4-star safety Kainoa Winston commits to Michigan

Montgomery Village (Md.) Gonzaga four-star safety Kainoa Winston has committed to Michigan.

He chose the Wolverines over Penn State, North Carolina and Oregon.

Winston is the No. 95 overall prospect and No. 10 safety in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the top-ranked player in the D.C. area.

For more Michigan recruiting intel, check out The Wolverine.

Michigan had Winston in Ann Arbor for his official visit on the weekend of May 31. The Wolverines set the tone and a high bar that none of Winston’s three other finalists could match. Defensive backs coach Lamar Morgan, defensive coordinator Don Martindale and Co. have added a key piece to U-M’s 2025 class.

“The visit was good. I got to hang around the players and coaches more, just getting to bond and build relationships with them. My biggest takeaway from the visit was how genuine the people at Michigan are and the workhorse culture that has been established there,” Winston told On3 following his OV.

“I like how they move around their DBs in the backend and with my versatility I think I would thrive in the defensive personnel they play with,” he added.