Overview of the Michigan assistant coaches on the recruiting trail

Michigan ranks No. 17 overall in the 2024 On3 Industry National Team Recruiting Rankings after wrapping up early National Signing Day with 27 signees.

The Wolverine takes a dive deep on the recruiting efforts of the assistant coaches, who they each landed in 2024 and are personally going after next cycle.

Offensive Coordinator & Offensive Line Coach Sherrone Moore

Primary 2024 Recruiter: Ben Roebuck, Luke Hamilton, Blake Frazier, Jake Guarnera, Andrew Sprague,
Secondary 2024 Recruiter: I’Marion Stewart, Brady Prieskorn, Channing Goodwin, Micah Ka’apana, Hogan Hansen
Key 2025 Targets: David Sanders, Avery Gach, Rowan Byrne, Carter Lowe, Kaden Strayhorn, Michael Carroll
Areas: Chicagoland, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma
The Skinny: Sherrone Moore landed all five offensive line signees this cycle before the June official visit slate. His success from winning back-to-back Joe Moore Awards, along with taking over as acting head coach for four games this season and finishing undefeated, has compelled many of the top Michigan prospects at the position in 2025 to visit and show high interest.

Co-Defense Coordinator & Defensive Backs Coach Steve Clinkscale

Primary 2024 Recruiter: Jacob Oden, Jo’Ziah Edmond, Jeremiah Lowe
Primary 2025 Recruiter: Chris Ewald Jr.
Secondary 2024 Recruiter: Jeremiah Beasley, Luke Hamilton, Ben Roebuck, Jordan Marshall, Mason Curtis
Key 2025 Targets: Alex Graham, Marquise Davis, Elijah Dotson, Trey McNutt, DJ Pickett
Areas: Detroit, Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida
The Skinny: Steve Clinkscale has sometimes been called a “surrogate parent” by mentors and loved ones of prospects whom the Youngstown native has personally recruited. His no-nonsense, sheer honesty and father-like personality have helped Michigan plant its footing in the state of Ohio and go head-to-head with the Buckeyes.

Running Backs Coach Mike Hart

Primary 2024 Recruiter: Jordan Marshall, Micah Ka’apana
Secondary 2024 Recruiter: N/A
Key 2025 Targets: Iverson Howard, Bo Jackson, Jamarion Parker, Bud Coombs
Areas: Detroit, Metro Detroit, Texas, DMV
The Skinny: Mike Hart flexed his muscles during the January contact period earlier this year by blitzing the state of Texas to offer multiple offensive targets. He successfully beat out Ohio State for Marshall and found a hidden gem with Ka’apana. Hart’s status as a former player at Michigan and his production two decades ago, plus his history of running back development as an assistant coach, attracted the aforementioned signee ball carriers to Ann Arbor.

Wide Receivers Coach Ron Bellamy

Primary 2024 Recruiter: Channing Goodwin, I’Marion Stewart
Secondary 2024 Recruiter: Jacob Oden
Key 2025 Targets: Andrew Marsh, Dorian Brew, Talyn Taylor, Kaliq Lockett, CJ Wiley, David Rodriguez
Areas: Louisiana, Texas, Detroit, Metro Detroit, Florida, North Carolina, Missouri
The Skinny: Ron Bellamy‘s tenure at West Bloomfield (Mich.) High has translated into him becoming a focal point with in-state recruiting. Growing up in Louisiana, his ties to the Bayou and Texas, particularly in the Dallas Metroplex, give Michigan a voice with prospects whose recruitments are dominated by the SEC.

Defensive Line Coach Mike Elston

Primary 2024 Recruiter: Manuel Beigel, Owen Wafle, Ted Hammond, Deyvid Palepale
Primary 2025 Recruiter: Bobby Kanka
Secondary 2024 Recruiter: Dominic Nichols, Devon Baxter, Lugard Edokpayi
Key 2025 Targets: Jaylen Williams, Ethan Utley, Kole Briehler, Adam Shovlin
Areas: Chicagoland, New England, Connecticut, DMV
The Skinny: Mike Elston strongly likes blue-collar pass rushers and loaded up in 2024 with the right signee on the defensive line. He even nabbed an early 2025 pledge from Kanka, who lives 25 minutes away from Ann Arbor. His experience recruiting the northeast part of the United States and the Windy City was a big piece for Notre Dame and he’s now brought it over to his alma mater.

