Michigan enters the race for Georgia 5-star EDGE commit Isaiah Gibson

After flipping Five-Star Plus+ quarterback Bryce Underwood from LSU, Michigan is taking big swings at major recruiting targets committed elsewhere.

On3’s Chad Simmons has reported that he Wolverines are pushing to flip five-star offensive tackle Ty Haywood from Alabama. And on Friday, Michigan offered Georgia Five-Star Plus+ EDGE commit Isaiah Gibson as well.

Gibson has been pledged to the in-state Bulldogs since June, which followed a previous commitment to USC.

blessed to receive a offer from The University of Michigan🔵🟡 @RustyMansell_ @JeremyO_Johnson @SWiltfong_ @ChadSimmons_ @robinsfootball1 @UMichFootball @Coach_SMoore pic.twitter.com/ztySyP591w

— Isaiah Gibson (@isaiahgibson99) November 22, 2024

If the Wolverines are to flip him in the final weeks before National Signing Day though, they’ll need a big effort as Gibson told DawgsHQ.com that he is ready to get to Athens.

“I honestly wanted to leave [high school] in May,” Gibson said recently. “It is what it is. I’m excited man, it’s a new journey, its the next level. My plan is that I want to do better in college than I did in high school. I just want to get better and better. The only way I can do that as of right now is to go to Georgia.”

The Bulldogs have been in his recruitment as long as any program. And even when he pledged to the Trojans back in March, Kirby Smart and Co. never relented in their pursuit.

“Georgia being original (has kept me committed), I haven’t seen anyone compare to Georgia,” Gibson said. “I haven’t seen anything like that. Georgia has everything from every standpoint. Nobody has shown me what I needed to see.”

Wolverines looking to capitalize on NIL momentum

A big reason for Michigan’s resurgence in Underwood’s recruitment was a coordinated effort to ramp up their NIL offerings to high school prospects. According to multiple reports, Underwood is expected to receive anywhere from $10-12 million if he stays in Ann Arbor for four years.

The Wolverines aren’t content with just an elite quarterback, though. They want to build a top-flight recruiting class around him and have the potential to end up with a top-five class if everything falls their way.

In addition to Haywood and now Gibson, they recently re-offered five-star defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart.

According to On3’s Steve Wiltfong, Stewart’s camp reached out to Michigan on Thursday following the Underwood flip news. And they’re expected to talk to Moore on Friday.

“Michigan was in Jahkeem’s recruiting early on,” Stewart’s trainer, Clyde Alexander of Edge Assassins, told Wiltfong. “The guy basically told me they backed off because financially they weren’t in a place with NIL and able to deal with a kid of Jahkeem’s caliber. But he said they’re in a totally different space financially going after the best players in the country.”