Where Michigan sits in national team recruiting rankings after losing Top 100 CB Chris Ewald
Michigan fell to No. 15 overall on the 2025 On3 Industry National Team Recruiting Rankings following the decommitment of Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna cornerback Chris Ewald on Monday.
Ewald, the the No. 9 cornerback and No. 74 overall prospect nationally, per the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four primary recruiting media services, was the first prospect in the 2025 class to commit to Michigan in December of 2022. He made eight unofficial visits to Ann Arbor, most recently for the game against Ohio State two months ago.
Georgia, Miami, Florida State and Auburn are among the schools issuing serious pushes for the South Florida defender, but Michigan will continue recruiting Ewald.
“I’m happy for the guys I’m very proud of them,” Ewald told The Wolverine after the national championship win. “I know the work they put in this season. Coach Clink (Steve Clinkscale) and Coach Jay Harbaugh did a wonderful job with the secondary this season I know I will fit right in the scheme. Michigan was all in on me early. They allowed me to be the face of the class by taking my commitment last year I respect them for that.”
Michigan 2025 Recruiting Class
Following Ewald’s decommitment, the Wolverines are among the 32 schools at the Division I level with at least three verbal pledges in 2025. Their overall ranking (89.935) sits higher than the likes of SMU, Tennessee, UCF, Baylor, North Carolina, and Virginia.
Rounding out Michigan’s 2025 recruiting class are On300 Ft. Myers (Fla.) Bishop Verot quarterback Carter Smith, four-star Howell (Mich.) High defensive lineman Bobby Kanka, and three-star Alcoa (Tenn.) High tight end Eli Owens. The latter announced his decision on January 4 after two game-day visits in November.
Dozens of 2025 top targets remain on Michigan’s board, such as 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, Top 100 Katy (Tex.) Jordan wide receiver Andrew Marsh, Top 100 Shaker Heights (Ohio) High cornerback Trey McNutt, Top 100 Geneva (Ill.) Community wide receiver Talyn Taylor, On300 Gaithersburg (Md.) Quince Orchard running back Iverson Howard, On300 Mukilteo (Wash.) Kamiak tight end T’Andre Waverly, On300 Birmingham (Mich.) Groves offensive lineman Avery Gach, On300 Toledo (Ohio) Whitmer offensive tackle Carter Lowe, On300 Cleveland Heights (Ohio) High athlete Marquise Davis, four-star Palantine (Ill.) High defensive lineman Jaylen Williams, and three-star Chesapeake (Va.) Oscar Smith nickel Jahmari DeLoatch.
2025 Big Ten Recruiting Rankings
Michigan currently sits No. 4 in the Big Ten Conference and trail Oregon, Ohio State, and Penn State. Six of the 18 programs currently don’t have a commit next cycle.
1. Oregon
2. Ohio State
3. Penn State
4. Michigan
5. Wisconsin
6. Purdue
7. Nebraska
8. Iowa
9. USC
10. Maryland
11. Rutgers
12. Washington
