Michigan Wolverines news: A potential game-changer in NIL, even more recruiting buzz, and more

In our latest Michigan Wolverines news roundup, Michigan football has launched a new NIL initiative, plus the recruiting momentum keeps building. 

Ever since the launch of NIL, the Michigan Wolverines have been trying to play catch up with the schools that are using it as a way to pay for play.

However, Michigan football and the University of Michigan finally came up with an answer as Jim Harbaugh announced M Power, which is about helping Michigan Wolverines athletes to build their personal brand and protect it, via the release.

Jim Harbaugh is going on tour to raise funds for the M Power project and it’s something Michigan football has been selling on the recruiting trail, which seems to be working out pretty well.

Blake Corum and J.J. McCarthy were each quoted in the video release along with Jim Harbaugh. It’s important that Michigan is trying to get innovative when it comes to NIL. It’s been needed but even the recent addition in hoops makes it feel like NIL is in a much better place.

Hopefully, this helps Michigan get to the next level, in the right way.

Another Michigan football commitment, more positive buzz

The Michigan football program added its second commitment in as many days on Monday as linebacker Jaden Smith pledged to the Michigan Wolverines.

I’m surprised that Smith is unranked via the 247 Sports composite rankings. He visited Virginia Tech and Kentucky has also been making a push, in addition to other Power-5 offers coming this spring.

Smith is an interesting athlete. He could be a linebacker or a safety and I’m sure we’ll see him get upgraded to a three-star prospect very soon.

However, that wasn’t the only positive for Michigan football on the recruiting trail. The Wolverines continue to get crystal ball projections. And according to Hayes Fawcett, a recruiting reporter for On3, more good news is on the way.

More Michigan Wolverines news

• In some disappointing news, former walk-on Isaiah Gash posted on Tik-Tok that he’s having career-ending knee surgery. Gash caught an important pass in the win over Illinois last season, but now his Michigan football career will be over.
• Former Michigan Wolverines standout Duncan Robinson and the Miami Heat saw their NBA Finals run come to an end with a loss in Game 5 to the Nuggets. Robinson scored just five points in 17 minutes in the 94-89 loss.