Michigan leapfrogs SEC power for elite DL prospect

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The Michigan Wolverines have had a sensational spring on the recruiting trail, and with crucial official visits lined up for the next two weekends, we are hoping to see that success continue. Let’s check on the latest happenings in today’s Recruiting Roundup.

Michigan takes the lead in recruitment of elite DL

One of Michigan’s top targets in the 2027 recruiting class is four-star defensive lineman Seth Tillman, who was just on campus last weekend for an official visit. Going into the visit, the general feeling around his recruitment was that Georgia was in the lead, but that might not be the case anymore.

According to Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong and On3’s Ethan McDowell ($), Michigan is the team to beat right now after the official visit. A big part of that has to do with his main recruiter in Ann Arbor.

“I love (defensive tackles coach) coach Larry Black,” Tillman recently told 247Sports’ Anna Adams ($). “I know he wants bad. He offered me at Vanderbilt my sophomore year, then he went to Michigan and offered me there, maybe the second or third day he got on the staff. I also love (assistant defensive line) coach (David Denham). I just loved the official visit. I love the city of Ann Arbor. Just being back in Michigan felt really good.”

Tillman is a versatile lineman who should be able to help the Michigan defense in a lot of ways if he comes to Ann Arbor. The coaching staff can see many different outcomes for him, and Tillman likes that flexibility.

“They said I can play everywhere on the defensive line, but mainly three-tech, to two, to inside,” Tillman said. “So I’m cool with that.”

Tillman is set to commit on July 11; his finalists are Michigan, Georgia, Clemson, South Carolina and Kentucky.

Recent commit helping Michigan on recruiting trail

Sometimes the best tool on the recruiting trail are the recruits themselves. Michigan recently earned a commitment from 2027 four-star cornerback Blake Jenkins, and now he is working hard to bring other 2027 prospects to Ann Arbor with him.

“Larry Moon and Josh Dobson (I’m recruiting),” Jenkins told The Michigan Insider ($). “Those are my guys! Both of them are my guys! Yup, (I have already reached out to them). Larry was on an official visit and didn’t want to say much, but Josh was entertaining it. I could see him make the move. Out of those two, I could see Josh coming home.”

Jenkins also has a good bond with four-star defensive back Tavares Harrington, who committed to Michigan last month.

“Really well (I feel about the DB class),” Jenkins said. “Tavares (Harrington) and I have a great relationship. We just need one of those two guys and we are good.”

As far as his recruiting pitch, it’s really quite simple.

“It’s Michigan,” he said. “The schooling and football, both things needed to succeed.”

Priority OL recaps official visit

Last weekend, 2027 four-star offensive lineman Lincoln Mageo was in Ann Arbor for an official visit. It sounds like his visit was a success, as On3’s Ethan McDowell predicted Mageo to eventually commit to Michigan.

“It was an amazing visit,” Mageo told Rivals’ Adam Garney ($). “I was able to build my connection with coach Harding a lot more. It was kind of hard over the phone and him barely being able to come out here but I did build my connection with him really well. Same with the players. I was hanging out with Malakai and Houston most of the time and I built my relationship with them. They’re both freshmen — Malakai is a freshman and Houston is a redshirt freshman — so that’s who I’d be spending most of my time with. They said they loved it. They said they feel like it’s a family environment and the new staff is introducing it well.”

Mageo was also able to get the player’s perspective on new position coach Jim Harding.

“I was talking to Houston most about it because he got to spend a whole spring ball with him and we were talking about coach Harding and what he likes about him and there are some huge strengths about coach Harding,” Mageo said. “I was able to spend time with coach Harding in a meeting and going over some film and hearing how he teaches the game and I really liked it. … (Harding) cares more about quality of reps more than quantity of reps. He wants to make sure everything is perfect before he moves onto the next guy and he cares about each person on the team no matter where you are on the depth chart. He’s building his relationship with his players really well and the players really like him.”

Mageo is high on both Michigan and Utah right now, and he will be officially visiting Washington as well.

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