Michigan Football aims to flip another Notre Dame commit in 2023

Michigan football flipped a Notre Dame commitment in 2022 and the Wolverines are going to try and do the same in 2023 with Peyton Bowen.

This past Saturday at Michigan football’s spring game, you could see the fruits of the Wolverines’ efforts on the recruiting trail and one long reception on the sideline wouldn’t have happened unless U-M was able to flip a Notre Dame commitment.

That commitment was Amorion Walker, the 6-foot-4 wideout who had a stellar catch in the spring game and showed fans why they should be so excited he signed with the Wolverines instead of the Fighting Irish.

Now, Michigan is looking to flip another Notre Dame commitment, this time in the 2023 recruiting class and the Wolverines can only hope it goes as well as it did with Walker.

The target in question is Peyton Bowen, a top-100 safety out of Denton, Texas. Bowen isn’t a five-star prospect but he’s ranked 62nd overall according to the On3.com consensus rankings. He’s the No. 8 player in the state of Texas and the 6-foot, 180-pounder is fifth among safeties too.

Michigan offered Bowen in February and he told EJ Holland of The Wolverine that Michigan is still in the mix. Also, with visits to SEC schools recently, his recruitment is pretty open.

The Wolverines will need to get him on campus at some point. That’s hopefully going to happen this spring and there will be stiff competition to win his commitment and not just from Notre Dame. Still, it’s definitely one to keep an eye on.

Michigan football trying to flip a commitment from Florida too

The Wolverines have been guarding against some of their own commitments flipping and recently, four-star tight end Andrew Rappleyea flipped to Penn State. Florida was also in the mix and the Gators are also trying to flip Michigan’s top-100 LB commitment in Raylen Wilson.

Now, it’s Michigan football’s turn to trip and flip a pledge for the Gators and that’s Aaron Gates, a four-star defensive back from Georgia. He’s listed as an athlete according to his On3.com profile and he’s 6-foot, 180 pounds out of Trinity Christian.

However, he was on campus for the spring game and has a strong relationship with Michigan co-defensive coordinator Steve Clinkscale who offered him back at Kentucky according to EJ Holland of The Wolverine. 

Holland indicated that because of this, Michigan should have a very real shot of flipping Gates. The Wolverines have also been doing better and better in the state of Georgia, and new defensive coordinator Jesse Minter used to coach at Georgia State.

In the 2022 recruiting class, Michigan was able to add Keon Sabb and Zeke Berry, who were committed to Clemson and Arizona at one time, so flipping a couple of commitments before signing day isn’t as difficult as it might sound.