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November 22, 2025, College Park, Maryland, USA: Michigan Wolverines offensive lineman GREG CRIPPEN 51 gets ready to snap the ball. The Michigan Wolverines defeated the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium in College Park, MD on November 22, 2025. College Park USA - ZUMAp190 20251122_zsp_p190_004 Copyright: xNickxPiacentex
May 3, 2026, 3:18 PM CUT
Michigan Football Secures Commitment From In-State 4-Star Recruit
Kyle Whittingham and staff will be happy to find out that one of the four-star recruits will remain in-state and play football for the maize and blue in 2027.
Jakari Lipsey, the 6-5, 290-pound offensive tackle from Loy Norrix High School (Kalamazoo, Michigan), will travel 87 miles to Ann Arbor next fall. Lipsey becomes the first recruit for Kyle Whittingham from the State of Michigan.
Whittingham inherited Louis Esposito from Saline, Michigan, and the veteran head coach said he had plans to recruit heavily in-state.
So far, Lipsey has become the first, and hopefully for Whittingham, the first of many.
As per 247 Sports, Jakari Lipsey is the No. 3-ranked player in the State of Michigan and the 10th-ranked offensive tackle in the class of 2027.
Though the Wisconsin Badgers, LSU Tigers, and UCLA Bruins were all in the mix, the four-star offensive tackle ultimately chose the Wolverines.
“Three-sport athlete who excels as a thrower in track and field and is a good high school basketball player. Can get up and dunk at his size. Has played both ways in high school and was looked at as a defensive lineman some early on," as per the scouting summary by Allen Trieu for On3 Rivals.
However, Trieu also noted that Lipsey needs to be "more consistent play to play" and requires "diligence and development in order to reach that high ceiling.”
Assistant head coach and offensive line coach Jim Harding recruited Jakari Lipsey. After Landing Lipsey, what does the class of 2027 look like?
Where Does Michigan Rank After Landing Jakari Lipsey?
It has been a little up and down for Kyle Whittingham based on the rankings for the class of 2027.
Before adding the four-star in-state offensive tackle, Whittingham and the coaching staff lost another four-star safety commit, Darrell Mattison.
Now with the addition of Lipsey, Michigan is climbing the rankings once again. As per 247Sports, they are back in the 30th spot, having been ranked 40th before his pledge. Leapfrogging Ole Miss, who previously held that spot.
Michigan is yet to receive its first five-star commit for the class of 2027; so far, they have four players who are four-star prospects and two players who are three-star prospects.
What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.
