Plus, a top tight end included Michigan in his top list, and a Michigan commit sets two other visits.
With a few days to go before Michigan’s spring game, we got a bit of recruiting news to go over, including a Miami commit who visited Michigan this weekend, a top-200 tight end including Michigan in his top eight, and a Michigan committing setting two other visits.
Miami LB commit expands on Michigan visit
Elijah Melendez, a 2025 four-star linebacker who committed to Miami in December, has been a target for a while now. A major development happened this past weekend when Michigan hosted Melendez on a visit.
— Elijah melendez (@Babyman3J) April 15, 2024
Melendez spoke about that visit with The Wolverine’s EJ Holland ($) , offering some praise for Michigan’s strength and conditioning program.
“Everything was really good,” Melendez said. “I really learned a lot about the program and things I didn’t know about. I got to spend a lot of time with the players and every single coach on staff. I also got to watch practice. The campus was beautiful. I loved Ann Arbor. The strength and conditioning program is amazing. Coach (Justin) Tress does a great job and so does the nutritionist (Abigail O’Connor). The way everything operates in that building and the way everything is structured is amazing. It’s all business.”
On the visit, Melendez also got the chance to talk with linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary, who recruited him back when he was coaching at Tennessee . The strength of that relationship could sway Melendez to come to Ann Arbor.
“Things went really well with coach BJ,” Melendez said. “He was recruiting me at Tennessee. He’s been to my school in the past. We have a great relationship. We click really well. He really prioritizes me. He’s straight up all about business. He’s a really good coach. I liked watching film with him and all of that.”
Melendez also loved the energy Michigan players were showing in practice, and said that Michigan wants him to primarily be a MIKE linebacker. He has an official visit to Michigan set for June 14, with official visits to USC and Miami set for that month as well.
“I love everything about Michigan,” Melendez said. “I’m going to take my OVs then I’ll really know what it is. It’ll be hard to say no to Michigan. They impressed me as much as they needed to. I’m just taking my time with the process and seeing what I really want and need and what’s going to be best to get me to the NFL and prepare me for life.”
Four-star TE includes Michigan in top eight
Andrew Olesh, a 2025 four-star tight end who is reportedly visiting Michigan in June , included Michigan in his top eight earlier this week.
Top 8 Schools … @AlabamaFTBL @UMichFootball @PennStateFball @MizzouFootball @GatorsFB @FSUFootball @OleMissFB @Pitt_FB #AGTG pic.twitter.com/9zBL0vZuED
— Andrew Olesh (@a_olesh8) April 16, 2024
In an interview with 247’s Brian Dohn ($) , Olesh spoke on his logic for choosing each team in his top eight, including Michigan.
“(Tight ends) coach (Steve) Casula, when I got to Michigan, he was the first one who greeted me. He’s a really good coach,” Olesh said. “He greeted my family well. He showed me how I could fit in. He told me I could be the next Colson Loveland, so what was very nice to hear because he’s going to be a projected first or second round pick. If I could be just like him at Michigan, that would be great because he’s a really good player. He’s already got me in contact with Colston and I’ve been asking him questions.”
Olesh plans to announce his commitment this summer. He’s from Center Valley, Pennsylvania, and has already visited Penn State, but Michigan is definitely still in the running for him.
Michigan commit sets visits to two other schools
Bobby Kanka, one of the three 2025 commits Michigan has so far, is planning to visit two other schools this summer.
Citing sources close to the four-star defensive linemen from Howell, Allen Trieu with 247 ($) reported that Kanka will be making official visits to Michigan State (June 14-16) and Tennessee (June 21-23).
Trieu reported that Kanka is visiting Michigan this weekend for the spring game, and that new Michigan defensive line coach Lou Esposito, who has been in contact with Kanka, will visit him at his high school the following Monday.
Kanka has been committed since August , and considering he’s an in-state kid who grew up a Michigan fan, the Wolverines appear to be the leading candidate to ultimately land the lineman. However, fans should carefully watch MSU and Tennessee to see if those schools make any headway to potentially flip him.