notre Dame and Oklahoma to No. 12 nationally in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

Babalola is the cherry on top of a strong class for the Wolverines

The 6-foot-5.5, 295-pounder has one of the highest ceilings of any prospects in the class, given that he didn’t even start on varsity until his junior season of high school at Blue Valley Northwest. Previously, he focused primarily on basketball but has made major strides on the gridiron.

“He shows surprising and borderline startling play strength for a developmental tackle,” writes On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power. “Babalola consistently manhandles defensive linemen at the point of attack, sustains blocks with his strong grip strength and often finishes with authority, planting defensive linemen in the dirt. And he shows an encouraging level of physicality and nastiness. He will need to continue honing his overall technique, particularly in pass protection. But he is just scratching the surface of his considerable potential and could challenge as the top tackle in the 2025 cycle with continued development.”

He joins a Michigan class that already includes top-100 prospects Ivan Taylor (safety), Andrew Olesh (tight end), and Andrew Marsh (receiver). The Wolverines have nine other blue-chippers pledged in addition, headlined by four-star quarterback Carter Smith.