March madness is here, and it's time for a recruiting roundup! The Michigan Wolverines are gearing up for a busy few months as they welcome some of the top prospects in the country to Ann Arbor. Among them is a five-star cornerback who's committed to an SEC powerhouse but is now eyeing a visit to the Great Lake State.
Five-Star SEC Commit Eyes Michigan Visit
Donte Wright, a 6-foot-1, 170-pound cornerback from Long Beach, California, is one of the most coveted players in the 2027 class. Wright has been committed to Georgia since last June, but that hasn't stopped Michigan from making its move. The Wolverines are among the schools actively pursuing Wright, who is ranked as the No. 30 overall recruit by 247Sports.
In a recent interview, Wright expressed his interest in Michigan and his eagerness to visit Ann Arbor. He mentioned that the Wolverines have reached out, and he's planning an official visit.
"They've reached out a tad bit," Wright said. "I feel like they're still trying to get their staff together, so I should hear from them more a little later, but soon. They've reached out, said their hellos a little bit, but that's about it. I'm trying to plan an OV with them, for sure."
The new coaching staff's visit to his high school in January left a positive impression, and Wright believes he could see the field early in his freshman year.
"I feel like they're building something over there, and that's somewhere I feel like I could play very early at," Wright said. "They like trying to play freshmen early."
Wright hopes to make a final decision and end his recruitment in July after taking his official visits. Other schools like Oregon, USC, Oklahoma, and UCLA are also in the running.
Five-Star DL's Ann Arbor Visits
Another highly-rated recruit, Marcus Fakatou, a 6-foot-6, 275-pound defensive lineman, has also set his sights on Michigan. He has scheduled two visits to Ann Arbor: April 11-12 for an unofficial visit and June 15-17 for his official visit. These dates are significant because they fall on a Monday-Wednesday, making it likely that Fakatou will be the only recruit on campus for an official visit during that time.
Fakatou's confidence in the Wolverines' coaching staff, particularly the relationship he's built with the new defensive line coach and coach Powell, has solidified Michigan's lead in his recruitment.
"I'm just very confident with it," Fakatou said. "The relationship I built over there with the new d-line coach (Larry Black) and coach (Lewis) Powell, they’ve just done a good job recruiting me. I feel really confident with them."
Notre Dame is also in the mix, but the departure of defensive line coach Al Washington might have shifted the dynamics.
Four-Star CB's Michigan Visit
Darius Johnson, a 6-foot-1, 160-pound cornerback from California, has locked in his official visit to Michigan for the weekend of June 19. This visit is the only one scheduled for Johnson, who received an offer from Michigan in January from new corners coach Jernaro Gilford. The Wolverines' success in developing defensive backs and the strong relationship Johnson has with the coaching staff, including Gilford and defensive coordinator Jay Hill, have made Michigan a top choice.
"What stands out is how much they win and they are known for winning and putting many DBs out," Johnson said. "It’s just a great program overall. I have a great relationship with all the staff as I have been familiar since they were over in Utah. Coach Jernaro Gilford offered me my first offer freshman year when he was at BYU, so he was the first coach to really see the potential in me and we have had a great relationship since."
Johnson is also expected to take an unofficial visit to Ann Arbor on March 28 to attend a spring practice. Other schools to watch in this recruitment include Oregon, Cal, Oklahoma, UCLA, and USC.
Quick Hitters
- Jayshon Gibson, a 2027 four-star running back, has scheduled two visits to Michigan: April 10-12 and June 5-7 (official visit).
- Bryce Kish, a 2027 in-state athlete, is set to officially visit Michigan from June 12-14. He currently doesn't hold a composite ranking but is ranked No. 60 overall by On3.
- Danny Lang, a 2027 four-star cornerback, will take a three-day unofficial visit to Michigan from April 17-19.
