Michigan’s new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey has wasted no time getting to work on the recruiting trail and has put the Wolverines in good position for a couple elite quarterbacks. Details on that and more in today’s Recruiting Roundup:
Chip Lindsey may have just been hired last month to become the Michigan Wolverines ’ new offensive coordinator, but he has hit the ground running in more ways than one. As he prepares for spring ball, he and the rest of the coaching staff were also on the road for a bulk of January meeting with their top targets on the recruiting trail.
We detail a few of those players in today’s Recruiting Roundup.
Top-100 QB rebuilding relationship with Michigan, visiting in March
Now that former 2026 quarterback commit Brady Hart has reclassified to the 2025 class and flipped to Texas A&M, Michigan is attempting to rekindle its relationship with a different Brady — four-star Brady Smigiel .
After originally listing Michigan and Florida State as his top two schools, Smigiel committed to the Seminoles last June, only to then decommit last month. His commitment came not long after Hart initially pledged to the Wolverines. With a need at the position in the class, the Wolverines have reconnected with Smigiel and are back in the running for him.
In a recent interview, he told On3s Josh Newburg , “We loved it in Ann Arbor. We really just like the tradition over there. Everything about Ann Arbor we really loved. I have a really good relationship with coach (Chip) Lindsey over there. Right when he got that job at Michigan, I was one of the first calls (he made). So just being able to rekindle that relationship I have with coach (Sherrone) Moore, and I plan on visiting there end of March.”
Smigiel also said Washington, UCLA, Auburn and South Carolina are schools he is interested in. There is no timetable for a new decision to be made, but Smigiel wants to take his official visits and go from there.
Michigan in the running for No. 1 prospect in 2027 class
Continuing the quarterback momentum, Michigan has made inroads with the top overall prospect in the 2027 class, quarterback Elijah Haven. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native recently told 247Sports that LSU, Baylor, Florida, Michigan and Florida State are the programs that he has the strongest relationships with so far.
Haven also visited Ann Arbor this past fall for a game, but “we kind of just toured the facilities,” he said. “To get back there and tour the campus and get a feel for the school is something I’m definitely looking forward to.”
Though just an underclassman, Haven’s size and athletic ability are already impressive. At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, he has the textbook build for a college quarterback — even though he’s just a soon-to-be high school junior — but his highlights show he has the speed and quickness to scramble as well as the vision for designed runs.
It’s a little early to be thinking about who the quarterback will be for the Wolverines in 2027, but they are already making good progress with Haven and four-star Trae Taylor , the latter having visited Michigan more times than any normal recruit probably would at his age.
Five-star RB discusses meeting Chip Lindsey for the first time
Five-star running back Savion Hiter recently named a top-five list of Michigan, Georgia, Ohio State, Penn State, and Tennessee.
In a recent interview with On3 , Hiter detailed how nice it was when Moore and other Michigan coaches visited with him this winter in his home state of Virginia. He also detailed a conversation they had about the offensive evolution taking place in Ann Arbor with Lindsey now calling the plays.
“It was good to connect with all of them again” Hiter said. “Coach Lindsey was a cool guy. I need to talk to him more, but it looks like they are going to be more versatile on offense, especially with a new style of quarterback with Bryce Underwood. They can run the ball and pass the ball a little more than they do.”
With the constant contact he’s been receiving, it’s safe to say Hiter is feeling the love from the Wolverines.
“I feel like I’m a priority for (Michigan),” he said. “They are a big program for running the ball. You saw it this year. They have a history of great running backs coming out of there like Blake Corum, who is from Virginia. I could see myself running in a Michigan jersey.”
As of now, Hiter plans on making a commitment after taking official visits this summer. Tentatively, he plans on taking his official visit to Ann Arbor the weekend of June 13, with Georgia, Ohio State and Tennessee also set to receive visits in June.
Quick Hitters
- 2026 three-star offensive lineman Bear McWhorter announced he will be announcing his commitment on Friday, Feb. 28. His finalists are Michigan, Alabama, Clemson, Florida and South Carolina.
- The top offensive line prospect in 2026, Jackson Cantwell, outlined the next steps in his recruitment at Nike’s “Next Ones” event to 247Sports , saying: “I’m trying to schedule my official visits … probably once I finish the OVs I’ll have a great idea of where I’m going.” His top list includes Michigan, Georgia, Missouri, Ohio State, Miami and Oregon.
- 247Sports reports that Grant Newsome has continued his productive offseason by visiting and offering 2026 four-star offensive lineman Claude Mpouma. “Coach Grant (Newsome) came up to my school that day and we had a good discussion. It means a lot. It’s another blessing and another opportunity.” Mpouma is also working on setting up a visit to Ann Arbor with his mom.