Two 2025 Michigan commits earn On3 rankings

Four-star Howell (Mich.) High defensive lineman Bobby Kanka and three-star Buford (Ga.) High linebacker Mantrez Walker have received rankings by On3 and the On3 Industry Ranking. Both junior prospects committed to Michigan in the offseason.

Kanka, who announced his pledge two days after the late July BBQ at The Big House, is listed as the No. 295 overall prospect and No. 31 defensive lineman in the country, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four primary recruiting media services. He’s also the No. 4 player in Michigan.

On3 has Kanka ranked as the No. 34 defensive lineman nationally and No. 5 in-state prospect.

“I’ve known for a while and it wasn’t really an overnight kind of thing,” Kanka told The Wolverine. “It was the thought of, ‘Why wait any longer when Michigan is top tier in everything?’ That was my thought process when knowing that Michigan is the place to be.”

Walker, who announced his pledge in early February, is the No. 398 overall prospect and No. 37 linebacker in the country, per the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s also the No. 40 player in Georgia. On3 has Walker ranked as the No. 48 linebacker nationally and No. 53 Georgia recruit.

“I’m still committed to Michigan,” Walker told The Wolverine. “I feel like I have a pretty good relationship with Michigan right now. I feel like I’m pretty solid. I think I’m a great fit for the defensive scheme.”

Michigan 2025 Recruiting Class

Michigan remained at No. 7 overall in the 2025 On3 Industry National Team Recruiting Rankings following the rankings update for both Kanka and Walker. The team’s total score of 89.964 sits higher than Stanford, Nebraska, Clemson, UCF, Auburn, Colorado, SMU, Notre Dame, Arizona State and Florida State.

Rounding out Michigan’s 2025 recruiting class is Top 100 Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna cornerback Chris Ewald Jr., who became the first to commit this past December. All three commits are on the defensive side of the bball.

Dozens of 2025 top targets remain on Michigan’s board, including five-star Belleville (Mich.) High quarterback Bryce Underwood, five-star Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day offensive tackle David Sanders, five-star Zephyrhills (Fla.) High safety DJ Pickett, Top 100 Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy athlete Alex Graham, three-star Mukilteo (Wash.) Kamiak tight end T’Andre Waverly and three-star Buford (Ga.) High running back Justin Baker.

2025 Big Ten Recruiting Rankings

The Wolverines currently sit No. 3 in the Big Ten Conference and trail Oregon and Penn State. Eight of the 16 programs currently don’t have a commit next cycle.

1. Oregon (3)

2. Penn State (6)

3. Michigan (7)

4. Nebraska (9)

5. Wisconsin

6. Ohio State

7. Purdue

8. Iowa