Recruiting Roundup: Elite TE prospect sets game day visit to Michigan Football

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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…

Nation’s top TE finalizes game day visit

The tight end position has been an important one for Michigan in recent years, and Wolverines at that position have seen a lot of success. Perhaps one of the next greats to come through the program will be 2028 four-star Tytan McNeal, who is the top tight end and the No. 55 overall player in the country on the Rivals Industry Ranking.

McNeal will be visiting Michigan on Nov. 7 when the Wolverines host Michigan State. He visited already during the spring, and he enjoyed his time in Ann Arbor.

“My dad and I were able to visit this spring, and I loved it there and the staff is great,” McNeal told On3’s Ethan McDowell ($). “They are high on the list.”

The success Michigan has had with tight ends has impressed McNeal, and he is already forming a good relationship with position coach Freddie Whittingham.

“The offense is made to develop tight ends at a high level, especially a versatile tight end,” McNeal said. “He’s so knowledgeable about the position and I know he could help me so much in my development.”

McNeal is also planning to take fall visits to Cal, Miami, Oregon, UCLA and Washington.

Four-star WR sets game day visit with Michigan

A top wide receiver target for Michigan in the 2028 class is four-star Hayden Koo, and he will also be visiting Ann Arbor this season. The No. 308 overall player in the country is set to see the Wolverines host Penn State in October.

“Yes, I have (set up a visit) for the Penn State vs. Michigan game on October 17th,” Koo told The Michigan Insider ($). “I’m really excited to keep building my relationship with the coaching staff and get to know everybody. Also being able to watch the wide receiver core and how Coach Simon uses the wide receivers in the room.”

The football team won a national championship less than three years ago, and the men’s basketball team just won it all a few months ago. People call Michigan an “everything school” for a reason, and Koo is attracted to that winning culture.

“Well, I know Michigan is a very winning program, just not in football, but I think in just all of their college sports,“ Koo said back in June. “I think a lot of people if you ask them like, ‘hey, what college is the most like winning school in sports,’ I think a lot would say Michigan for sure. Of course, you know, the football program itself is huge, but they win in everything.”

While winning is obviously important, it’s not the only thing. The fact Michigan is one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the country is also a major factor when it comes to recruiting, and that is one reason why Koo’s interest in the school is growing.

“I think it’s for sure risen up,” Koo said of his interest in Michigan. “I think it’s a great school especially since I’m a big person on academics. I have a 4.6 GPA, so it’s huge to me and I know they’re big on academics, too. They also have a great football program, so I think it’s a big offer for me from everything they help me accomplish on the field and in academics.”

It’s still early, but Michigan seems to check a lot of Koo’s boxes.

Elite 2028 LB locks in game day visit to Ann Arbor

Another 2028 recruit who recently set a game day visit with the Wolverines is four-star linebacker Skylar Alston. Michigan hasn’t been recruiting him all that long, but now the staff is making up for lost time.

“I ain’t gonna lie, Michigan came in kind of late, but they’re coming hard,” Alston told On3’s McDowell ($).

The No. 176 overall prospect in the nation will be on campus for the UTEP game on Sept. 19, and he’s looking forward to seeing if Kyle Whittingham and Michigan fit the mold for one of his top schools like he expects them too.

“He’s a great guy … we’ve been talking ball, stuff outside of ball, just everything,” Alston said of Whittingham. “We’re building a great relationship, and I feel like I’ve got to take a visit up to see them this year because I feel like they fit that Top 10 schools that I’m looking for.”

Guys like Alston are already thinking about playing football at the professional level, and he knows Michigan can make that happen.

“If you start on Michigan’s defense, you’re going to the league,” he said. 

In terms of a timeline for Alston’s commitment, it probably won’t come until next spring. However, if a team wows him during a fall visit, his plan could change.

“I’m trying to narrow it down to like 10 schools and visit all those 10 schools in the fall, go watch them for a game day and then follow it up with a spring visit and then be ready to commit by like March, April,” he said. “But if everything goes good in the fall, and I get my kind of idea, I might try to commit at the end of the season.”

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