Meet The Commits: Overview of Michigan’s 2024 recruiting class
Michigan is tied for the most 2024 verbal commitments (19) across all of college football.
Possessing two pledges ranked in the Top 100, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies, Michigan is also No. 6 overall in the 2024 On3 Industry National Team Recruiting Rankings.
The Wolverine takes a deep dive on all 19 commits and how Michigan was able to land each athlete.
QB Jadyn Davis
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
School: Providence Day School
Height: 6-foot-0 1/2
Weight: 190lbs
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 28 in the country, No. 4 quarterback nationally, No. 1 in North Carolina
NIL Valuation: $589K
Other Notable Offers: Clemson, Georgia, North Carolina, Penn State, Tennessee, Ohio State
How We Got Here: Jadyn Davis made his public commitment on ESPN’s SportsCenter a little more than 24 hours before Michigan’s spring game earlier this month. Taking five total unofficial visits to Ann Arbor going back to June of last year, Davis and his family connected well with Michigan quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell on his March return and went ahead with a decision shortly afterwards.
TE Brady Prieskorn
Hometown: Rochester Hills, Michigan
School: Rochester Adams
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 220lbs
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 88 in the country, No. 7 tight end nationally, No. 2 in Michigan
NIL Valuation: $114K
Other Notable Offers: Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Penn State, Ole Miss, Miami
How We Got Here: Brady Prieskorn dropped a Top 8 list in mid-March that included Michigan and later went back to campus that same week to be with the coaching staff again. Prieskorn was long regarded as the top tight end target on Michigan’s board this cycle with assistant coach Grant Newsome now locking in two commits at the position in back-to-back classes.
RB Jordan Marshall
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
School: Archbishop Moeller
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 190lbs
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 104 in the country, No. 9 running back nationally, No. 3 in Ohio
NIL Valuation: $124K
Other Notable Offers: Ohio State, Wisconsin, Penn State, Tennessee, Oregon, Auburn
How We Got Here: Jordan Marshall originally planned to schedule a commitment date during the month of July but shut down his recruitment shortly following a third unofficial visit to Michigan last month. Beating out Ohio State in a highly publicized fashion, running backs coach Mike Hart led the efforts to establish close relationships and daily communication with Marshall and his parents.
OT Andrew Sprague
Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
School: Rockhurst High
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 295lbs
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 130 in the country, No. 8 offensive tackle nationally, No. 4 in Missouri
NIL Valuation: $107K
Other Notable Offers: USC, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, LSU, Oregon, Penn State
How We Got Here: Andrew Sprague was in attendance for Michigan’s spring game event and spent quite a bit of time with the verbal commits who were also at The Big House. Heavy talks with offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Sherrone Moore, as well as his close friendship with 2023 athlete signee Kendrick Bell, paved the way to Sprague joining the two-time reigning Joe Moore Award winning group in Ann Arbor.
TE Hogan Hansen
Hometown: Bellevue, Washington
School: Bellevue High
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 200lbs
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 165 in the country, No. 12 tight end nationally, No. 3 in Washington
NIL Valuation: $101K
Other Notable Offers: Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Florida, Tennessee, Michigan State
How We Got Here: Hogan Hansen took an unofficial visit to Michigan in mid-October for the Penn State game and got onboard a few weeks before Christmas Day. The leaders of Ford Sports Performance, a training facility based in the Pacific Northwest that works year-round with Hansen, have built a strong connection with multiple members on Michigan’s coaching staff, including Grant Newsome and director of recruiting operations Albert Karschnia.
DB Jacob Oden
Hometown: Harper Woods, Michigan
School: Harper Woods High
Height: 6-foot-0 1/2
Weight: 185lbs
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 192 in the country, No. 16 safety nationally, No. 4 in Michigan
Other Notable Offers: Michigan State, Penn State, Tennessee, Iowa, Notre Dame, Arkansas
How We Got Here: Jacob Oden has known Michigan co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale throughout much of his childhood and their correspondence spawned into something greater when Oden became a Power 5-bound football player. The last unofficial visit that Oden made to Michigan, before his February commitment, came the month prior in which he and top cornerback target Bryce West were on campus individually to be with Clinkscale in a exclusive setting.
LB Mason Curtis
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
School: Ensworth High
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 190lbs
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 206 in the country, No. 21 linebacker nationally, No. 2 in Tennessee
Other Notable Offers: South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisville, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Colorado
How We Got Here: Mason Curtis holds the title of being the first 2024 prospect to commit to Michigan back in June of last year. Right before the summer dead period, Curtis and his family made the trip up to Ann Arbor, which resulted in the versatile defender falling in love with the program. The Nashville based training organization that works with Curtis – National Players Academy – holds a longtime relationship with Steve Clinkscaleand has also produced sophomore linebacker Junior Colson.
OT Blake Frazier
Hometown: Austin, Texas
School: Vandegrift High
Height: 6-foot-5 1/2
Weight: 270lbs
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 177 in the country, No. 14 offensive tackle nationally, No. 33 in Texas
Other Notable Offers: Florida, Texas, LSU, Texas A&M, Clemson, Oklahoma
How We Got Here: Blake Frazier is the son of former Michigan starting center Steve Frazier, who snapped for future NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady. Holding off signifiant pushes from the Texas powerhouses and other Power 5 elites, Michigan brought up Frazier and his family to campus for a multi-day unofficial visit in mid-March, ultimately claiming its fourth offensive line commit almost a month later.
DL Jerod Smith
Hometown: Cheshire, Connecticut
School: Cheshire Academy
Height: 6-foot-2 1/2
Weight: 255lbs
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 262 in the country, No. 29 defensive lineman nationally, No. 4 in Connecticut
Other Notable Offers: Notre Dame, Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, Penn State, Miami
How We Got Here: Jerod Smith was heavily favorited last week to commit to Michigan once defensive line coach Mike Elstonvisited his school to begin the spring evaluation period and when the four-star took an unofficial visit last month. The Wolverines beat out Notre Dame, who for several months, was a major lean to take Smith’s talents to South Bend.
IOL Luke Hamilton
Hometown: Avon, Ohio
School: Avon High
Height: 6-foot-4 1/2
Weight: 290lbs
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 352 in the country, No. 26 interior offensive lineman nationally, No. 12 in Ohio
Other Notable Offers: Penn State, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Tennessee
How We Got Here: Luke Hamilton ended up being the third of four connective Ohio natives to commit to Michigan in span of four days. The other three were 2023 targets. Hamilton went to social media the day after the Ohio State win last season to announce his decision, becoming the first junior out of Ohio to enter the group. Hamilton has rightfully earned the honor of being an outstanding player recruiter behind the scenes.
DL Ted Hammond
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
School: St. Xavier
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 265lbs
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 391 in the country, No. 35 defensive lineman nationally, No. 14 in Ohio
Other Notable Offers: Iowa, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Louisville, Oklahoma, Washington
How We Got Here: Ted Hammond wasted little time to commit to Michigan in January, which was the same month in which the pass rusher was offered by Mike Elston and returned to campus for the team’s Junior Day event.
DL Owen Wafle
Hometown: Princeton, New Jersey
School: Hun School
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 267lbs
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 410 in the country, No. 38 defensive lineman nationally, No. 7 in New Jersey
Other Notable Offers: Notre Dame, Rutgers, Oklahoma, Iowa, Minnesota, Cincinnati
How We Got Here: Owen Wafle committed to Michigan immediately following his official visit this weekend. It was the first-time that the mauling pass rusher had been in Ann Arbor but throughout the spring, the coaching staff was working behind the scenes to grow the relationship and communication. Wafle decommitted from Notre Dame in late-May after being locked in with the Fighting Irish for over a year.
IOL Jake Guarnera
Hometown: Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
School: Ponte Vedra High
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 283lbs
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 418 in the country, No. 30 interior offensive lineman nationally, No. 61 in Florida
Other Notable Offers: Florida, Penn State, Rutgers, Miami, NC State
How We Got Here: Jake Guarnera made two unofficial visits to Michigan last year but never felt like he got a full experience on campus. He decided to fly up again in mid-March after the U-M coaching staff increased the communication with the projected center and his family earlier in the offseason. More than one day around the facilities and garnering close friendships with the other offensive commits paved the way for Guarnera to choose the Wolverines in late-April.
