Recruiting Roundup: Michigan turning up the heat for four-star Notre Dame commit

Multiple players committed elsewhere are warming up to the idea of playing for the Michigan Wolverines, including a highly coveted player committed to Notre Dame. That and more in today’s Recruiting Roundup:

Commitments are a tricky thing nowadays. It feels like nothing is set in stone until a recruit shows up on campus enrolled for classes.

In this ever-confusing era, the Michigan Wolverines are doing a good job of pursuing options. Here’s which high schoolers are on their radar:

Morgan makes in-home visit to Notre Dame commit

Michigan knows it’s never too early for flip season. The Wolverines are already hard at work on 2026 four-star cornerback Chaston Smith , who gave Notre Dame a verbal pledge early last month.

In fact, Michigan secondary coach LaMar Morgan made an in-home visit with Smith this past week and impressed him and his family.

“It went really good,” Smith’s brother and trainer, Penny Smith, told On3’s EJ Holland . “Coach Morgan kept it real and is big on development.”

The Chattanooga (TN.) McCallie School product has visited Michigan in the past, and Morgan would love to get him back on campus at some point this offseason.

Chaston expressed high interest in Michigan before his commitment to Notre Dame.

“I like the fanbase,” Chaston said. “They always have big crowds, especially when they play Ohio State. It impresses me a lot that they put guys in the NFL. That’s something I might want to be a part of.”

Eli Owens, an incoming freshman tight end, is familiar with Chaston, as they played 7-on-7 together in Tennessee. Owen’s recruiting hat will certainly remain on as Michigan attempts to flip Chaston’s commitment.

TE eyes spring visit

Michigan’s coaching staff has been staying busy during the contact period window, seeing recruits all over the country (including Hawaii…which must be nice). Denver (CO.) Mullen 2026 tight end Mason Bonner was just one of the dozens and dozens of prospects to receive a visit from the Wolverines, and it was a large contingent of Michigan coaches — Sherrone Moore, Steve Casula, Tony Alford and Sean Magee.

The number of coaches that visited Bonner stood out to him and his family.

“It means a lot,” Bonner told The Michigan Insider’s Brice Marich . “It was great talking to them. I had a good time learning more about Michigan football. The main thing we talked about is life after football and the internships and opportunities that I will have.”

Bonner has visited Michigan in the past and is planning a visit for this spring around St. Patrick’s Day.

The Wolverines are heavily recruiting other tight ends in this class at the moment, but Bonner will certainly be a major factor should guys like five-star Brock Harris and four-star Matt Ludwig and others decide to commit elsewhere.

Michigan pushing for 2027 QB

Trae Taylor’s offseason has been extremely busy. Coaches from Michigan, Texas A&M , Illinois and others have visited to see the 2027 quarterback throw in January. Plenty of others have visited Lake in the Hills (IL.) Carmel Catholic recently to check in with his coach.

The heavily recruited quarterback holds offers from Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon and the Wolverines, among more than 30 others. He has visited Michigan more than any other school, stopping by campus a reported 13 times already.

Taylor returned to Ann Arbor Jan. 12.

“They keep inviting me back and, with it being such a close school to us, we figure, ‘Why not make the trip?’” Taylor told On3’s Ethan McDowell . “I’ve got so many people in the state of Michigan alone that, when I go back, I see somebody new every time.”

Taylor talked football with offensive analyst Josh Sinagoga on his most recent visit. They have a growing relationship, and Taylor wanted to spend this visit him, talking football and discussing new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey. They broke down what the scheme will look like and learned some “good stuff” from Sinagoga.

Lindsey and Taylor already knew each other before he took the Michigan job, as he offered him when he coached for North Carolina. Thanks to that early connection, they already have a foundation for a bond in Ann Arbor.

“I really liked him before he left for Michigan,” Taylor said. “I thought he was a really good coach.”

Taylor plans on making another trip to Ann Arbor in the spring to watch practice. With him “ideally” wanting to make a decision sometime this year, these visits are important for the Wolverines to stay in the race.

Quick Hitters

• Despite a commitment to Tennessee, 2026 three-star defensive lineman Tyson Bacon posted his gratitude for receiving an offer from Michigan. With pledges meaning less and less every day, maybe Moore and Co. will get Bacon to flip.

• Portage (MI.) Northern 2026 four-star offensive lineman Gregory Patrick has set an official visit to Michigan for June 20-22, according to 247Sports’ Allen Trieu . He will also officially visit Notre Dame the weekend prior, as well as Michigan State the weekend of June 6.