Michigan Wolverines will have to make a last-second push for elite 5-star corner amid surge from SEC foe
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The Michigan Wolverines are in danger of losing a five-star recruit to an SEC foe ahead of the summer signing period. Here’s the latest on where things stand just hours before the big announcement.
The Michigan Wolverines and their pursuit of 5-star cornerback Joshua Dobson have hit a significant snag. South Carolina appears to have surged into pole position for the elite 2027 recruit, and with the Rivals summer signing extravaganza set for July 1, the Wolverines are running out of time to make their case. Michigan, which had fought its way into the lead for Dobson after a strong spring push, now finds itself on the outside looking in during a recruitment that has taken multiple turns over the past several months.
Key Takeaways from Michigan’s 2027 recruiting class
- 19 hard commits.
- 21st overall rank.
- Commitment from the No. 2-rated player in the state of Michigan.
How Michigan got here
Dobson’s recruitment has been a winding road. Earlier this winter and into the spring, the Texas A&M Aggies appeared to have the 5-star cornerback locked up as part of what projects to be the No. 1 recruiting class in the 2027 cycle. Then Michigan entered the picture in a serious way. The Wolverines wowed Dobson during his visits to Ann Arbor and vaulted themselves into the frontrunner conversation, pushing past the Aggies in the process.
That momentum, however, has stalled. As of the last 24 hours, the South Carolina Gamecocks have emerged as the likely landing spot for Dobson. The shift appears to have happened quickly, and the timing could not be worse for Michigan with the July 1 signing window opening.
What this means for the Wolverines
This does not mean the race is over. Even if Dobson were to commit to South Carolina on July 1, Michigan could still work to flip him ahead of National Signing Day. Flips happen every cycle, and a prospect of Dobson’s caliber will continue to receive attention from programs across the country until he puts pen to paper for the final time.
That being said, Michigan has a target on its back in this recruitment. The Wolverines went from the hunter to the hunted in a matter of weeks, and the Gamecocks have the momentum right now. Losing Dobson would be a blow to a Michigan recruiting class that was building steam at the cornerback position.
The bottom line
The next 24 to 48 hours will tell us a lot about where Dobson’s head is. If he commits to South Carolina during the summer signing window, Michigan will need to shift into long-game mode and hope that the relationship they built during those spring visits is strong enough to keep the door open through the fall. If Dobson holds off and lets the process play out through National Signing Day, the Wolverines still have a fighting chance. For now, the signs are pointing away from Ann Arbor, and Michigan’s recruiting staff has work to do.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Michigan Wolverines will have to make a last-second push for elite 5-star corner amid surge from SEC foe
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