Sherrone Moore and the Wolverines are leaving no stone unturned when it comes to recruiting classes for 2025 and early success in 2026. Under head coach Sherrone Moore, the Wolverines secured elite talent, headlined by 2025’s No. 1 overall recruit, quarterback Bryce Underwood, who flipped from LSU with help from Tom Brady and a major NIL push. Joining him are five-star offensive linemen Andrew Babalola and Ty Haywood (flipped from Alabama), five-star defensive lineman Nathaniel Marshall (flipped from Auburn), and four-star safety Elijah Dotson (flipped from Pittsburgh), forming one of Michigan’s strongest classes in history with seven top-100 signees among 22 total.

In addition to this, the early momentum for 2026 continues with commitments from rising four-star receiver Jaylen Pile and cornerback Brody Jennings. After a disappointing 2024 campaign, Moore is making sure that not only the present but also the future of Michigan remains strong, reinforcing Michigan’s national ambitions and positioning the program for long-term success. And it looks like Moore isn’t stopping anytime soon.

St. Christopher’s School standout Darius Gray has been a lucrative target for Marcus Freeman and the Irish. The  6-foot-3, 285-pounder boasts an impressive high school stat with 96 total yards. As he is inching toward taking the next step in his career, it’s not a surprise that a handful of schools besides Notre Dame and Michigan extended him an offer. On December 24, he cut down the list to the top 12. The list of his suitors includes Ohio State, Penn State, Clemson, Tennessee, Auburn, LSU, South Carolina, and more. He has scheduled summer official visits with each of these schools. But Michigan? Well, they had their impression deeply embedded in his skin earlier than all.

Gray took a visit to Ann Arbor this spring. The Virginia native seems to be in awe of what Moore and his team could have in store for him. “Michigan was great. We had a great time, my family and we enjoyed every bit of it. So, Coach (Grant) Newsome and Coach Moore, you know, really showed us around and showed us what it’s like being in Ann Arbor, so it was fun,” Gray expressed during a conversation with insider EJ Holland on The Wolverine.

Coach Moore has a seasoned recruiter riddled with desperation and wisdom. After a lackluster 2023 in the QB front, the coach has crossed seas and mountains to swoop Bryce Underwood, the number one QB in his class, to his home. Underwood, the then LSU commit, was quite stubborn on his commitment to the Tigers. But Moore has all the tools to invade the loyalty. He gambled a whopping $10 million to flip his mind.

Darius, a key offensive target, on that comparison, is a pretty easy prey to hit. When asked about Coach Moore and his strategy and skill as a coach, Gray spoke his heart out.

“I mean that means a lot, you know, especially coming from an offensive lineman, you kind of want guys like that in the building. To have the head coach be, you know, a fantastic offensive line coach when he was there and now taking over the program, I mean, you know, it only does right for offensive line,” Gray said while referring to Moore’s offensive coaching background.An athletic offensive lineman with a dense build, Gray possesses the foot quickness to lead on pulls or counters and the power to hold his ground in pass protection. Additionally, Prep Redzone notes that Gray plays with light feet and a substantial wingspan, making it challenging for edge rushers to get around him. Meanwhile, Gray also talked about his relationship with Coach Newsome.

“Coach Newsome was great. We’ve built a great relationship over time, and I enjoy talking to him every time I get to talk to him. So it’s been great getting to know him, getting to know his family a little bit, and you know, I just have, you know, a fantastic relationship with him,” he said. Right now, it appears that Michigan has the upper hand, but the Fighting Irish aren’t out of the race.

While he sounds elated, raving about Coach Moore, Notre Dame’s balanced approach proved to be a huge plus for him in

his crazy recruiting race.

Notre Dame continues to be the frontrunner in Darius Gray’s recruitment

Marcus Freeman, on the other hand, is a big sleeper in the race. He might not have the NIL backup as heavy as Moore, but he knows how to woo the young heart looking for a perfect heaven for his collegiate kickoff. His genius move, a thorough, compassionate treatment of the targets paired with the university’s compelling pitch, makes Notre Dame irresistible to those who visit.

“The visit was great,” Gray told Irish Breakdown after his spring visit to South Bend. “I definitely loved everything about the school. Some of my favorite parts were the balance of academics and sports. Everyone was comfortable with one another, and the campus as a whole was so quiet. They were all focused on what they were at Notre Dame for, and that was getting a degree.”

The coaches have also made a long-lasting early impact on the Virginia native. His interactions with Freeman and Joe Rudolph had him on a utopic vision of the future.

The sports, the facilities, the coaches’ capabilities, the history, and tradition all count for the final decision, but Notre Dame, in their own right, is beyond just the game and the academics. “You can tell that it’s way bigger than just football for everyone there. My opinion on Notre Dame is that they’re one of the best options for me and my family. I definitely see myself fitting in playing for Coach Freeman and Coach Rudolph.” Gray added right after his visit.

Now, it’s a clear battle between Freeman’s hospitality and Moore’s offensive line history. It remains to be seen who has the last smile.