In most recruiting cycles, ESPN has been the most conservative of the services with Michigan commits, rating Wolverines prospects lower than Rivals and 247Sports. That pattern has been reversed for the class of 2027. 

Of the seven Michigan commits ranked in the ESPN 300, four players have their highest rating from ESPN. It hasn’t been too often that ESPN has led the way in grading Michigan targets in recent recruiting cycles. 

• Quarterback Kamden Lopati, Salt Lake City, 46th overall
• WR Quentin Burrell, Chicago’s Mount Carmel, 57th 
• RB Tyson Robinson, Brandon, Mississippi, 114th
• Offensive Lineman Sidney Rouleau, Gatineau, Québec, 123e

Other than these 4, three more are also ranked in the ESPN 300.

• Defensive lineman Xavier Muhammad, Houston, 132nd;
• Edge rusher Recarder Kitchen, Muskegon, 152nd; 
• Offensive tackle Jakari Lipsey, Kalamazoo, 265th. 

That’s a total of seven commitments, putting Michigan in the company of Miami, Oregon, and Florida. Texas A&M and Oklahoma lead the way with 11 ESPN 300 commits; Notre Dame has 10; Texas Tech and USC have 8 each; Ohio State has 6; and Alabama, Texas, LSU, and Ole Miss each have 4. 

Jayce Brewer, Louis Esposito, Charles Woodson Jr., and Maxwell Miles are four Michigan commits who remain outside the ESPN 300, so there is certainly room for the class ranking to rise. One of those commits has a story that stands apart from the rest. 

Brandon Star Tyson Robinson Picks Michigan

Robinson made his pledge official on May 16 at Brandon High School. The four-star prospect is ranked No. 15 nationally among running backs and No. 8 in Mississippi for the Class of 2027 by 247Sports.

The relationship with Michigan went beyond a typical recruitment. 

"Michigan has been on me since last year," Robinson told the Clarion Ledger.

But it was the family atmosphere the Wolverines established in the first meeting that made the difference. 

"It felt like a brotherhood. The first meeting that we had kind of blew up to like a family meeting," he added.

Explaining what set the Wolverines apart from the rest of the programs in his final group. Loyalty through adversity made the difference for Michigan, as Robinson’s Grade 3 hamstring tear last season scared off some programs. But Michigan saw beyond that and finally got him.

Robinson missed four games, but still totaled 1,050 rushing yards, 295 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns. The 5-foot-9, 195-pound junior provides Michigan with a rusher and receiver in the backfield, just the type of profile Michigan has employed to develop NFL-caliber running backs. 

What are your thoughts on Michigan's caliber this upcoming season?

Follow Michigan Football Community for more.

Written by

Abhay Bharti

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi