Where Michigan targets landed in initial On300 2026 recruiting rankings
On3 released its initial On300 rankings for the 2026 recruiting class on Monday morning. While Michigan doesn’t have any early commits, the Wolverines are in it for a number of targets on the list.
Michigan offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell has the luxury of getting a jump-start on signal-callers next cycle after locking up 2025 On300 quarterback Carter Smith this past fall. Campbell hit the road hard during the contact period and has dished out multiple offers at the position.
The highest rated quarterback on the board is Greensboro (N.C.) Grimsley prospect Faizon Brandon, who checked in at No. 12 overall. Campbell offered Brandon in the winter and is looking to get him on campus soon. Michigan also has scholarships out to Nashville (Tenn.) Christian’s Jared Curtis (No. 36), Folsom (Calif.) High’s Ryder Lyons (No. 55), Tampa (Fla.) Jesuit’s Will Griffin (No. 106), New Lenox (Ill.) Lincoln Way West’s Jonas Williams (No. 147), Newbury Park (Calif.) High’s Brady Smigiel (No. 209) and Lake Mary (Fla.) High’s Noah Grubbs (No. 219).
Curtis, Griffin, Williams, Smigiel and Grubbs have all visited Michigan in the past. Grubbs is slated to be back in Ann Arbor this month.
Michigan has just one running back offer out in 2026. That belongs to Forney (Texas) High’s Javian Osborn, who is now ranked as the No. 1 running back and No. 20 overall prospect in the country. New Michigan assistant JB Brown extended the offer in the winter.
Michigan wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy is going after several On300 pass catchers next cycle. He has offers out to New Orleans (La.) Destrehan’s Jabari Mack (No. 40), Richmond (Va.) Trinity Episcopal’s Davion Brown (No. 95), Chesapeake (Va.) Oscar Smith’s Travis Johnson (No. 102), Houston (Texas) Legacy’s Keisean Henderson (No. 126) Harrisburg (Pa.) High’s Elias Coke (No. 233), Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech’s CJ Sadler (No. 264) and Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban’s Payton Cook (No. 285).
Michigan has the early lead on the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine for both Sadler and Cook. The two Midwest prospects have both made early visits to U-M.
Michigan should be a destination school for top tight end recruits, and the Wolverines are already involved with some of the nation’s best in 2026, including Reidsville (N.C.) High’s Kendre Harrison (No. 11), Saint George (Utah) Pine View’s Brock Harris (No. 66), Long Beach (Calif.) Lakewood’s Caleb Tafua (No. 97), Nashville (Tenn.) Donelson Christian’s Carson Sneed (No. 128) and Frisco (Texas) Lone Star’s Ryder Mix (No. 183).
New Michigan offensive line coach Grant Newsome is hard at work on the recruiting trail and has offers out to Richmond (Va.) St. Christopher’s Darius Gray (No. 42), Mechanicsburg (Pa.) Cumberland Valley’s Tyler Merrill, Portage (Mich.) Northern’s Gregory Patrick (No. 89), Needham (Mass.) St. Sebastian’s Marky Walbridge (No. 101), Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban’s Sam Greer (No. 138), Avon Lake (Ohio) High’s Maxwell Riley (No. 160) and Flower Mound (Texas) High’s Drew Evers (No. 251).
Gray and Merrill are set to visit Michigan next month, while Patrick, Greer and Riley have already been to Ann Arbor in the past.
New Michigan defensive line coach Greg Scruggs is currently suspended and hasn’t had much time to recruit underclassmen defensive linemen and EDGEs. However, New Orleans (La.) St Augustine’s Jahkeem Stewart (No. 1), Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman’s Tank Carrington (No. 112) and Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy’s Preston Carey (No. 193) have all said they want to visit.
New Michigan linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary is just starting to set his board.
The same goes for new Michigan secondary coach LaMar Morgan. However, Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban’s Elbert Hill (No. 13), Brentwood (Tenn.) Academy’s Shavar Young (No. 116), Knoxville (Tenn.) Bearden’s Chaston Smith (No. 143) and Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy’s Zech Fort (No. 262) have all visited Michigan in the past.
