Wolverine TV: Chad Simmons talks five-star OL Andrew Babalola, latest Michigan recruiting intel

The Wolverine’s EJ Holland and On3 national analyst Chad Simmons shared the latest intel on several Michigan recruits, including five-star offensive tackle Andrew Babalola.

Watch the full video above.

Bablola Recruitment

Michigan extended an offer to Babalola last fall and has made him a top priority along the offensive line this cycle.

Babalola visited Michigan in the spring and returned to Ann Arbor for his official visit last month. Both head coach Sherrone Moore and new offensive line coach Grant Newsome have built strong relationships with the Overland Park (Kan.) Blue Valley Northwest product.

Stanford currently has the lead for Bablola on the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine with an 89.5 percent chance of landing him. However, Michigan has continued to make a strong push.

Here is what Simmons had to say about his recruitment.

“Stanford with the academics, it speaks for itself,” Simmons said. “We do know Michigan, from a public school standpoint, is one of the best, if not the best in the country from an academic standpoint. Those two things really set them apart. Michigan, on the football side, is a better, consistent program with winning, competing for championships and even developing players. Stanford does a good job of putting guys into the NFL. I think those two have the leg up on the others. Maybe Stanford by an inch or two over Michigan right now, but I don’t think he’s reached the end for a full final decision.”

At 6-foot-5, 295 pounds, Babalola is ranked as the No. 4 offensive tackle and No. 21 overall recruit nationally, per the On3 Industry Rankings.

Michigan has 13 commits in its 2025 recruiting class — Top 100 Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga defensive back Kainoa Winston, Top 100 Oak Park (Ill.) Fenwick defensive lineman Nate Marshall, On300 Fort Myers (Fla.) Bishop Verot quarterback Carter Smith, On300 Alpharetta (Ga.) High EDGE Julius Holly, On300 Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy running back Donovan Johnson, four-star New Orleans (La.) Archbishop Shaw wide receiver Jacob Washington, four-star Palatine (Ill.) High EDGE Jaylen Williams, four-star Birmingham (Mich.) Groves offensive lineman Avery Gach, four-star Howell (Mich.) High defensive lineman Bobby Kanka, three-star New Orleans (La.) Archbishop Shaw running back Jasper Parker, three-star Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy offensive lineman Kaden Strayhorn, three-star Stockbridge (Ga.) High linebacker Chase Taylor and three-star Alcoa (Tenn.) High tight end Eli Owens.

The class is currently ranked No. 14 nationally and No. 5 in the Big Ten, per the On3 Industry national team recruiting rankings. The Wolverines currently sit behind Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State and USC.