After the way Michigan football finished the 2025 class with a flurry, landing Bryce Underwood and signing a top-10 class, the expectations were high for the Wolverines' 2026 class.
However, this recruiting class has also been taking place during a massive change in college athletics (House settlement). Michigan football wasn't being as specific about NIL numbers, because they were waiting for the House settlement to be finalized.
Now that it has been, Michigan has started to get hot on the trail. It feels like a top-10 class is in order again. The Wolverines have been trending with a bevy of blue-chip prospects over the past few weeks, but there is more work to do.
With Underwood and Michigan's willingness to play the NIL game, however that works in his new era, the door is open for another big-time recruiting class. Here are five 2026 recruits the Wolverines need to land to reach their full potential with Underwood, on top of the current 2026 commitments.
Savion Hiter, RB
It's clear Savion Hiter is the top target, offensively, for Michigan football in the 2026 class. He took an official visit last weekend, but it's hard to read where things stand.
Reports have put Michigan near the top, along with Tennessee. But Georgia and Ohio State are lurking. Hiter, who is ranked 11th overall in the 2026 class, according to the On3 Industry rankings, is 5-foot-11, 205 pounds out of Mineral, Virginia.
Landing a five-star quarterback was huge. Michigan hasn't signed a five-star running back since Donovan Edwards, and Hiter would be a game-changer. The Wolverines have put in a ton of effort, and missing out on him would be a huge disappointment.