Quarterbacks Coach Kirk Campbell

Primary 2024 Recruiter: Jadyn Davis
Primary 2025 Recruiter: Carter Smith
Secondary 2024 Recruiter: N/A
Key 2025 Targets: Bryce Underwood, Husan Longstreet
Areas: West Coast, Western Pennsylvania
The Skinny: Kirk Campbell landed Michigan’s priority quarterback prospect in Davis two months into his promotion and nabbed Smith shortly following the Purdue game this season. His energy and genuine attitude on the trail have helped keep the Wolverines in contention for five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, who’s expected to announce a verbal commitment on January 6. He’s also taken over area recruiting efforts for Western Pennsylvania after the release of former linebackers coach Chris Partridge.

Tight Ends Coach Grant Newsome

2024 Primary Recruiter: Brady Prieskorn, Hogan Hansen
2024 Secondary Recruiter: N/A
Key 2025 Targets: T’Andre Waverly, Eli Owens, Bear Tenney, Luka Gilbert, DaSaahn Brame
Areas: New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, Pacific Northwest
The Skinny: Grant Newsome has landed two tight ends in back-to-back cycles. In 2024, Prieskorn and Hansen are four-star signees, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. Newsome’s reliability with the younger generation is resonating for players as his search for tight end prospects in the 2025 class stretches across all four corners of the country.

Safeties Coach & Special Teams Coordinator Jay Harbaugh

Primary Recruiter: N/A
Secondary 2025 Recruiter: Chris Ewald Jr.
Key 2025 Targets: DJ Pickett, Marcus Wimberly, Ethan Long, Messiah Delhomme, Jahmari DeLoatch
Areas: West Coast, Pacific Northwest, Missouri, Florida
The Skinny: Jay Harbaugh is highly respected throughout the western part of the United States. From the state of Washington to Arizona and everything in between, his knowledge of the region and relationships with head coaches, recruiting leaders, and parents is well documented. His bond with Patterson has kept Michigan in the running while in-roads continue to be made with Pickett, Delhomme and other touted safety targets in 2025.

Pass Rush Specialist Dylan Roney

Primary 2024 Recruiter: Dominic Nichols, Devon Baxter, Lugard Edokpayi
Secondary 2024 Recruiter: N/A
Key 2025 Targets: Damien Shanklin, Mariyon Dye, Ari Watford, Nathaniel Marshall
Areas: N/A
The Skinny: Dylan Roney primarily works with the EDGE rushers for Michigan and has risen the ranks significantly on the recruiting trail. When Partridge was fired, that opened the window for Roney to start getting on the road for in-home visits. He also led the way in the Wolverines landing a commitment from Edokpayi on early National Signing Day. His role in getting Nichols and Baxter to commit and sign was vital as well.

Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter

Primary 2024 Recruiter: N/A
Secondary 2024 Recruiter: Mason Curtis, Jerod Smith, Jacob Smith, Manuel Beigel, Jaden Smith, Devon Baxter, Dominic Nichols, Owen Wafle, Cole Sullivan, Jo’Ziah Edmond, Lugard Edokpayi, Deyvid Palepale
Secondary 2025 Recruiter: Bobby Kanka, Chris Ewald Jr.
Key 2025 Targets: DJ Pickett, Alex Graham, Trey McNutt, Jahmari DeLoatch, dozens more
Areas: Deep South, Virginia, Florida
The Skinny: Jesse Minter put the final stamp on every defensive prospect in the 2024 class signing with Michigan because of his X’s and O’s repertoire, his success as a coordinator and his down-to-earth character. His ability to work closely with each of the other defensive assistants to establish regular communication has also allowed Michigan to beat out schools in tight races.