Meet The Commits: A look at the six members of Michigan's 2025 recruiting class

Michigan is coming off its second June official visit slate with six verbal commits in its 2025 recruiting class.

Possessing five pledges listed as four stars, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four primary recruiting media companies, Michigan is also No. 17 overall on the 2025 On3 Industry National Team Recruiting Rankings. 

Top 100 EDGE Nate Marshall

Commitment Date: April 22, 2024
Hometown: Oak Park, Illinois
School: Fenwick High 
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 265lbs
Industry Ranking: No. 45 Overall, No. 4 Defensive Lineman, No. 2 in Illinois
Other Notable Offers: Alabama, Auburn, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State, USC
How We Got Here: Nate Marshall‘s His third unofficial visit to Michigan in late April for the spring game led him to announce a commitment that wasn’t foreseen. Marshall’s pledge marks the seventh straight recruiting cycle in which U-M has landed at least one commit from Chicagoland. New defensive line coach Lou Esposito holds significant recruiting ties in the region.
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On300 QB Carter Smith

Commitment Date: November 14, 2023
Hometown: Ft. Myers, Florida
School: Bishop Verot
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 175lbs
On3 Ranking: No. 209 Overall, No. 19 Quarterback, No. 25 in Florida
Other Notable Offers: Florida, Miami, Florida State, Penn State, Texas A&M, Ole Miss
How We Got Here: Carter Smith first flew to Ann Arbor in November to watch the night game against Purdue. On the multi-day wekeend visit, Michigan quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell issued an offer. Less than two weeks later, the reigning Gatorade Player of the Year for Florida shut down his recruitment. Lauded for his dual-threat ability, Smith has spent the last several months leading peer-recruiting efforts.
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Four-star OL Avery Gach

Commitment Date: May 3, 2024
Hometown: Birmingham, Michigan
School: Groves High
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 290lbs
Industry Ranking: No. 257 Overall, No. 17 Interior Offensive Lineman, No. 2 in Michigan
Other Notable Offers: Ohio State, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Penn State, Georgia, USC
How We Got Here: Avery Gach became the second in-state 2025 prospect to commit to Michigan following a trio of spring returns, with the final appearance in Ann Arbor coming for the intrasquad scrimmage. Head coach Sherrone Moore and Newsome were instrumental in keeping the priority mauler close to home. Since the 2022 season, when Gach first stepped foot on campus, he’s taken a total of 10 unofficial visits to U-M.
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Four-star EDGE Jaylen Williams

Commitment Date: June 10, 2024
Hometown: Palatine, Illinois
School: Palatine High
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 238lbs
Industry Ranking: No. 278 Overall, No. 22 Defensive Lineman, No. 6 in Illinois
Other Notable Offers: Nebraska, Iowa, Texas A&M, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio State, USC
How We Got Here: Jaylen Williams‘ last return to Michigan before the official visit on June 7-9 was in late November for the Ohio State game. Replacing two defensive line coaches this offseason caused the Wolverines to push towards regaining momentum that was at an all-time high several months ago. But Esposito and Moore worked effortlessly to bring Williams back on campus for the official and seal the deal.
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Four-star DL Bobby Kanka

Commitment Date: August 1, 2023
Hometown: Howell, Michigan
School: Fenwick High 
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 265lbs
On3 Ranking: No. 6 Defensive Lineman, No. 3 in Michigan
Other Notable Offers: Penn State, Michigan State, Tennessee, Syracuse, Kansas, Minnesota
How We Got Here: Bobby Kanka is the longest serving 2025 commit for Michigan. He eclipsed the double-digit mark in visits to Ann Arbor on his late July BBQ at The Big House appearance last year, which led to him deciding to don the maize and blue at the next level. Mike Elston was previously Kanka’s lead recruiter, but the junior has connected with Esposito this offseason, and his relationship with Moore first developed a couple of years ago.
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Three-star TE Eli Owens

Commitment Date: January 4, 2024
Hometown: Alcoa, Tennessee
School: Alcoa High
Height: 6-foot-1.5
Weight: 230lbs
Industry Ranking: No. 468 Overall, No. 27 Tight End, No. 15 in Tennessee
Other Notable Offers: Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio State, Cincinnati, Alabama, Mississippi State
How We Got Here: Eli Owens publicly announced his pledge to the Wolverines three days after the team took down Alabama in the Rose Bowl. Projected as an H-back, Owens has built a rapport with new tight ends coach Steve Casula this spring, and continues to be a staunch supporter of Moore succeeding Jim Harbaugh as head coach.
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