Over the next four weeks, double-digit 2025 targets and commits are set to be in Ann Arbor, as Michigan is expected to host four key recruits on official visits next weekend.
The Wolverine takes a deep dive into where the reigning College Football Playoff winners currently stand with each prospect, 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.
Top 100 OT Douglas Utu, Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman
Industry Ranking: No. 48 Overall, No. 3 Interior Offensive Lineman, No. 2 in Nevada
RPM: Michigan (31.2%), Washington (20.6%), Alabama (17.7%), USC (10.0%)
Past U-M Visit: March 30, 2024
Michigan currently has the lead for Douglas Utu, per the RPM, by a small margin after the program hosted the junior and his family for an unofficial visit two months ago during spring camp practice. Utu had known head coach Sherrone Moore for almost two years prior to the trip because of holding a U-M offer for that amount of time. He and his loved ones have gotten close to Moore, and the latter’s promotion to head coach helped further pique the interest. This offseason, Utu has also built a relationship with new offensive line coach Grant Newsome, who’s made two appearances at Bishop Gorman since being elevated in the winter. Utu’s two offensive linemen teammates, Top 100 SJ Alofaituli and four-star Alai Kalaniuvalu, are also expected to take official visits to Ann Arbor next month. Washington brought in Utu for an official visit in early May, and Michigan will proceed an official visit to Alabama on June 7-9. USC, Nebraska, and others are pushing as well.
Top 100 WR Derek Meadows, Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman
Industry Ranking: No. 35 Overall, No. 6 Wide Receiver, No. 1 in Nevada
RPM: Notre Dame (84.3%), Alabama (4.6%), Michigan (3.9%), LSU (2.5%)
Past U-M Visit: April 20, 2024
Holding family roots in the Detroit area, Derek Meadows had not visited Ann Arbor until he took in The Big House atmosphere in late April for Michigan’s spring game. He left feeling like a priority for the staff, with wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy and Moore spending ample time with the four-star. As reported on several occasions, the Wolverines are vying to land a wide receiver who can line up on the outside and be a bigger-bodied weapon. At 6-foot-5, 185 pounds, Meadows is a deep threat with a large catch radius and excellent movement skills in the open field. Multiple players on U-M’s roster are peer-recruiting Meadows as he’s heard from wide receivers Tyler Morris and I’Marion Stewart, whom the junior has known from his time playing youth football for the Naperville (Ill.) Patriots, and former Bishop Gorman running back teammate Micah Ka’apana. Meadows also has official visits set to Georgia (June 7-9), Notre Dame (June 14-16), LSU (June 18-20), and Alabama (June 22-24).
Top 100 safety Kainoa Winston, Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga College
Industry Ranking: No. 99 Overall, No. 10 Safety, No. 1 in D.C.
RPM: Penn State (35.3%), North Carolina (26.5%), Michigan (15.3%), Oregon (12.7%)
Past U-M Visit: April 13, 2024
The reset of Michigan’s defensive back board has resulted in the team heavily prioritizing Kainoa Winston this offseason. A number of staff members are often in contact with Winston leading up to the official visit, including new defensive backs coach LaMar Morgan and new defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale. Winston previously mentioned to The Wolverine that he speaks to the coaches at least three times a week, so their familiarity with each other is getting stronger. The idea for Winston on the official visits, with Penn State (June 7-9), Oregon (June 14-16), and North Carolina (June 21-23) expected to bring him in following U-M, is to announce a verbal commitment in the summer and have the decision be based on development on-and-off the field. Winston has a former Gonzaga College teammate at Michigan in offensive tackle Evan Link.
On300 EDGE Marco Jones, Danville (Calif.) San Roman Valley
Industry Ranking: No. 142 Overall, No. 20 EDGE, No. 12 in California
RPM: Oregon (24.3%), Texas (17.1%), Alabama (14.6%), Michigan (12.2%)
Past U-M Visit: April 20, 2024
Marco Jones vaulted to top target status for Michigan this cycle when he made a visit to campus for the team’s annual intrasquad scrimmage. On that weekend, he and his family were able to establish connections with new defensive line coach Lou Esposito and Moore. There wasn’t a preexisting relationship between Jones and Esposito prior to the spring game, but according to Jones’ father, AJ, there’s confidence in leaving his son in Ann Arbor to be coached by Esposito. The scheme that U-M deploys, which originated from Martindale, also impressed Jones, who can rush outside, slide inside, and drop into coverage. On the visit last month, Jones was able to garner a friendship with Top 100 EDGE commit Nate Marshall as well. After his official visit to Michigan, Jones is set to venture to Alabama (June 7-9), Oregon (June 14-16), and Texas (June 21-23).
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