On3 RPM: Michigan leads for these recruits following their visits for the Ohio State game

Michigan brought in dozens of underclassmen targets Saturday for the win over Ohio State game and is the leader for several in the 2025, 2026 and 2027 recruiting classes, 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 prospects who are trending towards U-M.

On300 CB Alex Graham, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 106 Overall, No. 12 Cornerback, No. 17 in Florida
RPM: U-M (92.5%)
The Skinny: Alex Graham transferred to IMG Academy last summer after playing his first two years of high school football at Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech. He was born and raised in the Detroit area and is a Michigan legacy because his mother graduated from the school. Graham has made eight total visits to Ann Arbor, where he’s gotten very close with defensive backs coach and co-defensive coordinator Steve Clinkscale. Two On3 predictions have put the Wolverines in a position to land Graham.

On300 IOL Avery Gach, Birmingham (Mich.) Groves

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 200 Overall, No. 11 Interior Offensive Lineman, No. 2 in Michigan
RPM: U-M (81.0%), Michigan State (5.4%), Ohio State (3.7%), Notre Dame (1.6%)
The Skinny: Avery Gach and his family have made three game-day visits to Michigan this season. They saw the win over Indiana and Purdue and had the maize and blue carpet rolled out for them again on Saturday. The in-state mauler is a top priority next cycle for offensive line coach Sherrone Moore, who stayed for the entirety of Gach’s playoff game during the bye week and has increased communication this fall. An On3 prediction was placed in favor of U-M to land Gach on Saturday.

On300 DL Jaylen Williams, Palatine (Ill.) High

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 241 Overall, No. 25 Defensive Lineman, No. 6 in Illinois
RPM: U-M (92.1%), Iowa (2.7%), Wisconsin (1.2%), Illinois (1.0%)
The Skinny: Jaylen Williams made his first visit to Michigan this past July for the annual BBQ at The Big House and returned to watch the Wolverines beat Ohio State for a third straight year. Pass rush specialist Dylan Roney and defensive line coach Mike Elston are developing a close relationship with Williams, who received an On3 prediction on Saturday. U-M has gotten at least one commit from Chicagoland in every recruiting cycle since 2019.

Four-Star EDGE Xavier Newsom, Detroit (Mich.) King

On3 Ranking: No. 263 Overall, No. 16 Tight End, No. 3 in Michigan
RPM: U-M (85.7%), Toledo (1.5%), Central Michigan (1.3%), Pitt (1.1%)
The Skinny: Xavier Newsom is listed as a tight end by On3, but Michigan is eyeing the in-stater’s 6-foot-5 and 200-pound frame at EDGE. Clinkscale, the area recruiter, has a strong presence within the Detroit powerhouse and communicates regularly with Newsom. The same goes for Roney. Four unofficial visits to Ann Arbor have been made by Newsom this year alone, including two game-day trips this season.

Three-star TE Eli Owens, Alcoa (Tenn.) High

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 362 Overall, No. 23 Tight End, No. 11 in Tennessee
RPM: U-M (94.4%), Tennessee (1.8%)
The Skinny: Eli Owens has driven up to Michigan six times. As part of National Players Academy, based in Nashville, which yields a strong working relationship with the U-M coaching staff, Owens first four visits all took place in the offseason, so seeing two games in person, including Saturday, have added to his substantial familiarity with the area. Two On3 predictions were made for the Wolverines to land Owens.

Three-star OL John Mills, San Francisco (Calif.) St. Ignatius

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 439 Overall, No. 31 Interior Offensive Lineman, No. 37 in California
RPM: U-M (57.7%), Cal (26.5%), UCLA (2.1%), Utah (1.7%)
The Skinny: John Mills was added to the visitor’s list later in the week leading up to The Game and flew cross-country to watch the win. Moore offered Mills last month as they first met on campus four months earlier when the former worked out in front of the offensive line coach at a camp. The team’s dedication to pulling off the win after the injury to Zak Zinter impressed Mills.

Three-star DB Elijah Dotson, University of Detroit (Mich.) Jesuit

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 445 Overall, No. 19 Athlete, No. 8 in Michigan
RPM: U-M (98.3%), Penn State (<1%), Tennessee (<1%)
The Skinny: Elijah Dotson had two On3 predictions placed for Michigan in the summer before his arrival for the late July barbecue. Clinkscale offered Dotson in the spring after evaluating the junior in a combine. Dotson got significant reps on defense in the secondary, where Clinkscale views him playing at the next level. Following the barbecue, Dotson returned to Ann Arbor twice for games, including Saturday.

