Is the 2025 recruiting class the best in Michigan Football history?

Is Michigan’s 2025 recruiting class the best in program history? With elite quarterback Bryce Underwood and other top-100 recruits, this class has the makings of a blockbuster. But how does it compare to past star-studded classes? We break it all down:

Welcome to Michigan Musings! Every Monday — at least until the start of football season — this will serve as your prime source for all things Michigan Wolverines ; a weekly digest featuring thoughts and commentary on (mostly) the top stories from the week that was. Similar to a newsletter (Brewsletter?), this will feature an assortment of stories and opinions from football to basketball to hockey to pop culture and everything in between.

Grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and let’s dive in.

Is this the best Michigan recruiting class ever?

With four-star offensive lineman Ty Haywood officially signing with the Wolverines last Wednesday, many are postulating this is the best recruiting haul in program history. Undeniably star-studded, the 2025 class features quarterback Bryce Underwood — the best player in the country across all recruiting sites not named Rivals — marking the first time the consensus top player has chosen Michigan since Rashan Gary in 2016. The 2025 class also represents the first time Michigan signed six top-100 recruits since 2017. However, does all of this equal GOAT status?

Looking back through the years, Michigan has landed a handful of era-defining classes. Some were accentuated by their depth, while others relied upon the stars at the top. Unfortunately, composite data pre-2010 is incomplete, so apologies to the rockstar class of 2001 and the classes from 2003-06. Also, it is impossible to rank the 2025 class against others without the clarity of time and the benefit of hindsight without being boring and generic (“This class is ranked higher, so *pushes up glasses* they were the better class!”).

So for this exercise, I analyzed each class using the 247Sports’ composite for a more complete evaluation and categorized the classes into tiers. From there, we can sort out where the 2025 class belongs and discuss how the other classes have aged.

The First Year Tier

Most recruiting classes suffer when a new coach takes over. (Especially if that new coach is anti-headset). Michigan’s last three head coaches have seen their initial class be their weakest due to the condensed recruiting timeline and lack of established relationships.

2011 – National Rank: 30

Brady Hoke proved himself to be a better recruiter than head coach, but his first class was the weakest of the last 16 years. There were no players ranked inside the top-100 nationally, and only three made the top-250, Justice Hayes, Brennen Beyer and Blake Countess. The hidden gem of the class, and the saving grace, was three-star Frank Clark.

2015 – National Rank: 37

Jim Harbaugh’s first class at Michigan featured one player in the top-100. Kudos to anyone who remembers wide receiver Brian Cole (ranked No. 72) who finished his brief Wolverine career with one catch for -1 yard.

The class featured three more players (Zach Gentry, Tyree Kinnell, Grant Newsome) ranked inside the top-250, but is best known for the gems mined in the middle like Karan Higdon and offensive tackle Jon Runyan Jr.

2024 – National Rank: 16

This class is still largely to be determined, but we can already evaluate a few things from Sherrone Moore’s inaugural group that was mainly done with Jim Harbaugh still around. Running back Jordan Marshall (No. 78) was the only top-100 player and is proving worthy of the ranking, if not undervalued. The class also featured a handful of top-250 players — Jadyn Davis, Andrew Sprague, Brady Prieskorn, Lugard Edokpayi, Jo’Ziah Edmond and Blake Frazier. Not to mention, the depth pieces of Cole Sullivan, Mason Curtis and Hogan Hansen all appear to be key pieces moving forward.

The Final Year Tier

With a foot out the door, Michigan’s last three coaches have lost ground on the recruiting trail in their final seasons with the program.

2023 – National Rank: 17

With a plethora of returners and a suffocating amount of smoke surrounding his inevitable return to the NFL, Harbaugh’s final full class was arguably his weakest. The class was headlined by five players inside the top-250, but zero inside the top-100. Of the five players, No. 129 Enow Etta was the headliner and only three of the top-five are still on the team entering 2025 (Etta, Jyaire Hill, Brandyn Hillman). However, this class could still rewrite its place in history with players Evan Link, Trey Pierce, Cam Brandt, Frederick Moore and Semaj Morgan all showing flashes.

