Michigan signed 7 top-100 recruits in 2025, as many as last four classes combined

Michigan Wolverines football has finished its 2025 recruiting class with the No. 6 haul in the country after the dust settled on the second signing day. Among that grouping was the signing of seven top-100 talents (On3 Industry Ranking), which dwarfs its recent outputs.

Five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood (No. 1 overall) and offensive tackle Andrew Babalola (16th) are among the eight top-100 players in the class. The group also includes EDGE Nate Marshall (40th, OT Ty Haywood (48th) and a trio of defensive backs in Kainoa Winston (91st), Elijah Dotson (94th) and Shamari Earls (97th).

Michigan had signed only 7 top-100 players in the four recruiting classes leading up to Sherrone Moore’s first cycle as head coach. The 2016 and 2017 classes, considered at the time the No. 7 and 4 classes at the time, respectively, featured a combined 13 top-100 players. Six came in 2016, followed by another 7 in the 2017 cycle.

Here’s a look at the 7 top-100 players the Wolverines had signed prior to Moore’s 2025 class.

2021

RB Donovan Edwards (On3 Industry Ranking: No. 34 overall, No. 2 RB, No. 1 in Michigan)

The West Bloomfield HS star had a number of clutch runs during his Michigan career, most notably in the 2022 Ohio State game and in the 2023 College Football Playoff national title win. He finished his career with 422 carries for 2,251 yards and 19 touchdowsn with 86 catches for 797 yards and 4 touchdowns.

QB J.J. McCarthy (On3 Industry Ranking: No. 47 overall, No. 9 QB, No. 12 in Florida)

Jim Harbaugh’s best signal-caller will go down as one of the best in program history with a 27-1 record to his name along with three Big Ten titles and a natty to his name. During his time in Ann Arbor, he had 6,226 yards with 49 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. McCarthy’s play got him drafted No. 10 overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2024 NFL Draft.

LB Junior Colson (On3 Industry Ranking: No. 90 overall. No. 19 LB, No. 1 in Tennessee)

Colson played right away as a freshman and lived up to the expectations, hauling in 257 career tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 5 passes defended and a fumble recovery. He joined Harbaugh with the Los Angeles Chargers as a third round pick in last spring’s draft.

2022

CB Will Johnson (On3 Industry Ranking: No. 16 overall, No. 2 CB, No. 1 in Michigan)

Johnson leaves Michigan with 9 career interceptions and 3 interceptions for touchdowns. He was also the defensive MVP of the national title win over Washington and is expected to be a top-20 pick this spring.

EDGE Derrick Moore (On3 Industry Ranking: No. 37 overall, No. 5 EDGE, No. 2 in Maryland)

Michigan is getting one of its top pass rushers back in 2025, and he has panned out to this point even if some of the counting numbers do not jump off the sheet. He was tied for the team lead in pressures this season with 37, per Pro Football Focus.

S Keon Sabb (On3 Industry Ranking: No. 87 overall, No. 8 safety, No. 13 in Florida)

Sabb had a breakout season with Michigan in 2023, recording 28 tackles, 4 passes defended, half a sack and 2 interceptions, including a pick six. He transferred to Alabama in 2024 and had 39 tackles, 4 passes defended and 2 picks.

2024

RB Jordan Marshall (On3 Industry Ranking: No. 87 overall, No. 4 RB, No. 3 in Ohio)

Michigan may have its running back of the future in Marshall, who won MVP honors in the ReliaQuest Bowl win over Alabama with 23 carries for 100 yards, and a grass-stained jersey to boot. He is expected to combine with Crimson Tide transfer Justice Haynes as the 1-2 punch in the Michigan backfield in 2025.

Michigan Overview

All of the above players wound up making a major impact during their time in Ann Arbor, some to varying degrees. A guy like Marshall projects out to be a foundational player critical to what they like to do running the football.

The math suggests not all of the top-100 prospects Michigan signed will go on to have star careers, but the Wolverines brought in blue-chip talent at positions of need as they rework themselves back into a CFP contender. If recent history is any indication, several players that signed with the team this cycle will go on to be cornerstones for this next iteration of the program.