Michigan Football making a HUGE impression on 2 elite 2028 QB recruits
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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…
Top 100 QB says Michigan is treating him like a priority
Michigan is already making a strong early push for one of the top quarterbacks in the 2028 class.
Mooresville (N.C.) Lake Norman four-star quarterback Kaden Craft, ranked by the Rivals Industry as the No. 8 quarterback and No. 98 overall prospect in the country, told Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong that Tennessee, Florida, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Michigan and Oregon are standing out early.
“Michigan has also been recruiting me very hard putting me as there No. 1 guy,” Craft said. “The history and school of Michigan is big for me. It’s very special place with a lot of history. Coach Koy has told me his plans with Michigan and the offense and I’m excited to see what it looks like.”
At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, Craft already looks like one of the top national quarterback targets in the cycle. He said development is the biggest factor in his recruitment, along with relationships, academics and a winning culture.
Michigan makes top-five for another elite QB
Craft is not the only 2028 quarterback Michigan is heavily involved with. Four-star Lukas Prock, the No. 68 overall prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking, recently told Rivals’ Chad Simmons that Ohio State, Indiana, Florida, Michigan and Notre Dame make up his early top-five.
“When I was at Michigan in the spring I liked their culture,” Prock said. “Since then, they have recruited me hard and I like the relationships I’m building with the staff. And obviously, Michigan is an impressive program year in and year out.”
The timing makes this recruitment even more interesting. Prock originally planned to wait until after his junior season to decide, but with other quarterbacks beginning to come off the board, that timeline could speed up.
“I could commit as soon as the next few weeks,” Prock said. “If I don’t commit that soon, I will probably to out to two of three games in the fall first.”
Michigan is not alone here, but the Wolverines have put themselves in the mix before Prock’s recruitment potentially accelerates.
Edge rusher planning return trip for the fall
Michigan also made a strong first impression on 2028 four-star edge rusher Merrick Ham. The Marietta (Ga.) standout originally planned a summer visit tour that included Tennessee, Ohio State and Notre Dame, but added Michigan after a conversation with assistant defensive line coach David Denham. He made the trip, picked up an offer and came away impressed.
“Once I was on campus, it was awesome,” Ham told On3’s Ethan McDowell. “… I was expecting to just kinda meet the coaching staff and see the facilities because it’s a new coaching staff, but when I got there, it was a completely different vibe than what I was expecting. It felt like a staff that was completely bought into Michigan, and it felt like they wanted me to be a part of it.”
Ham said Michigan liked his length and speed off the ball, and he now plans to return this fall for a game.
“I’m looking to come for a game so I can see the Big House in action,” Ham said.
That gives Michigan another chance to build on what became an unexpectedly strong first visit.
Ham is ranked as the No. 102 overall prospect, No. 13 edge and No. 14 player in Georgia in the class. At 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, he already has offers from Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida and several other major programs.
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