Michigan football: Five biggest recruiting wins of the 2023 cycle

Michigan Wolverines football‘s 2023 class ranked No. 18 nationally, its lowest-rated haul since 2019, but it included some big recruiting wins. Here’s a look at the top five ‘gets’ of the cycle now that the entire class is enrolled at Michigan.

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CB Jyaire Hill, Kankakee (Ill.) High

Recruiting is not boring.

Michigan cornerback Jyaire Hill seems like a shy kid, but he has a flair for the dramatic. Hill, ranked a four-star and the No. 104 overall player in the country per On3, left the Wolverines off his top-five graphic the week of signing day, before choosing the Maize and Blue at a ceremony at his school.

This was a Michigan-Illinois battle at the end, and the Wolverines beat out the Illini for the Kankakee (Ill.) High product. Co-defensive coordinator Steve Clinkscale worked tirelessly on winning over Hill’s family and came out on top.

Notable offers: Illinois, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Florida, Penn State, Auburn, UCLA, Michigan State, Wisconsin

DL Enow Etta, Colleyville (Texas) Covenant Christian Academy

Another coveted prospect (No. 123 per On3), Etta was made a priority by Michigan defensive line coach Mike Elston as soon as he was hired in January 2022.

In-state rival Michigan State once had a lead in Etta’s recruitment, but as Michigan often does to programs of that caliber, it snatched a top target away from the Spartans.

Etta took visits to Oklahoma and TCU, and attracted interest from LSU and Miami, even after making his pledge to Michigan. Ultimately, the Wolverines were able to hold onto the four-star.

Notable offers: Alabama, LSU, Miami, USC, Texas, Texas A&M, Michigan State, Wisconsin

S Brandyn Hillman, Portsmouth (Va.) Churchland

Speaking of roughing up the rivals, that’s exactly what Michigan did with Hillman, a one-time Notre Dame signee. Hillman reportedly had an admissions hiccup with the Fighting Irish, though the program would’ve loved to welcome the four-star, top-150 prospect into the fold.

Hillman was granted a release from his National Letter of Intent, and the Wolverines quickly beat out LSU, Ohio State and USC to earn his signature. He became the 25th and final member of the 2023 class.

Notable offers: Notre Dame, Ohio State, LSU, Miami, Oklahoma, USC, Wisconsin

OL Evan Link, Burke (Va.) Gonzaga

Landing Link was huge for Michigan for multiple reasons. First, his pledge came at a time where the Wolverines were looking to build some momentum in the 2023 class, which ranked outside the top 25 nationally before he jumped on board.

Secondly, the Wolverines beat out a division rival for his services — Penn State was the leader, for quite some time, until it wasn’t. Link cancelled his Michigan official visit the first time around, before an unofficial trip later on in the cycle sealed the deal.

Additionally, the No. 286 overall player nationally per the On3 Industry Rankings is a true tackle, which has been rare at Michigan in recent years (and is tough to find in general). The 6-6, 305-pounder could be the next great one down the line.

Notable offers: Penn State, Miami, Stanford, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin

WR Karmello English, Phenix City (Ala.) Central

English — a four-star and the No. 202 overall prospect in the nation per the On3 Industry Ranking — provided some fireworks on signing day. He and Hill were the two big gets.

The Wolverines brought in two other wide receivers in the class, but English is the highest rated by far, with the other two — Semaj Morgan and Fredrick Moore — being three-stars, though both showed promise in spring ball.

Once an Auburn commit, English opened up his recruitment last fall. The Under Armour All-American was down to Michigan and Kentucky at the end. Wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy did an outstanding job staying in this recruitment and closing it.

Notable offers: Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, Florida, Georgia, Texas A&M