Michigan remains in the mix for a slew of top prospects as it looks to flesh out its 2025 recruiting class.
With the dead period on the horizon, the Wolverines are hosting one more big round of visits, as plenty of blue-chip recruits flocked to Ann Arbor this week. That included Savannah (Ga.) IMG Academy four-star running back Donovan Johnson, who got his first look at U-M on Wednesday.
“It was great,” Johnson told The Wolverine’s EJ Holland of the visit. “I got down there and talked to the whole coaching staff. I got a chance to talk to Coach (Sherrone) Moore. I had a really long conversation with Coach Tony (Alford). Great people. Great school. Great atmosphere. I have no negative words for it. I was there all day. I watched the practices and went to The Big House. It was just great.”
The Wolverines are now heavily trending for Johnson, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM). Three picks have been logged on Saturday in favor of Michigan landing the burner — who would become the second RB commit for the Big Ten program this cycle if he were to choose the Maize and Blue.
Michigan did not make Johnson’s top five schools back in October, as he named Georgia, Tennessee, Florida State, USC and Ohio State as his top contenders. He told On3’s Chad Simmons that he was getting closer to a decision, but is still currently the sixth highest-ranked RB on the board this cycle.
“Anything could happen at any time,” Johnson told Simmons last fall. “I am searching for that family atmosphere. It is about my bond with the staff, how I feel around the head coach and running back and what culture fits me best. The academics will be important too. I want to major in engineering, so the overall development on and off the field will help me make my decision.”
Johnson is the No. 239 overall prospect and No. 15 RB in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 33 player in Florida.
Wolverines own top-15 recruiting class this cycle
Michigan inked the No. 15 class in the nation last cycle, and the 2025 pledge list currently checks in at the same position, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.
Montgomery Village (Md.) Gonzaga four-star safety Kainoa Winston is one of three commits for the Wolverines this month. He announced his decision on June 14 and is the second top-100 pledge in the class, flanking Oak Park (Ill.) Fenwick four-star defensive lineman Nate Marshall — the No. 45 prospect and No. 4 DL in the nation.
Michigan picked up an RB pledge on June 15 in the form of Marrero (La.) Archbishop Shaw three-star Jasper Parker. Palatine (Ill.) four-star DL Jaylen Williams also committed earlier this month and is one of three D-linemen in the class, alongside Marshall and Howell (Mich.) four-star Bobby Kanka.
The class also features Fort Myers (Fla.) Bishop Verot four-star quarterback Carter Smith, the No. 16 QB in the cycle. He’s currently the top commit on the offensive side of the ball for U-M, with Franklin (Mich.) Wylie E. Groves four-star IOL Avery Gach right behind.
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