2010 – National Rank: 17

Rich Rodriguez’s final class never delivered as expected, although a few key players helped lay the foundation for the Hoke years. This class featured two top-100 recruits, Devin Gardner and Demar Dorsey. Dorsey never worked out due to off-the-field issues, but Gardner provided some of the brightest moments in the darkest times while in Ann Arbor. While this class featured only one other top-250 recruit (Cullen Christian), it also included Jake Ryan, Drew Dileo and Courtney Avery, whose 2011 interception sealed Michigan’s first win over Ohio State in eight years.

2014 – National Rank: 20

Hoke’s final class certainly did not leave the cupboard bare for Harbaugh. The 2014 class featured two top-100 players — eventual Heisman finalist Jabrill Peppers, and Drake Harris. Not to mention. four other players inside the top-250 including do-it-all utility linemen Mason Cole and Bryan Mone. Depth recruits Chase Winovich, Juwann Bushell-Beaty and Wilton Speight all left their mark on the program, as would punter Blake O’Neill, albeit, for the wrong reason.

The Confusing Tier

These four classes are confounding. Yes, stars matter, but these misevaluations in terms of talent rankings border on malpractice. Despite the confusion and ordering, each class delivered cornerstone pieces even if the top-100 talent did not. Cream doesn’t always rise to the top.

2012 – National Rank: 6

The sixth-best class in 2012 was highlighted by four top-100 players — Kyle Kalis, Ondre Pipkins, Joe Bolden and Erik Magnusson. Bolden was solid, but Kalis and Magnusson may have led to more broken remotes in 2016 than Dom Giudice last season. As for Ondre Pipkins, his name most frequently comes up from people exclaiming, “Who the hell is Ondre Pipkins?” But digging deeper into the class reveals eight more players inside the top-250, including James Ross, Chris Wormley, Dennis Norfleet, Amara Darboh and Jarrod Wilson. Other players of note are Jehu Chesson, Devin Funchess, Ben Braden, Jeremy Clark and Sione Houma.

2020 – National Rank: 10

Can you name the one top-100 recruit from the 2020 class? It’s not Blake Corum. It’s not Braiden McGregor. It’s not A.J. Henning, Kalel Mullings or Makari Paige, either. Andrew Gentry was the lone top-100 player. The other players listed before him were among the eight others inside of the top-250. Beyond that, this class also featured Zak Zinter, Roman Wilson, Jaylen Harrell and Kris Jenkins. Foundational pieces for a national championship three years later were spread throughout this class.

2018 – National Rank: 22

The 2018 class is one of only three recruiting classes since 2010 that featured zero top-100 players. Unlike the other two in this category — and the other two absent top-100 talent (2011, 2023) — this class was not hurting for star power at the top or bottom. The top-ranked player was Aidan Hutchinson, whose greatness requires no elaboration. Other players in the top half of this class were solid (Jalen Mayfield, Cameron McGrone, Ryan Hayes), but the bottom feeders are what makes this class so unique. Five of the bottom six players in this class were Michael Barrett, Luke Schoonmaker, Hassan Haskins, Ronnie Bell and Jake Moody. You can’t write about the revival of the program post-2020 without Hutch or the bottom five.

2013 – National Rank: 4

Initially, I had this group in the blockbuster tier. After all, this class fit the parameters, but the jewel in Hoke’s recruiting crown could not beat the confusing allegations.

The aforementioned top-six players in this class were Derrick Green, Patrick Kugler, Dymonte Thomas, Shane Morris, Kyle Bosch and David Dawson. A big ol’ cup of meh. Saving this class, however, were pillar players that helped launch the Harbaugh era such as Jourdan Lewis, Taco Charlton and Mike McCray. And less heralded recruits Jake Butt, De’Veon Smith, Ben Gedeon, Mo Hurst, Delano Hill, Channing Stribling and Khalid Hill rounded out the class.

The More with Less Tier

Now we are getting to the heavy hitters. This tier is reserved for classes that finished inside the top-15 nationally but featured less than five players in the top-100. Classes that undersold how much they were going to overdeliver for the maize and blue. Classes that fueled a program revival and a national championship that could each be argued as the best or most valuable single class in a more traditional sense.

