Now that the dust has settled from the second signing day, it’s time to hand out class superlatives to Michigan’s 2025 recruits!
Nearly every offensive accolade could go to the class’s crown jewel, but that gets boring after a while. Speaking of that crown jewel…
Most Important Recruit
Quarterback Bryce Underwood (6-foot-4, 208 lbs)
Who else could it be? Underwood’s the most highly-touted Michigan recruit since people started touting recruits 30ish years ago. JJ McCarthy is the closest comparison, but at least JJ had the luxury of easing into his freshman year behind Cade McNamara. Underwood’s competitors are Mikey Keene and Davis Warren. No shade to them, but Underwood’s ceiling is an entirely different stratosphere from the respective floors Keene and Warren provide. He’s a tall, big-bodied, athletic, accurate passer with finesse and power on downfield throws. He’s got more than enough running ability to keep defenses honest.
He’ll need to gel with a new offensive line, new receivers, and new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey. Still, if Underwood can progress as quickly as his pedigree suggests, Sherrone Moore will have no choice but to hand him the keys to the kingdom.
It’s not a question of if, but when.
Honorable Mentions: Underwood’s eventual protection bookends Andrew Babalola and Ty Haywood. Two of Michigan’s all-time best offensive line recruits might not come fully online until their sophomore years, but their potential is absolutely mouthwatering for 2026 and beyond.
Instant Impact Offensive Recruit
Wide Receiver Andrew Marsh (6-foot-1, 175 lbs)
The nature of Michigan’s offense has precluded them from major wide receiver recruits lately. Their bludgeoning run game demands tenacious blocking on the outside, and their passing efficacy cratered without McCarthy. If you’re a top prep pass-catcher, it’s not the most enticing option.
Marsh should help break that mold, and not a moment too soon. With Tyler Morris now a Hoosier and Colston Loveland soon to be drafted, the Wolverines lack a clear-cut top receiving option. Freshman receivers can struggle more than most, but Marsh doesn’t need to be a sensation like Jeremiah Smith (OSU) or Ryan Williams (Alabama) to find immediate success in this offense.
Marsh has speed, sure hands, and major ups to haul in jump balls. High-level expectations would be something like 30-40 catches for around 500 yards. For context, the leading receiver on Michigan’s National Championship team was Roman Wilson, with 48 grabs for 789 yards. Given Moore’s reliance on the run game, he’d be overjoyed if Marsh could mimic something like Semaj Morgan‘s freshman year: 20-25 catches for 200-300 yards.
Instant Impact Defensive Recruit
Edge Nate Marshall (6-foot-3, 240 lbs)
We’ve noted it many times before: rotation on the defensive line is crucial. The Wolverine line’s strength next year moves from the inside to the outside, as TJ Guy and Derrick Moore take on focal roles from Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant. Behind Guy and Moore are Dominic Nichols and Cameron Brandt. Both played plenty last year and showed flashes of their potential, but not enough to fully lock down their spots on the depth chart.
Enter Marshall, whose recruitment took a brief deviation to Auburn before returning to Ann Arbor, and position coach Lou Esposito. Marshall’s a former basketball player, and that athleticism shines on his tape. He’ll take a moment to adjust to the strength of the college game, and his technique is still raw, but his speed and explosiveness are such that he may be impossible to keep off the field in year one. Esposito has proven himself a tremendous talent developer across the line, and Marshall will be his latest beneficiary.
Honorable mentions: nickel back Kainoa Winston and cornerback Shamari Earls. Both will get snaps this year but have more experience ahead of them on the depth chart than Marshall. Earls will rotate in behind the quartet of Jyaire Hill, Zeke Berry, Jo’Ziah Edmond, and Louisiana transfer Caleb Anderson. Winston will get to spend some time learning from Rod Moore and Ja’Den McBurrows. That being said, McBurrows’ injury history is dubious. If he’s forced to miss more time, Winston’s a good bet to absorb those snaps.
Most Under-The-Radar on Offense
Running Back Jasper Parker (6-foot, 211 lbs)
Parker was a late riser to the recruiting services, sneaking into 247’s composite top 300 towards the end of the cycle. Even so, in Michigan’s 2025 class that still puts him towards the bottom of the group – a nice problem to have.
You can see shades of former Wolverine/UCLA Bruin Zach Charbonnet in Parker’s game. Both bring well-rounded games. They run well, block well, and can catch the ball out of the backfield. Though he looked a bit lithe as a recruit, Parker’s already beefed up almost 20 pounds from his recruiting profile’s listed weight. Assuming that’s mostly ‘good’ weight, he might be showing up to fall camp physically ready to take on Big Ten tacklers.
The only issue real issue for Parker at this point is who’s in front of him. Jordan Marshall and former Alabama back Justice Haynes will form a 1-2 punch, with Ben Hall serving as their main relief off the bench. Still, Michigan loves to make sure the entire running back room eats. Look for Parker to get some late run in already-decided contests this fall before outshining his recruiting rankings in a year or two.
Most Under-The-Rader on Defense
Defensive Tackle Travis Moten (6-foot-6, 296 lbs)
Moten’s ranking is similar to Parker’s: a middling three-star to 247, but just outside the top-300 in their composite. He’s also similar in that his listed weight on Michigan’s official roster is heavier (by 40+ pounds!) than his recruiting profile.
Moten’s high school stats are absurd. He had 95 tackles, 30 TFLs, and 19.5 sacks as a senior for Fern Creek in Louisville. He’s long-limbed and, by his high school coach’s account, an incredibly coachable hard worker. He’s also got the secret cheat code for defensive line recruits: a wrestling background. It shows in his pad level and will do wonders for his ability to gain leverage against interior offensive linemen at the next level.
Like his more highly-touted counterpart, Marshall, Moten will need some time with Esposito to refine his technique, but keep an eye on his development. He’s got the speed and motor to generate pass rush. If he continues his current physical trajectory, it’s not unreasonable to think he could approach a Grant-like presence on the interior. A lofty goal, to be sure, but that’s what recruiting profiles are all about!
Most ‘Harbaugh’ Recruit
Tight End/Fullback Eli Owens (6-foot-1, 223 lbs)
It’s Owens for one simple reason: he cannot wait to play fullback for the University of Michigan. He’s cited current key offensive cog Max Bredeson as an inspiration and will have a chance to learn under Bredeson’s watch before succeeding him next year.
While Michigan missed out on their more traditional tight end target Andrew Olesh (Penn State), Owens is an incredibly valuable player in his stead. He’ll need a year to put on some good weight. Ideally, you probably want him around 240-250 – before getting a chance to throw that weight around as a lead-blocker and sneaky pass-catching threat. He should eventually fill Bredeson’s shoes nicely as the latest in a proud H-Back lineage including former Wolverines Sione Houma, Henry Poggi, and Khalid “Hammering Panda” Hill.
Main Image: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
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