WR Channing Goodwin
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
School: Providence Day
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 175lbs
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 443 in the country, No. 79 wide receiver nationally, No. 14 in North Carolina
Other Notable Offers: Virginia Tech, NC State, South Carolina, North Carolina, Louisville, Kentucky
How We Got Here: Channing Goodwin picked up his Michigan offer during the spring evaluation period last year and made several unofficial visits to Ann Arbor, beginning in June, when he went up with father Jonathan Goodwin, who played for the Wolverines in the 90’s. Most of Goodwin’s trips also included teammate Jadyn Davis. The wideout last appeared at the facilities during spring camp practice in mid-March and ultimately shut down his recruitment in mid-May.
OT Ben Roebuck
Hometown: Lakewood, Ohio
School: St. Edward
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 340lbs
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 507 in the country, No. 29 offensive tackle nationally, No. 17 in Ohio
Other Notable Offers: Michigan State, Wisconsin, Penn State, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Ole Miss
How We Got Here: Ben Roebuck didn’t visit Michigan during the fall season but he made up time by going back on four separate occassions this offseason, including this past January for the Junior Day event and in March to watch spring practice. Roebuck, who has a tight friendship with Luke Hamilton, Ted Hammond and Jordan Marshall, has gone on record on multiple occasions describing the development of Sherrone Moore being a big catalyst for his commitment.
LB Cole Sullivan
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
School: Central Catholic
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 200lbs
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 537 in the country, No. 60 linebacker nationally, No. 13 in Pennsylvania
Other Notable Offers: Notre Dame, Penn State, Miami, Pitt, Oklahoma, Michigan State, Wisconsin
How We Got Here: Cole Sullivan was a lean to Notre Dame this past winter and early spring until Michigan brought him and his family on two unofficial visits during the month of March. Meetings with strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert, who’s a fellow native of Pittsburgh, plus the instilled trust of linebackers coach Chris Partridge propelled the Wolverines to receiving a commitment from Sullivan in mid-May. Kirk Campbell also has roots in Pittsburgh.
IOL/DL Manuel Beigel
Hometown: Frankfurt, Germany
School: Choate Rosemary Hall
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 282lbs
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 93 in the country, No. 82 interior offensive lineman nationally, No. 8 in Connecticut
Other Notable Offers: Georgia, Penn State, Central Michigan
How We Got Here: Manuel Beigel was the second commitment for Michigan this cycle when he got added in July of last year. A part of PPI Recruits, an international exposure service that’s also trained 2023 EDGE signee Aymeric Koumba, Beigel performed well at one of Michigan’s summer camps the month before and led to Mike Elston offering the German born two-way lineman.
LB Jaden Smith
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
School: West Charlotte High
Height: 6-foot-2.5
Weight: 195lbs
On3 Ranking: No. 30 linebacker nationally, No. 14 in North Carolina
How We Got Here: Michigan entered the mix for Jaden Smith during the early portions of the spring evaluation period when Chris Partridge stopped by the defensive athlete’s high school and offered. Rising quickly up the board in the following weeks, Smith made his first-ever visit to Ann Arbor the first weekend of June, going public with his set commitment date shortly afterwards. Smith pledged before taking his scheduled official visit to U-M on June 23rd.
LB Zach Ludwig
Hometown: South Park, Pennsylvania
School: South Park High
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 205lbs
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 1318 in the country, No. 134 linebacker nationally, No. 36 in Pennsylvania
NIL Valuation: $19.4K
How We Got Here: Zach Ludwig was a surprise commitment because he told the Michigan coaching staff of his plans following the Ohio State game back in November. However, the public wasn’t aware of Ludwig until early February. Ludwig, the nephew of Michigan strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert, visited Ann Arbor while the Wolverines were preparing for the Buckeyes and was eventually welcomed with open arms by head coach Jim Harbaugh.
