On300 DL Benny Patterson flips commitment from Cincinnati to Michigan

Newburgh (Ind.) Castle four-star defensive lineman Benny Patterson has flipped his commitment from Cincinnati to Michigan, he told On3’s Hayes Fawcett.

Patterson had been pledged to the Bearcats since April, when he chose them over Northern Illinois, Toledo and Texas Tech.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pounder is the No. 681 overall prospect and No. 65 DL in the 2025 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

On3, however, is much higher on him than the other services. In the most recent On300 rankings, he was tabbed as the country’s No. 223 recruit and No. 23 defensive lineman.

He visited Michigan for its win over rival Michigan State last month, and both he and his family came away impressed by what they saw.

“The culture has been very impressive,” his father told On3’s Steve Wiltfong. “You can tell why players commit here. The Big House exceeded expectations. It was the loudest arena we’ve ever been in. The fans are passionate and love their team.  The program is something special and it’s definitely high on the list.”

He joins a class that currently checks in at No. 14 nationally, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. But the Wolverines’ crop moves up to No. 9 if you look at average rating per commitment.

Patterson gives head coach Sherrone Moore and Co. their 17th pledge of the cycle, and the Wolverines are hunting for more as signing day looms next month.

Wolverines working to flip nation’s No. 1 overall recruit

There’s no bigger fish they’re after than Belleville (Mich.) quarterback Bryce Underwood, an LSU commit and the consensus No. 1 recruit in the nation.

Underwood chose the Tigers over Michigan and a number of others back in January, but Michigan has ramped up its pursuit of him in recent weeks led by a big push from their boosters.

According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Michigan donors are all-in on helping Moore land Underwood.

“Industry sources told On3 that Underwood is expected to land an NIL package valued above $5 million over three to four years, regardless of the program that lands his signature on National Signing Day,” Nakos wrote earlier this week.

Multiple sources also told Nakos that the Wolverines reconnected with the family in the last three weeks and have offered a competitive NIL package on par with what LSU has presented. The Underwoods have stated previously that while NIL will be a factor in where Bryce plays his college football, it won’t be the only one.

“We try to put the cash in the back of the whole situation because whatever his dreams are, we want him to live those out,” Bryce Underwood’s father, Jaquan, told On3 in June at the On3 Elite Series. “The money is going to come when he’s just living his dreams.

… I don’t want to get it twisted, money is a huge deal. At the same time again, man, it’s about Bryce being able to turn his dreams into goals. So whatever field he goes in football, sports, man, I’m great with it as long as long as he’s happy.”