National Signing Day is finally here, and the programs are working day and night to get those last-minute deals finalized. Players’ agents and parents are in hyperactive mode. Coffee machines are putting in those extra hours, whirring away. But there are some things that become very unexpected amidst all that hustle and bustle. And Ty Haywood, the much-sought prospect, has been handed over a similar thing in the dying minutes of the signing day.

Well, Ty Haywood, the much sought-after offensive tackle, has finally signed for Michigan Wolverines after all. The player was much of the preseason, and days before that, he was widely reported to be a 5-star recruit by On3 and 247 Sports. And, seeing his potential, he deserved that too. After all, standing at 6 ft 5 in and weighing 285 lbs, he is a beast in the making. But, after On3’s recent post about his commitment to Michigan, all that seems to have changed.

Ty Haywood is now reported to be a 4-star prospect by On3 instead of a 5-star, as he was rated for most of the 2024 season and the offseason. And this is not only true for On3, but 247 Sports has also downgraded him to a 4-star rating in their final ranking announcement. So far, only ESPN has maintained his 5-star rating, but who knows, they may change it too. Are the reasons for the downgrade due to further scouting of the player? Or is the 2025 batch just so good that it places even Haywood at 4 stars? Well, no one has the answer yet. But one thing we do know…

5-Star or not, the player has a lot to offer to Michigan over the years. That is because Michigan needs a player like Ty in their camp. They saw their OT, Tristan Bounds, departing to Arizona. He was another 4-star prospect of the 2021 class who started 7 games in the 2024 season. That could mean Ty Haywood could be a choice instead of Tristan as a freshman. Also, the season saw the departure of Andrew Gemtry (OT), who notched up 359 snaps over his tenure. That place is also up for grabs for Haywood. Of course, in the long term, Haywood will be transitioning into more prominent roles at Michigan. Anyway, whatever happens, he is looking like a promising prospect. But wait, there’s some buzz regarding him among Michigan supporters.

Fan reactions to Ty Haywood’s rating downgrade

Well, the downgrade of Ty Haywood to 4 stars is very recent. However, many users are sharing their reactions to the news. The response to the news appears to be varied. One user commented on the post, “Does everyone lose a star or drop in the rankings when they commit to Michigan?“. The user’s response accurately captures the underlying events. As earlier also, we saw some Michigan commits getting their ratings downgraded. As the top talent QB, Bryce Underwood got his rating downgraded on On3 to 99.87. He was previously given a perfect 100 rating. Another user commented on a very interesting thing.

“He ranked higher than Babalola two weeks ago“. And it’s certainly true because Babalola now ranks number 2 in the OT ranking of 247. And, Ty Haywood is way below at number 10. Another user remarked, “Damn, he’s on 4star now“. That certainly sums up what is the reaction of the fans in general. While some are saying that the rating will ease some pressure on him. But others are just hilariously reacting to the news with their unique comments. Whatever may be the case, Haywood is still a very good prospect, and ratings are just numbers. The true test begins in the field.