HC Sherrone Moore isn’t here to play nice. He’s here to build a juggernaut. Following a 2025 recruiting cycle where the Michigan Wolverines secured the No. 1 overall player, quarterback Bryce Underwood, and multiple other 5-star talents, their class finished as the sixth-best nationally. Within the Big Ten, it ranked third, behind Oregon (4) and Ohio State (5). The Wolverines aren’t slowing down. Now, with spring ball on the horizon, Moore and his staff are preparing to bring in a trio of high-profile recruits who could be game-changers for the program.

Michigan’s offensive coordinator, Chip Lindsey, has been quietly brewing something special in the trenches, and his upcoming battles for elite talent are proof that the Wolverines are making waves on the recruiting trail. Four-star offensive tackle Malakai Lee has already arrived in Ann Arbor, setting the stage for an intense battle between Sherrone Moore and Lincoln Riley’s USC Trojans. Meanwhile, five-star tackle Jackson Cantwell, the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2026 class, is set to visit this weekend, with Michigan in a fierce NIL fight against Missouri, Miami, Oregon, Georgia, and Ohio State. And on the defensive side, Wink Martindale is licking his chops as five-star EDGE rusher Carter Meadows prepares to step on campus. With these three high-impact recruits on deck, Michigan isn’t just competing—it’s going for the knockout punch.

The buzz around Lee’s visit has been palpable, with Michigan Sports Talk insider revealing key details about his unofficial trip. “Right now, the 2026 four-star offensive tackle Malakai Lee is visiting Michigan,” the insider noted. “According to Ethan McDowell of On3 in the Wolverine, he arrived in Ann Arbor for an unofficial visit that began Sunday. He will be spending four days on campus. He’ll also be watching the first day of spring practice at Michigan.” The Kamehameha Secondary (Honolulu, HI) product is a monster 6-6, 325 pounds with verified 36” arms and an 85”+ wingspan.

Then comes Cantwell, the crown jewel of the 2026 class. “Also, Michigan is set to host the 2026 five-star No. 1 recruit in the 2026 class in offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell from the state of Missouri as he will be visiting this weekend,” the insider revealed. “It’s going to be a big-time visit for the Wolverines. Obviously, Michigan will be playing some NIL game here, and there are tons of schools going after him, including the in-state school of Missouri, and also Miami, Oregon, are involved as well as Georgia, Ohio State. But Michigan is in thick of things right now, especially with NIL.” Cantwell’s On3 NIL valuation sits at $730,000.

If the NIL is close, Michigan could potentially have the advantage of selling their offensive line production and Sherrone Moore’s background. This is where Michigan’s reputation as an O-line factory comes into play. Cantwell has options, but Michigan’s track record speaks for itself, and if the NIL race is tight, Moore’s system and player development could be the deciding factor.

On the defensive side, Carter Meadows could be the next monster off the edge for Michigan, but it won’t come easy. “Michigan is also set to host the five-star edge Carter Meadows,” the insider shared. To talk stats, he’s a five-star in On3 rankings and a four-star top-100 edge on 247 Sports rankings. “But he is set to visit Michigan this week as well—another big-time top target for the Wolverines.” This is where Martindale’s NFL experience could tip the scales. The 6-6, 225 pound prospect is scheduled to be in Ann Arbor from March 21-23 before heading off to Penn State and Ohio State.

Yet, as Michigan’s recruiting dominance strengthens, one looming question remains: Can Moore outmaneuver the SEC’s NIL machine and Ohio State’s relentless pursuit of top-tier talent? Michigan’s recruiting machine is rolling, but there’s one big question hovering over Ann Arbor: Can Sherrone Moore outmaneuver the SEC’s deep NIL pockets and Ohio State’s relentless recruiting machine?

Everything is solid, except Sherrone Moore’s 2026 class

Landing Underwood should have set off a domino effect—enticing 2026 and even 2027 prospects to consider Michigan as a premier destination. But so far, that momentum hasn’t fully materialized. With nine months until the early signing period, the Wolverines sit at No. 34 nationally in recruiting rankings, trailing Big Ten rivals USC (1), Oregon (2), Ohio State (6), Penn State (8), and even Illinois (20).

Right now, Moore’s 2026 class is thin, and that’s putting it lightly. A deep dive into the top 150 players shows the Wolverines are only favored in two recruiting battles—not exactly the powerhouse dominance fans were hoping for.

That said, Moore and his staff aren’t backing down. The foundation is being laid, and with a few key additions, this class could start turning heads. It’s a long game, and Michigan is pushing hard to get the right pieces in place with the trio of monsters coming in.