2022 – National Rank: 9

Despite already losing three of the eight players in the top-250 to the transfer portal, this class was still a home run. The top-100 headliners were Will Johnson, Derrick Moore and Keon Sabb. After the loss of the top two receivers in the class — Tyler Morris (we’ll always have Pasadena) and Darrius Clemons — Zeke Berry, Jimmy Rolder and Mason Graham rounded out players in the top-250. Just missing the cut were a pair of soon-to-be NFL first-rounders, Colston Loveland and Kenneth Grant. This class did not feature the depth of others, but FOUR total first-round draft picks in a single recruiting cycle is a generational feat.

2019 – National Rank: 8

This class may have only featured three top-100 players, but they were all inside the top-50. Dax Hill, Christopher Hinton and Zach Charbonnet were three of the most coveted players in the country, and although it didn’t work out for Charbonnet in Ann Arbor, it was initially a big win on the trail. Joining those players were seven others inside the top-250, including Mazi Smith, Trente Jones, Cornelius Johnson and Trevor Keegan. However, the impact of this class stretched far beyond the top. Karsen Barnhart, Cade McNamara, Giles Jackson, Quinten Johnson, David Ojabo (OH-JAH-BO!), Erick All, Mike Morris, D.J. Turner, and one of the best defensive backs in Michigan history, Mike Sainristil (who was the fifth-lowest rated player), were all in this class.

2021 – National Rank: 13

The 2021 class is one of the most important classes in Michigan history. Sure, other classes have more top-end talent or depth throughout, but this class wasn’t barren either. Donovan Edwards, Giovanni El-Hadi and Junior Colson were all top-100 players, and Rayshaun Benny also found himself in the top-250. Further down the line, this class also included T.J. Guy and Rod Moore.

But what makes this group special is that it delivered a top recruit in the form of the best quarterback in Michigan history, J.J. McCarthy. As a recruit, McCarthy sent a simple tweet to reassure fans that hope was on the horizon. He then, of course, led the program to its first national championship since 1997.

The Blockbuster Tier

Finally, we have reached the mountaintop — at least on signing day — for Michigan recruiting classes. These are the blockbusters. Each of these classes finished inside the top-10 nationally and featured six players ranked inside the top-100. Unlike the 2013 class whose confusing retrospective now outweighs the signing day serotonin, these historic hauls featured headliners who delivered as well as depth players who carved out significant roles. However, the success rate isn’t as high as you might think for these all-star classes.

2017 – National Rank: 5

The last time the Wolverines had a class with six top-100 recruits was in 2017. This class was headlined by a similar in-state hero, Donovan Peoples-Jones. The other top-100 players were Aubrey Solomon, Cesar Ruiz, Luiji Vilain, Drew Singleton and Ambry Thomas — hits and misses. The rest within the top 250 featured a who’s who of forgotten transfers: Jordan Anthony, Chuck Filiaga, Tarik Black, Dylan McCaffrey, Oliver Martin and James Hudson. Thankfully, Nico Collins and Josh Ross were also among the top-250 to avoid a complete failure.

The bottom of the class featured prominent future players, Donovan Jeter, Andrew Stueber, Brad Hawkins, Kwity Paye, Ben Mason and Brad Robbins. Overall, the class struggled to live up to the hype they came in with and is more remembered for the players who left than those who stayed.

2016 – National Rank: 8

This class signified Harbaugh was ready to take college football by storm. The 2016 class was headlined by the top player in the country and top recruit in Michigan history, Rashan Gary. Joining Gary as top-100 players were Ben Bredeson, Brandon Peters, David Long, Devin Asiasi and Michael Onwenu — more hits than misses. Lavert Hill was ranked inside the top-250, but this class actually gained momentum further down the board. Devin Bush, Chris Evans, Khaleke Hudson, Josh Uche, and the current captain of the Minnesota Vikings, Josh Metellus, were all ranked in the middle or bottom of this class.

2025 – National Rank 6

Right now, the 2025 class is on the mountaintop, but the confusing allegations are always lurking. On paper, this class is better than the 2016 or 2017 class based on average star rating per player (92.18) and features a top quarterback who is even more heralded than McCarthy. Quarterback Bryce Underwood is the second-highest recruit in program history — only trailing Rashan Gary — and Andrew Babalola is the highest-rated offensive lineman to ever commit to the Wolverines.

Furthermore, this class has a staggering 12 players ranked inside the top-250. However, to be the GOAT, this class is going to need less heralded players like Eli Owens, Julius Holly and Jamar Browder to hit in conjunction with the stars in order to claim the top spot.