Michigan football pulled off one of the craziest flips in recent recruiting history on Thursday night, as the Wolverines successfully flipped the #1 player in the nation, Bryce Underwood, from LSU. It cannot be overstated how important Underwood is as a recruit. He's a program changer, and Michigan's entire recruiting outlook instantly changed with his commitment.
The Wolverines now have the legitimate interest of a plethora of elite recruits. They've already received predictions to land top 100 wide receiver and LSU commit Derek Meadows, four star linebacker and Duke commit Bradley Gompers, and four star defensive back and Colorado commit Alex Graham. But the Wolverines aren't going to stop there.
Some of the best recruits in the nation now view Michigan football as a legitimate contender in their recruitment, and I think it's likely the Wolverines land some of them. Let's dive straight in and look at some five-star recruits that Michigan football could have success with.
Cornerback DJ Pickett (FL)
Early on, Michigan was seen as a legitimate contender for Pickett. He has plenty of Michigan connections within his family, and many thought the Wolverines could land the talented defensive back. Then, Michigan's coaching exodus happened and Pickett's recruitment was taken over by more NIL friendly teams, essentially eliminating Michigan.
Now, however, Michigan is arguably a top NIL school in the country. They have the capability to make Pickett an offer he can't refuse. Bryce Underwood also reportedly asked Michigan football if there would be room in the class for Pickett, indicating there could be some real interest there.
Pickett has been a flip candidate for some time. Miami, Oregon, and Georgia have been courting Pickett and building momentum with him. But now, with Underwood flipped and the money cannons loaded, Michigan could reestablish itself in this recruitment. This is definitely one to keep an eye on.
EDGE Isaiah Gibson (GA)
A former USC commit turned Georgia commit, Gibson is an elite prospect at a position of need for the Wolverines. The Wolverines weren't really a part of Gibson's recruitment originally, but they offered him a scholarship early Friday and it sounds like Gibson was receptive to whatever dialogue he had with Michigan.
Stealing a Georgia prospect from Georgia is going to be very challenging, especially with two weeks until the early signing period. But in the era of NIL and with the #1 recruit in the nation committed, you can never say never. I wouldn't put too much stock into this one right away, but if the Wolverines can get Gibson in for a visit, things could get very real.