A contingent of highly sought after prospects were in Ann Arbor for the final official visit weekend of the summer, and the positive feedback continues to roll in. We have that and more in this edition of the Recruiting Roundup:
Michigan was hoping to make a lasting impression on the all-star lineup of prospects that officially visited Ann Arbor for Victors Weekend. The early returns are incredibly favorable, as the Wolverines already landed the commitment of one recruit who visited last weekend in 2026 four-star defensive lineman Titan Davis .
In today’s Recruiting Roundup, we will discuss a few of the most notable reactions from players that visited last weekend.
Elite edge rusher details ‘great’ visit
2026 four-star edge rusher Carter Meadows was among the handful of defensive linemen on campus last weekend, and he spoke highly of the Wolverines to On3’s EJ Holland ($).
“The visit was great,” Meadows said. “Spending time with the players and also feeling the culture and brotherhood of the program for a couple days was great.”
Following this trip, Meadows admitted Michigan is “definitely high” on his list, which also includes Ohio State, Penn State and South Carolina. He does not have a set decision date, but he is hoping to lock that in soon.
Defensive line coach Lou Esposito is hoping to build on what is already a very impressive defensive line class. Michigan already has commitments from the aforementioned Davis, as well as four-stars McHale Blade and Allister Valejo and three-star Tariq Boney. Meadows would be the best individual player of an already great haul in this class, and one of the best overall players in Michigan’s entire 2026 cycle.
Michigan a ‘top school’ for another four-star edge rusher
Michigan hosted another top edge target last weekend in 2026 four-star Jackson Ford , and according to On3’s Holland ($), Ford had a good experience.
“It was fun,” Ford said. “I spent the weekend with the coaches. I got to talk to coach Espo (Lou Esposito) and coach Wink (Martindale) a little bit more. I got to hang out with some of the current players and kids that are already committed to the school as well. It was a good time.”
Ford sees himself as a good fit at Michigan, citing the versatility of the players at the edge position in Ann Arbor. However, Michigan has stiff competition from the likes of Wisconsin, Penn State and Ohio State. Still, the Wolverines sit in a good spot as he enters crunch time.
“They are a top school for me,” Ford said. “They are going to be in my final decision. It’s a school that checks all the boxes. It’s really going to come down to the little things when I compare them to other schools.”
Ford is set to announce his commitment this Friday, so we’ll know soon enough where he is headed.
Michigan remains in the mix for elite WR
Momentum seems to be the key takeaway following Victor’s Weekend, and that word also fits for the recruitment of 2026 four-star wide receiver Calvin Russell . The Wolverines are making a big push for the Miami native and have seemingly become a legitimate contender for him.
According to On3’s Ethan McDowell ($), Russell’s official visit to Michigan “went about as well as it possibly could have,” and that “one source even mentioned that Michigan might hold the edge.”
Russell has also taken official visits to Miami, Florida State, Florida, Oregon and LSU . Given he is a Florida native and is a Miami legacy recruit — his mother was a star athlete there — the Wolverines landing Russell would be unexpected, but an absolute coup.
At 6-foot-5 and 195 pounds, Russell is ranked the No. 47 overall player in the 2026 class. He will be announcing his commitment on July 5.
Quick Hitters
- Michigan was in the mix for 2026 four-star linebacker Shadarius Toodle , but he recently flipped from Auburn to Georgia.
- 2026 four-star edge rusher Trenton Henderson eliminated Michigan from his top group earlier this week, narrowing it down to Florida, Texas and LSU.
- 2026 four-star safety Jordan Deck , once viewed as a Michigan lean, committed to Baylor on Tuesday.