Michigan is still in the hunt for an elite WR that is set to make his commitment this week. We detail that story and more in today’s Recruiting Roundup:
The Michigan Wolverines are picking up some serious steam on the recruiting trail, as they landed four commitments in the past week alone. More good news could be on the way, as a handful of other top targets are set to announce their decisions this week, including one of the best players in the entire class.
Elite WR details final schools prior to upcoming commitment
Calvin Russell is among the top wide receivers in the 2026 class. The 6-foot-5, 195-pounder from Miami, Florida is a Top-50 overall talent on 247Sports’ composite rankings and took an official visit to Michigan a couple weeks ago.
Russell is now gearing up to announce his commitment this Saturday. He spoke with On3’s Steve Wiltfong ($) prior to his big day.
“I have an idea but it’s not really set in stone,” Russell said. “(My top schools are) Michigan, Oregon, LSU, Florida State, Miami, schools like that.”
Russell took official visits to all the schools he mentioned, but the Wolverines were able to get the final one. That may bode well for Ron Bellamy and company as we head into the final stretch of this recruitment.
“I had a nice time with Bryce Underwood,” Russell said of his time at Michigan. “He can throw it so I felt like it was a good fit.
“The life after football was a big thing with my official visit. Other than that, just the guys being around, great people around the building.”
Malakai Lee details commitment to Michigan
The Wolverines picked up a monster on the recruiting trail on Friday night when 2026 four-star offensive lineman Malakai Lee announced his commitment. The 6-foot-6, 318-pounder from Hawaii chose Michigan over Alabama, Georgia and Texas.
Now, he is opening up on why he sided with Michigan, detailing the decision with On3’s Steve Wiltfong ($).
“I’m really lucky to have been recruited by elite schools, but Michigan is special to me because coach Newsome, coach Moore and the staff have always made me and my family a priority,” Lee said. “I was able to go there four times and coach Newsome and coach Moore came out to see me every chance they had. Also, going to the Big House for my first college game was something that stuck with me. I could see myself playing there.
“I’m excited to be a part of this team, and experience the culture of Michigan football. Coach Moore is building something special and I want to be a part of it.”
Lee is the third offensive lineman to commit to Michigan in the 2026 class, along with four-star Bear McWhorter and three-star Marky Walbridge.
RB details why he committed to the Wolverines
Michigan recently landed a surprise commitment from three-star running back Jonathan Brown . He wasn’t on a lot of team’s radars, but the Wolverines see the potential in him. As a native of Columbus, Ohio, he has always been familiar for Michigan.
“Growing up in Columbus, I was immersed in The Game from a young age,” Brown told Sports Illustrated . “However, during my time on the recruiting trail, I learned to set aside my fan emotions and concentrate on finding the right fit and people who believe in me. That’s what I’ve found with coach Alford and coach Moore.”
So what can Michigan fans expect from Brown? Someone that fits perfectly into the culture the Wolverines have built over the last few years.
“They can anticipate a dedicated individual, one who will give their all on the field and in the classroom,” Brown said. “Someone who will be apart of the community and proudly represent the university.
Since Michigan landed his commitment last week, the Wolverines have landed several more 2026 recruits. Michigan recruiting is on a heater, and more commitments are coming.
“It seems that since my commitment, we’ve been on a roll with new commitments, we’re building something special and I’m eager to see how everything turns out for our class,” Brown said.
This 2026 class is shaping up to be a special one, and Brown is a player that fans should be excited about.
Quick Hitters
- REMINDER: 2026 four-star cornerback Andre Clarke will be announcing his commitment today around 2 p.m. Michigan holds all the Crystal Balls to land him.
- 2026 three-star wide receiver Jerquaden Guilford was supposed to announce his commitment last Friday, but he instead announced that he would be postponing making his decision. He officially visited Michigan, along with Ole Miss, Ohio State, Purdue and Indiana.
- 2026 four-star edge rusher Jackson Ford committed to Penn State on Friday over Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin.