Recruiting Roundup: Michigan Football targeting LB that’s nearly done with 2-year mission trip

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Welcome to the Recruiting Roundup, our three-times-per-week series breaking down the latest developments on the recruiting trail for the Michigan Wolverines. We’ll keep you up to date on the top targets, the visits they take, the predictions that analysts make, and everything in between. Here’s what you need to know today…

Wolverines targeting LB that went on 2-year mission trip

To say recruiting the linebacker position has been a struggle the last couple years might be an understatement. Michigan has targeted plenty of top recruits over the last couple cycles, but haven’t found much success landing guys at the linebacker position.

But those struggles may be coming to an end with the commitment last week from 2027 four-star Frederrick Ford. He and three-star Braydon Watson make up the Wolverines’ two linebacker commitments in the class thus far, but it appears Alex Whittingham and company aren’t done just yet.

In an interesting twist, Michigan is reportedly going after a prospect in the midst of a two-year mission trip with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Originally reported by The Michigan Insider’s Steve Lorenz ($), Michigan has made contact with Weston Port, a three-star that was originally in the 2025 class that will now be a member of the 2027 class due to that mission trip.

“The Wolverines are considered a major factor here,” Lorenz wrote. “Port is expected to make his decision sometime this summer with the plan to enroll early at the college of his choice (Jan. 2027).”

Port (6-foot-2, 225 pounds) originally signed with UCLA out of high school, but he backed out of his letter of intent in May because the coaching staff that originally recruited him is no longer there. He originally held offers from elite programs like Georgia, Ohio State and Oregon, but he also had offers from Utah and BYU, signaling he has some familiarity with Whittingham and company. It also helps he took a visit to Ann Arbor during his first recruitment as well.

As a senior in 2025 at San Juan Hills in San Juan Capistrano, California, Port compiled 126 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, three pass breakups, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Michigan offers another LB in 2027

Last week, the Wolverines also extended a scholarship to 2027 three-star linebacker Cade Haug. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Katy, Texas native was committed to the in-state Texas Longhorns, but backed off that pledge one day before he earned his Michigan offer.

Haug had a conversation with position coach Alex Whittingham and spoke about that with On3’s Ethan McDowell ($).

“He seems very cool,” Haug said. “Me and him clicked immediately when we first started talking, and I could see a future with him being my coach.”

Haug, who said he has already spoken with Whittingham “a couple of times.” Haug said that Whittingham likes his film and sees a fit for him at the MIKE spot.

“Their tough defense, their gritty front seven, that’s what they’re built off of, and I feel like I can fit that role, and I can see that he could trust me in that role,” Haug said. “Michigan as the iconic program, it’s just everything that a player wants to get into. His message is I fit the mold of a Michigan player, and he loves my play style and all that good stuff.”

Haug said he wants to visit Michigan “as quickly as possible,” which likely means a visit during the season due to the ongoing recruiting dead period. That will end in August, but teams very seldom host recruits that month with fall camp in full swing.

Other than Michigan and Texas, Haug holds offers from Texas Tech, Nebraska, Houston, Pitt, Arizona, Kansas State, SMU, Arkansas and more. Haug is ranked No. 574 overall in the 2027 class, per Rivals’ Industry Rankings.

Four-star OL commit reveals where he’ll likely play in college

One of the Wolverines’ top ranked committed prospects in the 2027 class is four-star offensive lineman Jakari Lipsey. The Kalamazoo native is a towering 6-foot-5 and 290 pounds and is a Top 100 player in the class at No. 95 overall. He chose Michigan in May over other schools like LSU, UCLA, Ohio State and others, and he recently returned to Ann Arbor for his official visit during Victor’s Weekend.

It’s always a tossup where an offensive lineman may play at the next level, but offensive line coach Jim Harding and company already has a good idea of where they want Lipsey to play once he arrives on campus.

“Yeah, I was talking to coach Harding a bunch and he said I’ll most likely play left tackle,” Lipsey told TMI’s Brice Marich ($). “I think it’s a great move.”

Aside from conversations with the coaching staff, Lipsey recapped the rest of his official visit.

“It was great,” Lipsey said. “Honestly the highlight of the trip to me was probably the photoshoot with the paint. I really think that’s different and never seen it before.

“It was great. I can tell we are building something special.”

Quick Hitter

• A couple top targets in the secondary — five-star cornerback Joshua Dobson and four-star cornerback Monsanna Torbert — are set to announce their commitments on Wednesday. Dobson is set to choose between Michigan, Texas A&M, South Carolina and Auburn, while Torbert will pick between Michigan, Ohio State and Louisville.

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