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Wolverine TV: Can Michigan land five-star DB DJ Pickett in 2025?

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Recruiting Q&A (54)
EJ Holland/On3

The Wolverine’s EJ Holland discussed several Michigan recruiting topics on the Tuesday edition of the Wolverine Live show, including five-star Zephyrhills (Fla.) High safety DJ Pickett.

Watch the full video above.

Pickett Recruitment

Pickett is Michigan’s most important target in the 2025 recruiting class. He has made several trips to Ann Arbor and returned to Michigan in late November for the game against Ohio State.

U-M co-defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach Steve Clinkscale traveled to Zephyrhills earlier this month to meet with Pickett at his school.

Here is what Holland said about his recruitment.

“Pickett remains the most important prospect in the 2025 class (for Michigan) and the most important guy on the board,” Holland said. “He has many ties to Michigan; his mom went to Michigan, he’s had relatives who’ve worked for Michigan, his brother went to Eastern (Michigan), and his grandmother still lives in Metro Detroit. On and on as far as connections. His mom is very pro-Michigan and his dad is starting to buy in as well.

“The thing with DJ is…the relationship with Clinkscale is so strong, and I don’t think Clink is going anywhere unless Michigan brings in a different head coach that’s not Sherrone Moore, or if (Jim) Harbaugh doesn’t stick around. I think that’s the pitch to Pickett. ‘You still have all these ties to Michigan. You still have an opportunity to come in and make an early impact for the defending national champions.’”

Pickett recently named U-M in his Top 5 along with Alabama, Georgia, Miami and Oregon.

At 6-foot-3, 170 pounds, Pickett is ranked as the No. 1 safety and No. 7 overall prospect nationally, per the On3 Industry Ranking. He is also ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect in the state of Florida for next cycle.

Michigan has three verbal commitments in the 2025 recruiting class – On300 Ft. Myers (Fla.) Bishop Verot quarterback Carter Smith, four-star Howell (Mich.) High defensive lineman Bobby Kanka, and three-star Alcoa (Tenn.) High tight end Eli Owens.

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