Chris Partridge had a hand in reeling in these blue-chip Michigan recruits

Michigan Wolverines football is expected to hire Chris Partridge as a defensive assistant coach, according to On3’s Matt Zenitz. While his exact role is yet to be announced, it’s clear Michigan is getting an excellent recruiter back on staff.

Partridge proved to be an ace on the trail while with the Wolverines from 2015-19, serving as director of player personnel (2015), before moving on an on-staff role as special teams coordinator and linebackers (2016-17) and safeties coach (2018-19) the next four years. He moved on to co-coordinate the Ole Miss defense the last three seasons.

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He didn’t just help reel in his former high school player in five-star defensive lineman Rashan Gary, either, even though that may have been his most notable land. Per a tweet from Zenitz, Partridge was the primary recruiter for 38 four- or five-star recruits that signed with Michigan and Ole Miss.

Being that Partridge coached at Paramus (N.J.) Catholic, he helped open a pipeline from New Jersey to Michigan, but was also involved with players from across the country, including in the South.

Below, we highlight several of the top recruits Partridge was integral in bringing in at Michigan.

Five-star DL Rashan Gary (2016), Paramus (N.J.) Catholic

As mentioned, Partridge was big in Michigan’s pursuit of Gary, who wound up being a stud Wolverine lineman for three seasons, before declaring for the NFL Draft and being picked No. 12 overall to the Green Bay Packers in 2019.

Gary was a milestone land for Michigan, since he was the No. 1 overall recruit and the Wolverines’ highest-ranked commitment of all time.

Gary was a two-time All-Big Ten honoree at Michigan, totaling 136 tackles, 25 stops for loss, 10 sacks and 1 forced fumble.

Five-star DB Daxton Hill (2019), Tulsa (Okla.) Booker T. Washington

Daxton Hill was the No. 8 overall prospect in the country in 2019. He flipped back from Alabama on signing day, big-time fireworks for the Maize and Blue to cap off the class. Michigan co-offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore — who coached tight ends at the time — was Hill’s primary recruiter, while Partridge served in a secondary role.

Hill appeared in 33 games with 23 starts over three years at Michigan, before being picked No. 31 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2022. With the Wolverines, Hill registered 145 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 3 pass breakups and 3 fumble recoveries.

Five-star DL Aubrey Solomon (2017), Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County

Aubrey Solomon was the No. 30 overall prospect in the 2017 cycle. The Wolverines going into Georgia to bring in a top-tier interior defensive lineman is a rare feat, but Partridge was able to help accomplish that feat on multiple occasions.

Solomon wound up having a relatively quiet career at Michigan, before transferring to Tennessee after his sophomore season in 2018. He appeared in 18 career contests with the Maize and Blue and was credited with 24 tackles, including 2 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He started 15 of his 26 games at Tennessee from 2019-21, recording 53 tackles, including 4.5 for loss.

Five-star DL Christopher Hinton (2019), Johns Creek (Ga.) Greater Atlanta Christian School

Christopher Hinton was a five-star and the No. 31 player in the 2019 class, another example of Partridge plucking a defensive lineman from the South.

Hinton was a two-year starter for Michigan, opening 19 of his 32 career outings and totaling 55 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 4 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble and 2 fumble recoveries. He declared early for the NFL Draft but was not picked.

It’s also worth noting that, while Michigan didn’t land his younger brother, offensive tackle Myles Hinton, out of high school, the Wolverines did add him from the transfer portal this offseason. There’s a chance they wouldn’t have been able to do so if it weren’t for Christopher wearing the winged helmet from 2019-21.

Four-star OL Cesar Ruiz (2017), Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy

While Cesar Ruiz played high school football at the famed IMG Academy in Florida, he’s a native of Camden, N.J., and that’s Partridge territory. The center was the 40th-best recruit and No. 3 interior offensive lineman in the 2017 class.

Ruiz played in 36 games with 31 starts at Michigan, before declaring for the NFL Draft and becoming the Wolverines’ first offensive lineman to be selected in the first round since Taylor Lewan in 2014.

More Chris Partridge lands

There are plenty other examples of Partridge flexing his muscles on the recruiting trail beyond just the top five recruits listed above.

At Michigan, he was also involved with the recruitments of four-star cornerback Ambry Thomas, four-star offensive lineman Trente Jones, four-star running back Kareem Walker, four-star linebacker Cameron McGrone, four-star safety Jordan Morant, four-star linebacker Josh Ross, four-star safety Makari Paige, four-star safety R.J. Moten, four-star safety Brad Hawkins, four-star EDGE David Ojabo and others.