Wolverine TV: Previewing National Signing Day... will Michigan close strong?

The Wolverine’s EJ Holland discussed several tops ahead of National Signing Day on the Tuesday edition of The Wolverine Live recruiting show, including the recruitment of four-star linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng.

Watch the replay in the video at the end of this story.

Owusu-Boateng Recruitment

Michigan extended an offer to Owusu-Boateng as an underclassman when he was still enrolled at Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha.

Owusu-Boateng transferred to IMG Academy for his junior season and had a fantastic year, establishing himself as one of the top linebackers in the country. Michigan wasn’t too involved with Owusu-Boateng until the arrival of new linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary.

Jean-Mary recruited Owusu-Boateng during his time at Tennessee and immediately made him a priority after taking the Michigan job. Owusu-Boateng rewarded Jean-Mary by making an unofficial visit to U-M in the spring.

Owusu-Boateng returned to Ann Arbor for an official visit in June and was on campus twice this fall. Here is what Holland had to say about his recruitment.

“This one is down to Michigan and Colorado,” Holland said. “I haven’t put in a prediction because I told Owusu-Boateng I wouldn’t, but I really like where Michigan stands here. I think the Wolverines offer a lot of what he’s looking for.”

At 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, Owusu-Boateng is ranked as the No. 19 linebacker and No. 188 overall prospect nationally, per the On3 Industry Ranking. He is also ranked as the No. 25 overall prospect in the state of Florida this cycle.

Michigan has 21 commits in its 2025 recruiting class — five-star Belleville (Mich.) High quarterback Bryce Underwood, five-star Overland Park (Kan.) Blue Valley Northwest offensive tackle Andrew Babalola, Top 100 Chester (Va.) Thomas Dale cornerback Shamari Earls, Top 100 Monroe (N.C.) High safety Jordan Young, Top 100 Katy (Texas) Jordan wide receiver Andrew Marsh, Top 100 Center Valley (Pa.) Southern Lehigh tight end Andrew Olesh, Top 100 Oak Park (Ill.) Fenwik EDGE Nate Marshall, On300 Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga defensive back Kainoa Winston, On300 Alpharetta (Ga.) High EDGE Julius Holly, On300 Kilgore (Texas) High cornerback Jayden Sanders, On300 New Orleans (La.) Archbishop Shaw wide receiver Jacob Washington, On300 Newburgh (Ind.) Castle defensive lineman Benny Patterson, On300 New Orleans (La.) Archbishop Shaw running back Jasper Parker, four-star Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy running back Donovan Johnson, four-star Birmingham (Mich.) Groves offensive lineman Avery Gach, three-star Howell (Mich.) High defensive lineman Bobby Kanka, three-star Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy offensive lineman Kaden Strayhorn, three-star Stockbridge (Ga.) High linebacker Chase Taylor, three-star Lake Worth (Fla.) Santaluces wide receiver Jamar Browder and three-star Alcoa (Tenn.) High tight end Eli Owens.

The class entered the day ranked No. 8 nationally and No. 3 in the Big Ten, per the On3 Industry national team recruiting rankings. The Wolverines currently sit behind Ohio State and Oregon.