Recruiting Roundup: Top QB2 target previews Michigan Football official visit
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Another big recruiting weekend is on deck for Kyle Whittingham and the Michigan Wolverines, with another slate of important visitors coming to Ann Arbor for Victors Weekend. Are more commitments coming for Michigan? Let’s talk about it in today’s Recruiting Roundup:
Important QB target previews Michigan visit
Michigan recently flipped 2027 four-star quarterback Kamden Lopati from Illinois, but that doesn’t mean the Wolverines are done recruiting the position. 2027 three-star quarterback Thaddeus Thatcher will be in Ann Arbor this weekend for his official visit, and he was once committed to Whittingham when he was at Utah.
“I like Michigan a lot, my relationship with the coaches goes way back,” Thatcher told Rivals’ Greg Biggins. “I committed to them when I was a sophomore and they were at Utah. They have a great staff and they’re going to do great things at Michigan. I’m glad I’m taking my other visits though, so I have something to compare to Michigan so we’ll see how it goes.”
Those relationships should go a long way for the Wolverines, especially the one that Thatcher has formed with quarterbacks coach Koy Detmer Jr.
“My relationship with Coach Detmer,” Thatcher told The Michigan Insider ($). “He believes in me and has since I committed to him my sophomore year when he was at Utah.”
One thing that could hurt Michigan’s chances here is the fact the Wolverines already have a 2027 quarterback committed. However, it doesn’t sound like that’s a big concern for Thatcher.
“It doesn’t matter,” Thatcher said. “Any school you go to, you’re going to have to beat out people. Michigan brought in two in the 2026 class and it appears Tommy Carr has taken that lead and I bet the other transfers after the season. Michigan wants to bring in two for 2027 because I know they want to develop their quarterbacks all the way through now and don’t want to have to go in the portal.”
Thatcher will choose between Michigan, UNLV, UCF and Oregon State next Friday, June 26.
Elite DL recaps Michigan visit
One player who came to campus earlier this week is 2028 five-star defensive lineman Tyzon Swann. He is one of the best players in the entire class, and he enjoyed his time in Ann Arbor.
“The visit went good,” Swann told The Michigan Insider ($). “The main highlight was getting a chance to spend time with the defensive coordinator and spending time with the defensive line staff.
“I thought coach (Jay) Hill was a great guy. I loved his energy and he was just telling me about how great of a place Michigan is and how fired up he was to have me there.”
Swann was also able to spend a lot of time with the players, and many of them made a good first impression.
“The players are very cool and great people,” Swann said. “They want to help the younger guys that’s coming out that, so that stood out to me that they took time out of their day to give me tips and knowledge to take back with me! I spoke with Carter Meadows, Tariq Boney and Dominic Nichols.”
There is still a lot of work to be done here, but Michigan seems to have positioned itself well.
“I think Michigan will definitely be a top contender in my recruitment,” Swann admitted.
Michigan offers two legacy targets
A lot of legends have taken the field at The Big House over the years, and that Wolverine pride stays with players for their entire lives. It is passed down to family in many cases, and Michigan is hoping that to be the case with Marquis Ray, the son of former Michigan defensive back Marcus Ray, and Mario Manningham Jr., the son of former star wide receiver Mario Manningham. Michigan offered both players this week.
“This offer means a lot to me because it is in my blood and the relationships and connections with this program are really strong,” Ray told Rivals’ Allen Trieu ($). “They definitely will be in my top five.”
Ray, a three-star athlete in the 2028 class, received his offer from Jernaro Gilford, Michigan’s cornerbacks coach. It was a special moment for Ray, and one that he had be working for.
“Coach Gilford told me I got the offer,” he said. “It felt incredible finding out I had it because I have been working really hard every day up to the camp and it was satisfying seeing the hard work pay off.”
Manningham is a wide receiver in the 2029 recruiting class. Like Ray, Manningham was also at Michigan’s camp and earned the offer after a good performance.
“Coach Simon told me that I received the offer, it was a great feeling,” Manningham told Trieu ($).
“I grew up watching Michigan, and it’s a dream that I’ve had since I was young to be able to be around Michigan football.”
Quick Hitter
- Michigan was able to secure a last-minute Victors Weekend official visit from 2027 four-star linebacker Frederrick Ford, according to On3’s Ethan McDowell ($).
- Along with all the official visitors this weekend, the Wolverines will also host 2028 four-star edge rusher Major Stokes, per TMI’s Marich ($).
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