Meet The Commits: Overview of Michigan’s 2024 recruiting class

With all of the verbal commits in the 2023 class locked in and signed, plus the addition of a former Stanford defensive lineman commit in Cameron Brandt on National Signing Day on Wednesday, Michigan now turns the page to the 2024 class, where the program already holds six pledges and boasts a top 15 class in the country. 

The Wolverines hold commitments from an in-state defensive back out of Metro Detroit, a consensus four-star defensive lineman native to Ohio, a versatile four-star linebacker out of Tennessee, a road grater interior offensive lineman from Ohio, an international transfer defensive lineman, and one of the best offensive playmakers in the Pacific Northwest.

The effects of Michigan’s second-consecutive Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff berth will largely be felt in the 2024 class, as the Wolverines have a chance to put together one of the best classes in the country. 

DB Jacob Oden

Michigan picked up its first in-state commit on Thursday once Oden, out of Harper Woods (Mich.) High, made his choice public. The event took place less than two months after Oden posted a top five list that included the Wolverines, along with Penn State, Tennessee, Iowa, and Michigan State.

Oden was routinely tabbed as a priority target for Michigan as soon as his received a formal scholarship opportunity earlier in the process. His father, Harper Woods football head coach, Rod Oden, previously played for Michigan back in the 90’s with him and other relatives of Oden graduating from the university.

The legacy aspect, frequent flyer status on campus, and his longtime relationship with co-defensive Steve Clinkscale were crucial factors that played into the mid-winter addition.

“I’m 100 percent comfortable (with Clinkscale),” Oden Sr. told The Wolverine. “I want someone who’s going to develop Jacob as a student and an athlete. I want someone who’s going to be a surrogate parent, who can redirect and discipline, if need be, with me not being there presently. So I’m very comfortable with Coach Clink filling those voids and coaching Jacob.”

Michigan brought in Oden and his family twice during the month of January. The first was designed specifically for the contingent as they spent time alongside 2024 Cleveland (Ohio) Glenville four-star cornerback Bryce West and his family. The pair have been the top athletes on the cornerback board for Michigan and the visit proved to be an indication of that.

“There was definitely an emphasis put on the fact that Michigan is strongly pursuing both of them and would like for them to come jump start that 2024 class,” Oden Sr. said. “So it was a great visit.”

Following Oden’s participation in the Battle Miami 7v7 Tournament with SoundMind SoundBody, he returned to Ann Arbor once again soon after.

According to the On3 Consensus, Oden ranks as the No. 173 overall rising junior prospect in the country, No. 14 safety nationally, and the No. 5 player in the state of Michigan.

DL Ted Hammond

Three days after hosting its first of two Junior Day events last month, the Wolverines landed a verbal commitment from Hammond, out Cincinnati (Ohio) St. Xavier, who would recently earns a bump on the On3 Consensus Rankings and is now a four-star athlete.

Hammond announced his decision on social media following the weekend visit to Ann Arbor in which he was joined by three other Ohio natives, including two current top targets in three-star offensive tackle Ben Roebuck and On300 EDGE Brian Robinson.

Defensive line coach Mike Elston and area recruiter Steve Clinkscale would offer Hammond during the January contact period, resulting in the rising junior scheduled his return trip back to campus soon after. Hammond made multiple visits to Michigan last year, including for the Nebraska game in mid-November and an offseason tour of the facilities back in March.

The Wolverines beat out other notable schools who delivered scholarships to Hammond such as Oklahoma, Washington, Louisville, Pitt, Vanderbilt, Iowa, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Northwestern, Kansas, Rutgers, Cal, Purdue, and West Virginia.

At 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds, Hammond ranks as the No. 13 overall prospect in the state of Ohio, No. 26 defensive lineman nationally, and No. 326 player in the country, according to the On3 Consensus. Michigan has now landed commitments from Cincinnati athletes in back-to-back cycles following the signings of cornerback Cameron Calhoun and linebacker Breeon Ishmail in 2023.

TE Hogan Hansen 

Hansen, a 6-foot-5 and 200-pound dynamic weapon from Bellevue (Wash.) High near Seattle, was a surprise commitment for Michigan when he shared his decision on December 8th. 

He chose to end the process this early because he knew that Ann Arbor was his calling for college, and he didn’t find the need to prolong it further after taking two unofficial visits for the annual July BBQ at the Big House and for the Penn State game in October. 

Hansen cited his close connection with U-M tight ends coach Grant Newsome and director of recruiting Albert Karschnia, the structured environment inside the Michigan football facilities and his family’s love for the program as reasons why he picked the Wolverines. 

Newsome tabbed Hansen as a top 2024 tight end target, if not the highest, on the U-M board throughout the fall, and the latter reciprocated the interest. 

“Hogan is one of the most selfless and loyal individuals who I’ve ever met, even beyond football,” said Lorenzo McKinney, tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator for the Bellevue Wolverines. 

“He just gives it his all on every play and every snap. I couldn’t be prouder of the kid. I can’t say enough about Hogan.”

Hansen competes annually in 7v7 for Ford Sports Performance, based in the Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area. The leaders have known Karschnia for years, and they even traveled together as a group to the Big House in the 2021 season for the Washington game. 

On3 rates Hansen as a three-star and the No. 27 tight end in the country and No. 11 player in the state of Washington. 

In the On3 Consensus, an equally-weighted average of the four major recruiting media services, Hansen is rated as a four-star, the No. 281 player and the No. 17 tight end nationally, and the No. 4 player in the state.

IOL Luke Hamilton 

The 6-foot-4.5, 290-pound pancake server from Avon (Ohio) High in suburban Cleveland dropped his commitment publicly just one day after Michigan took down Ohio State in Columbus over Thanksgiving weekend. 

The four-star actually was in attendance in Ohio Stadium for “The Game” as a prospective Buckeyes recruit. Previously, he took three visits to Michigan in the 2022 calendar year, including the October 29th Michigan State game and the BBQ at the Big House in the summer.

The Wolverines’ co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Sherrone Moore placed high priority on the interior road grader. Hamilton’s father spent three decades coaching offensive linemen in high school, and the entire Hamilton family had strong impressions of Moore throughout the process. 

“When that clock ran out against Ohio State and I saw that score, I was super hyped, especially from watching how the offensive line played,” Hamilton told The Wolverine. 

“I was ecstatic. Coach Moore was hyped when I asked if I could call him. He said ‘Of course. I’m not leaving until you do.’ Once I told him, he told me how happy he was to build this for the long run.” 

Per On3, Hamilton ranks as the No. 227 player and No. 15 interior offensive lineman in the country and the No. 8 overall junior recruit in the state of Ohio. 

He was a third-team All-Ohio Division II selection as a sophomore and a first-team team pick as a junior.

DL Manuel Beigel 

Beigel, who hails from Frankfurt, Germany, played his first season of high school football at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Conn., this fall. The solidly built athlete, at 6-foot-5 and 282 pounds, came to the attention of U-M defensive line coach Mike Elston through Brandon Collier and his PPI Recruits program that brings international players to summer showcase camps at U.S. colleges. 

Beigel had an impressive showing at the Michigan camp, received an offer from Elston and quickly committed in mid-July. He was recruited as — and projects to be — a defensive lineman in college, but played offensive line this past season based on his team’s needs. 

“He’s super humble,” Choate head coach LJ Spinato told The Wolverine in September. “He wants to excel. He asks for extra film. He wants to learn both sides of the ball. … There is a maturity there that is beyond his years. 

“He’s a Clydesdale, and he’s learning how to use all his gifts. Once he puts it all together, it’s going to be pretty exciting.”

PPI provides exposure for those aspiring college student- athletes, and Collier previously helped graduate edge rusher Julius Welschof land at Michigan in the 2018 class. Beigel learned how to play football in Germany after watching Netflix and YouTube.

He is now rated as a three-star prospect and the No. 40 interior lineman nationally and the No. 6 player in Connecticut by On3.

LB Mason Curtis 

Curtis, the No. 13 overall linebacker in the country, per On3.com, became the first verbal commitment for Michigan in the 2024 cycle. He was offered in the early spring of 2022 and committed shortly after unofficially visiting in July. 

At 6-foot- 4 and 190 pounds, Curtis is a standout for Nashville (Tenn.) Ensworth High. He is also part of the renowned year-round training center, National Players Academy, which is based in Nashville. Curtis built a solid relationship with Steve Clinkscale because of the latter having significant recruiting ties in Tennessee from his prior coaching tenures. 

With the versatility to play multiple positions in the box, including outside linebacker and edge, Curtis knows that his standing as the first commitment means holding a leadership role in recruiting others to the class, including his close friends who are also members of NPA and others rising juniors at the linebacker position. 

“I think I can play everywhere and do what I do for my high school team,” Curtis told The Wolverine. “Michigan tells me the same thing. They think I can be a versatile outside linebacker. They know I can do different things in the defense.”

On3 also rates Curtis as the No. 143 prospect nationally and the No. 3 junior in Tennessee.