Michigan Football predicted to land commitments from 2 ELITE recruits

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Welcome to the Recruiting Roundup, our twice-a-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…

Michigan’s pursuit of Mataio Fano comes full circle

Michigan already had plenty working in its favor with 2027 four-star offensive tackle Mataio Fano. After his latest trip to Ann Arbor, the Wolverines appear to be gaining even more traction.

Fano, the nation’s No. 175 overall recruit, was in town for Michigan’s game against Iowa. His family’s familiarity with Michigan’s staff runs deep: Kyle Whittingham coached Fano’s older brothers Spencer and Logan at Utah, while Jim Harding and Lewis Powell also worked with them before following Whittingham to Ann Arbor.

Fano’s father, Bingham, told The Wolverine’s Ethan McDowell ($) that returning to see those coaches in Michigan colors made the visit feel familiar.

“Being there, seeing them there felt like being home in a weird way — but in Michigan,” Bingham said.

Harding’s relationship with the family is particularly strong. Bingham called him “like a second father” to Spencer, who is now playing in the NFL. And Michigan seemingly doesn’t have many questions left to answer.

“We have all the information that we need when it comes to Michigan to be able to make a decision,” Bingham said.

That familiarity is now accompanied by some recruiting buzz. Following the Iowa weekend, 247Sports’ Brice Marich entered a Crystal Ball prediction for Fano to Michigan. Fano does not have a public commitment timetable and is also expected to visit Alabama, UCLA, Oklahoma and Miami.

Another Crystal Ball rolls in for Major Stokes

Fano wasn’t the only prospect Michigan picked up a prediction for following the Iowa weekend, as Marich also entered a Crystal Ball prediction in favor of the Wolverines for 2028 four-star edge rusher Major Stokes.

Stokes, the No. 47 overall prospect in the class on the Rivals Industry Rankings, has been a major recruiting target for the Wolverines the entire calendar year. The Utah native is very familiar with Kyle Whittingham and this coaching staff, as they were recruiting him when they were still working in Salt Lake City.

While Michigan came up short against Iowa on the field, 247Sports’ Marich ($) wrote that the recruiting weekend still produced “plenty of positives” for the Wolverines.

The prediction gives Michigan another notable piece of momentum coming out of a weekend that featured a sizable group of recruits in Ann Arbor.

Michigan sits ‘very high’ with 2028 TE target

Michigan is also firmly in the mix for one of the more heavily recruited tight ends in the 2028 class. Jack McNamara, a 6-foot-5, 235-pounder from Chicago’s Brother Rice, is ranked No. 380 overall and No. 19 among tight ends. His offer list already includes Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Oklahoma and Georgia.

Michigan has hosted McNamara several times over the past six months, most recently for the Sept. 5 game against Western Michigan.

“It was awesome,” McNamara told On3’s McDowell ($). “I felt like a VIP. It was great. I had a great time.”

McNamara has also built a close relationship with tight ends coach Freddie Whittingham, who has stayed in frequent contact and provided feedback since working with him at camp this summer.

“He texts me a lot, and I love when he texts me,” McNamara said. “He’s always giving me feedback. It’s a great relationship.”

McNamara plans to visit Vanderbilt and Notre Dame later this fall and hopes to return to Michigan for another game. Regardless, he plans to be back in Ann Arbor in the spring. Michigan has positioned itself well.

“They stand very high in my recruitment,” McNamara said.

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