As Kyle Whittingham heads into his first season as head coach in 2026, he has only a four-star wide receiver to pair with star QB prospect Bryce Underwood. But according to a Sports Illustrated analyst, this could soon change with a flip.

Trent Knoop of SI.com believes that there are not one but two candidates who could flip their commitment. Michigan would welcome another star to add to Quentin Burrell's receiving locker room. But that being said, flipping is easier said than done.

"The two candidates are five-star cornerback Joshua Dobson and wide receiver Dakota Guerrant. Dobson," Knoop recently wrote as a part of his three bold predictions. "...Guerrant, the in-state standout. Guerrant committed to Oregon before taking his official visit to Michigan. Guerrant has been to Ann Arbor several times, and the message has been the same. He loves Michigan."

Not too long ago, Michigan successfully flipped Bryce Underwood's commitment from LSU to Michigan. Following the five-star QB's suit, Trent Knoop's SI.com report believes a wide receiver now could be flipped as well.

As per Roundtable Sports, Guerrant has visited Ann Arbor 17 times, more than any other program. But still, Michigan's recruiting pitch looks very different after Sherrone Moore's departure in December.

Now, the new staff must defend that long-built home-field advantage against national recruiting powers like Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks football, a Big Ten rival of the Wolverines.

Flipping the Harper Woods High prospect would certainly be something. The junior All-American caught 55 passes last year for 1,074 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Momentum may not be gone for Michigan just yet. If Trent Knoop's latest prediction proves accurate, Markus Guerrant could still end up flipping to the Michigan Wolverines football, with the analyst suggesting the Wolverines could manage something special.

No Michigan player is predicted to flip their commitment

Whittingham is already making an early statement as the Wolverines have secured commitments from prospects they prioritized from the start, including offensive linemen Louis Esposito and Jakari Lipsey.

The momentum has not stopped there. Michigan also beat out rival Ohio State Buckeyes football for four-star cornerback Monsanna Torbert Jr.

In the same SI.com report, Trent Knoop predicted the Wolverines will not only hold onto those commitments but also avoid any late recruiting flips before signing day.

"I'm predicting there will be zero movement of players leaving Ann Arbor, and all 20 current commits will sign with Michigan," Knoop boldly predicted.

That would be no small achievement. Michigan Wolverines football has not made it through a recruiting cycle without losing at least one commitment since the 2021 class under Jim Harbaugh.

If Kyle Whittingham's first class stays intact, it would mark the program's first flip-free recruiting haul in five years.

Read more at the Michigan Football Community

Written by

Aadesh Dhote

Edited by

Rudra Dubey