Three-star Safety Marcus Wimberly, Bauxite (Ark.) High

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 521 Overall, No. 40 Safety, No. 6 in Arkansas
RPM: U-M (99.1%)
The Skinny: Marcus Wimberly is committed to Arkansas, but Michigan safeties coach Jay Harbaugh is pushing to flip the hard-hitting tackler. Wimberly drove the 13 hours from his hometown to be in Ann Arbor for the first time, where he and his dad met and talked to the younger Harbaugh and Clinkscale. Two flip predictions were made on Saturday.

Three-star OL Tucker Kattus, Cincinnati (Ohio) St. Xavier

On3 Industry Ranking: N/A
RPM: U-M (40.9%), Kentucky (18.7%), Michigan State (16.1%), Arkansas (13.4%)
The Skinny: Tucker Kattus is the son of former Michigan tight end great Eric Kattus and returned to campus on Saturday for the first time since the winter. Kattus is also a teammate of 2024 defensive lineman commit Ted Hammond, who’s been in the ear of the junior about remaining together. They were spotted hanging out on the sidelines Saturday.

Rising WR Quinn Morris, Plainfield (Ill.) East

On3 Industry Ranking: N/A
RPM: U-M (90.4%), Minnesota (9.6%)
The Skinny: Quinn Morris is the younger brother of Michigan sophomore wide receiver Tyler Morris. The former has been to Ann Arbor as a prospective recruit and in support of his sibling at least 10 times, including for four home games this season.

2026 CB Zech Fort, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 16 Overall, No. 2 Safety, No. 2 in Florida
RPM: U-M (34.4%), Alabama (20.4%), Florida State (9.2%), Ohio State (7.6%)
The Skinny: Zech Fort’s return to Michigan on Saturday was his third trip since March as he took in two flights north in the spring. The younger Harbaugh and Clinkscale have built a strong rapport with Fort, whose experiences in Ann Arbor have already made the town feel like home.

2026 WR CJ Sadler, Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 21 Overall, No. 3 Wide Receiver, No. 1 in Michigan
RPM: U-M (91.9%), Michigan State (3.1%), Alabama (1.4%), Florida (1.2%)
The Skinny: CJ Sadler is next in line following five-star+ quarterback Bryce Underwood as the top prospect in Michigan. The Wolverines were one of the first Power 5 schools to issue an offer to Sadler, who’s been to campus four times. Saturday was Sadler’s third game-day visit.

2026 WR Payton Cook, Akron (Ohio.) Archbishop Hoban

On3 Industry Ranking: N/A
RPM: U-M (44.7%), Pitt (20.5%), Kentucky (17.6%), Louisville (14.6%)
The Skinny: Payton Cook returned to Michigan on Saturday for his second visit of the year. He worked with Bellamy at an offseason after building a relationship with Clinkscale. Cook and three of his teammates – Top 100 cornerback Elbert Hill, Top 100 offensive tackle Sam Greer, and rising tight end Ace Brown – drove to Ann Arbor together as they’re early focuses for the 2026 recruiting class.

2027 QB Trae Taylor, Mundelein (Ill.) Carmel Catholic

On3 Industry Ranking: N/A
RPM: U-M (79.9%), Maryland (17.9%)
The Skinny: Trae Taylor has completed just one season of high school football but has gone on double-digit unofficial visits to Michigan. Campbell offered him in June after the Chicagoland native participated in a camp. Taylor is part of SoundMind SoundBody and works with Southeast Michigan-based quarterback trainer Donovan Dooley, so his familiarity with the area is strong.

2027 ATH Darryl Flemister, Detroit (Mich.) King

On3 Industry Ranking: N/A
RPM: U-M (83.0%), Michigan State (6.6%), Kentucky (5.7%), Maryland (4.7%)
The Skinny: Darryl Flemister is one of four in-state prospects in the 2027 recruiting class to have an offer from Michigan, bringing him in for two game-day visits this season. Clinkscale is leading the way early. Flemister has a King teammate in 2027 EDGE Jameer Henry, who also has an offer.