On3 4-star CB Austin Alexander sets Michigan visit
Hazel Crest (Ill.) Marian Catholic four-star cornerback Austin Alexander is visiting Michigan this weekend. He announced the news Thursday over Twitter.
Alexander is the No. 439 overall prospect and No. 38 cornerback in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 9 player in Illinois.
On3 rates Alexander higher than other recruiting services, according to the Industry Comparison. Per the 2024 On300, he is the No. 283 overall prospect, No. 25 cornerback and No. 6 player in Illinois.
The 6-foot-1, 165-pound defensive back was previously committed to Wisconsin. He backed off his pledge to the Badgers on Jan. 25.
Since then, Alexander visited Purdue (Jan. 28) and Iowa (March 5). His trip to Ann Arbor will mark his third visit of 2023.
“I do know that Michigan is very academic school,” Alexander told Zach Libby of The Wolverine on Feb. 22. “I want to see the facilities and want to see how the coaches are, just to know if that’s a place where I want to be around. Talk to some of the players and see how they live and stuff like that. I actually need to see where I’m going to spend the next four years.”
For more Michigan recruiting intel, check out The Wolverine.
Defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale has spoken with Alexander about how he fits with the Wolverines.
“He said he loved my vertical, me in press (coverage), my ball skills, loved everything about that,” Alexander said. “He also talked about my length and that was a big thing. He said the defensive coordinator (Jesse Minter) and him watched my film and then realized that I could do big things for the team. When he told me about the best always playing, I really felt that because you can go back and see all of the freshmen playing.”
Michigan currently has seven players in its 2024 recruiting class. While none of them are a cornerback, the Wolverines hold a pledge from Harper Woods (Mich.) four-star safety Jacob Oden, the No. 163 overall prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking.
“Getting an offer from Michigan is crazy because that’s a school that I watched growing up,” said Alexander, who also holds offers from USC, Nebraska and Michigan State among others. “I watch a lot of college football but Michigan is a big deal to me. It was great because Coach Clink expressed that he really liked me and was excited about me. He wants to get me up there in the spring so I’ll be sure to do that. I’m not sure what date but I will get there. Either March or April.”