On3 RPM: Michigan leads for these 2026 recruits listed in the initial On300 rankings

The first On300 rankings for the 2026 recruiting class were published on Monday, and a number of Michigan targets were featured, including five sophomores the reigning national champions are currently leading for, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM), the industry’s first algorithm and machine learning-based product to predict where athletes will attend college. 

The Wolverine closely examines the group of prospects who are trending towards U-M.

Top 100 Safety Zech Fort, Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech

Industry Ranking: No. 51 Overall, No. 4 Safety, No. 6 in Florida
RPM: Michigan (24.7%), USC (14.6%), Alabama (12.5%), Ohio State (10.4%)
U-M Visits: 11/25/23, 5/30/23, 3/26/23

Zech Fort has family connections residing in the state of Michigan and made the flight to Ann Arbor from powerhouse IMG Academy for three unofficial visits last year. His latest appearance at The Big House occurred in late November for the Ohio State game. Fort looks forward to scheduling another return this offseason so that he and his family can build a close relationship with head coach Sherrone Moore. The impact IMG Academy graduates like JJ McCarthy had in U-M’s run to the national champions is a big deal to Fort.

Top 100 ATH CJ Sadler, Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech

Industry Ranking: No. 72 Overall, No. 12 Wide Receiver, No. 1 in Michigan
RPM: Michigan (91.8%)
U-M Visits: 11/25/23, 3/26/23, 10/29/22, 10/15/22

CJ Sadler is the No. 1 overall in-state prospect next cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, and has already been on four unofficial visits to Ann Arbor. Three were for marquee games in matchups against Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan State. The Wolverines offered Sadler when he was in middle school, and the two-way Detroit star continues to appreciate the love passed down from the staff. Former defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale was viewed as a family figure to Sadler. But now that he’s gone, it’ll be up to recently hired LaMar Morgan to ensure Sadler doesn’t leave the area for college.

On300 WR Payton Cook, Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban

On3 Ranking: No. 285 Overall, No. 44 Wide Receiver, No. 14 in Ohio
RPM: Michigan (43.0%), Pitt (19.7%), Kentucky (16.9%), Louisville (14.1%)
U-M Visits: 11/25/23, 6/14/23

Payton Cook is one of three recruits out of Archbishop Hoban to possess a Michigan offer and be listed in the 2026 On300, alongside cornerback Elbert Hill and offensive tackle Sam Greer. Clinkscale offered Hill and Cook, but with the latter’s recruitment, wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy has now taken the lead. They connected in person for the first time at a June camp inside Al Glick Field and then on the day U-M beat Ohio State. The production of the wide receiver unit last season, like Roman Wilson, caught Cook’s attention.

On300 CB Jakob Weatherspoon, Avon (Ohio) High

On3 Ranking: No. 286 Overall, No. 24 Athlete, No. 15 in Ohio
RPM: Michigan (93.2%)
U-M Visits: 11/4/23, 9/16/23, 7/30/23

Jakob Weatherspoon is the former teammate of 2024 Michigan offensive lineman signee Luke Hamilton. Weatherspoon credits Hamilton for helping him enter the program’s radar over the summer, which led to the sophomore traveling with Hamilton to Ann Arbor for the annual July BBQ at the Big House and two games last season, including the night game against Bowling Green in September. That’s when Clinkscale pulled the trigger, as the Wolverines were the first to be on Weatherspoon’s offer list.

On300 EDGE Cam Thomas, West Chester (Ohio) Lakota West

On3 Ranking: No. 290 Overall, No. 25 Athlete, No. 16 in Ohio
RPM: Michigan (41.4%), Cincinnati (19.0%), Louisville (16.3%), Georgia Tech (13.5%)
U-M Visits: 11/4/23, 7/30/23

Cam Thomas was disappointed to see Clinkscale leave Michigan for the NFL because the former assistant offered Thomas during his visit to Ann Arbor for the barbecue last year. He also checked out the win over Purdue in early November. Plans to return this spring are in the works, but a date has yet to be set. The Wolverines have made Cincinnati and its suburbs a significant part of their recruiting efforts in recent years, and Thomas could be at the forefront for the 2026 class as he looks forward to garnering a close bond with the new coaching staff.