Recruiting Roundup: Michigan fighting SEC powerhouse for top QB target

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

The Michigan Wolverines are entering a crucial period on the recruiting trail, and the momentum has been picking up over the last couple weeks. It’s imperative the Wolverines have a good stretch to get ready for the biggest recruiting time of the year, which will come around June when official visits are taking place.

Let’s break down the latest in the recruiting world on today’s Recruiting Roundup.

QB target recaps visit, while another QB target is set to visit this weekend

2027 four-star quarterback Dane Weber is a top target for the Wolverines. They offered him shortly after Peter Bourque’s decommitment, and he recently visited Ann Arbor.

“I ultimately thought (the visit) went great,” Weber told Rivals Adam Gorney ($). “The biggest thing for me was the area and the facilities because I knew that staff from Utah because they were my first offer. I knew them the longest out of any coaching staff so I know what I’m going to get out of them … You know it’s a blue-blood but it’s great to know Ann Arbor is different, a little college town, so it’s not a big city or nothing at all so it’s right in the middle which is good. Everything went great and it was everything I could have hoped for.”

Weber seemed to enjoy his time in Ann Arbor, but Georgia recently offered him a scholarship and is now a big threat here. He is close with Georgia freshman quarterback Bryson Beaver, and he will be taking a visit to Athens.

“I’ll definitely be going on a visit there,” Weber said. “I’ve been talking to them for a while so I have a relationship built with that and also knowing Bryson is someone I grew up with so I’ve heard great things from him so I’ll reconnect with him and see the program and see what they have to offer.”

Another top target for Michigan at the quarterback position is four-star Illinois commit Kamden Lopati, and he will be in Ann Arbor this weekend. Weber offered some valuable insight into how Michigan is approaching this.

“What they portrayed to me is that Kamden and I are No. 1 together and whoever wants to jump in first they’ll take it,” Weber said. “They said if Kamden wanted to jump in they’d reach out and give me the opportunity to do so first, so that what was portrayed for me so we’ll go from there.”

Sidney Rouleau breaks down commitment decision

Michigan has seen some success on the recruiting trail recently, as a couple of commitments have rolled through in the last couple weeks. 2027 four-star offensive linemen Sidney Rouleau committed to the Wolverines on Sunday, and he is feeling good about his decision.

“They checked all my boxes, definitely,” Rouleau told On3’s Ethan McDowell ($). “Coach Harding is a pretty good coach. He’s pretty intense in practice. I like the way he teaches his kid from A to Z. He makes sure to teach him the right technique and all that. I definitely had some good talks with coach Whitt. And then, the environment feels like home for me, because I’m from Canada…It feels like home, for sure, and then I also connected with the guys down there, the players. They made me feel confident about my choice.”

With the hiring of Kyle Whittingham back in December, Michigan has an almost entirely new coaching staff. Jim Harding is now the offensive line coach, and Rouleau is confident Harding will be able to get the best out of him.

“He’s pretty serious, intense, and that’s what I need for me to be successful,” Rouleau said.

Some recruits spend some time exploring their options despite a commitment, but it does not sound like that will be the case with Rouleau.

“I’m definitely loyal to Michigan, so my recruitment is shut down, and Michigan is home for me,” Rouleau said.

Michigan ‘definitely a top school’ for four-star CB

One player who was recently on campus in Ann Arbor is 2027 four-star cornerback Darius Johnson. He was at Michigan last weekend, and it sounds like the coaching staff knocked it out of the park.

“It was a great visit, I loved it there,” Johnson told Rivals Greg Biggins ($). “That was my first time visiting Michigan and I really loved the campus and the facilities.  A highlight for me was watching the team practice.  I love the way all the defensive coaches coach and the energy with both the coaches and players really stood out.”

Johnson already has some familiarity with the new coaching staff, as cornerbacks coach Jernaro Gilford actually offered him when he was coaching at BYU.

“Jernaro was the first coach to offer me my freshmen year when he was at BYU,” Johnson said. “He was the first coach to see my potential and believe in me so it was great to connect with him. I spent a lot of time with him and coach Whitt and we didn’t even talk about just football, we talked about life, life after football, and also how they see me fitting in to their system.”

Johnson will be back for an official visit the weekend of June 19, and it sure sounds like Michigan is going to be in the running for his commitment.

“We broke down my film and that went great also,” he said. “I love them showing they care and helping me know what I need to improve on, just keeping it real. That meant a lot to me, just building that relationship and getting a better feel for them as people. Michigan is definitely a top school for me, in my top three. This visit definitely helped with making my decision and I cant wait to get back up there for my official visit.”

He also has official visits scheduled at Kansas, Cal and Oregon, and is expected to make a final decision in June or July.

Quick Hitters

• 2027 three-star linebacker Blake Betton will be unofficially visiting Michigan this weekend, according to On3’s McDowell ($).
• Michigan recently offered 2027 three-star edge rusher Uhila Wolfgramm, a Utah native with other offers from Oklahoma, Utah, Nebraska, UCLA, BYU, North Carolina, Iowa State and more.

• Finally, 2027 four-star tight end and Alabama commit Colt Lumpris will take an official visit to Michigan the weekend of June 5, according to On3’s McDowell ($).

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos