Michigan back in On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings Top 10 after latest commitment

Michigan lost a commitment from four-star safety Ivan Taylor earlier this week, but it didn’t take long for the Wolverines to land another defensive back in the 2025 cycle.

On Wednesday, Belleville (Mich.) four-star cornerback Elijah Dotson announced that he has flipped his commitment from Pitt to Michigan. The high school teammate of fellow U-M target and Five-Star Plus+ quarterback Bryce Underwood, Dotson is a major addition to the class in Ann Arbor.

“Michigan was originally my top school, then the staff left, some things changed and Pittsburgh was a great option,” Dotson told On3. “It was a tough decision and I had to think about it a lot, but in the end, I had to do what was best for me.”

The addition of Dotson, the No. 157 overall prospect and No. 20 CB in the nation, bumps Michigan’s class up one spot to No. 10 in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. Plenty of eyes on the recruiting trail are on Moore and his staff as they look to close the 2025 cycle strong.

Wolverines add big piece to elite 2025 recruiting class

Dotson becomes commitment No. 19 for the Wolverines this cycle. He also brings U-M back to holding pledges from four blue-chip defensive backs.

Earlier this month, Chester (Va.) Thomas Dale four-star CB Shamari Earls, a top-40 recruit in the On300, flipped from Georgia. Back in the summer, Michigan picked up commitments from Montgomery Village (Md.) Gonzaga four-star safety Kainoa Winston and Kilgore (Texas) four-star CB Jayden Sanders. Winston is On3’s No. 5 safety, while Sanders is a top-200 recruit.

At the end of October, Michigan landed its top commitment via Overland Park (Kan.) Blue Valley Northwest five-star offensive tackle Andrew Babalola. The No. 15 overall prospect, Babalola chose the Wolverines over Stanford, Auburn and others.

“The reason why Michigan won out overall is I believe in coach Moore’s vision. Obviously it’s tough sledding right now, but overall I love that program,” Babalola told On3. “Love the coaches, the players, the recruiting class. It just came down to me believing in coach Moore and believing in Michigan. I can’t wait to be a part of the family.”

The class also features some elite offensive weapons. Center Valley (Pa.) Southern Lehigh four-star tight end Andrew Olesh is the nation’s No. 3 TE and the No. 55 recruit. Fulshear (Texas) Katy Jordan four-star wide receiver Andrew Marsh and New Orleans Archbishop Shaw four-star WR Jacob Washington are both top-100 recruits in either the On3 Industry Ranking or the On300.

Other blue-chip commits in the class include: Palatine (Ill.) four-star defensive lineman Jaylen Williams, Franklin (Mich.) Wylie E. Groves four-star offensive lineman Avery Gach, Alpharetta (Ga.) four-star EDGE Julius Holly and Marrero (La.) Archbishop Shaw four-star running back Jasper Parker.