Podcast: Previewing the official visitors Michigan is expected to host on Victors Weekend
Analysts EJ Holland and Zach Libby discuss the slate of official visitors Michigan is expected to host on Victors Weekend, including Top 100 Winter Garden (Fla.) West Orange safety and Notre Dame commit Ivan Taylor, on The Wolverine Live Tuesday Recruiting Show.
Taylor Recruitment
Taylor committed to Notre Dame in December of last year, but his first Division I offer was from the reigning College Football Playoff winners. New Michigan defensive backs coach LaMar Morgan has quickly built a relationship with Taylor, the son of former Pittsburgh Steelers stalwart Ike Taylor, and close loved ones.
The official visit to Michigan will be Taylor first time in Ann Arbor.
Holland went in-depth on where the program stands for Taylor.
“Michigan is very much in the Ivan Taylor race,” Holland said. “The Wolverines have had plenty of success here in Florida recently, landing Carter Smith, landing Brady Hart. Maybe that helps with Taylor. I don’t think distance is a factor, obviously, he’s committed to Notre Dame, and he really values the academic side of things. The life after football. I think Michigan can obviously offer that.
“It’ll be interesting to see if he sticks with Notre Dame or leaves (its) class. Remember, Notre Dame already has a few other safety commits. JaDon Blair is a guy that could end up in that class, so getting very crowded. Maybe that Michigan with Taylor. Maybe it helps them with Blair. But I do think Michigan has more of a chance (with Taylor) than maybe people are giving them.”
Before Taylor’s trip to Michigan and returning to South Bend last weekend, he officially visited Alabama on June 7-9.
Other notable offers that Taylor has collected include USC, Penn State, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Miami, South Carolina, Pitt, Florida, and Pitt.
At 6-foot-0.5, 180 pounds, Taylor is listed as the No. 59 overall prospect and the No. 7 safety 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. 8 player in Florida.
The six commits in Michigan’s 2025 recruiting class are Top 100 Oak Park (Ill.) Fenwick EDGE Nate Marshall, Top 100 Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga College safety defensive back Kainoa Winston, On300 Ft. Myers (Fla.) Bishop Verot quarterback Carter Smith, four-star Birmingham (Mich.) Groves offensive lineman Avery Gach, four-star Palatine (Ill.) High EDGE Jaylen Williams, four-star Howell (Mich.) High defensive lineman Bobby Kanka, three-star Marrero (La.) Archbishop Shaw running back Jasper Parker, and three-star Alcoa (Tenn.) High tight end Eli Owens.
