With the Wolverines' season coming to an end, the Kyle Whittingham era has officially begun in Ann Arbor, and the excitement continues to build.
However, on New Year's Day, a four-star offensive lineman, who signed with the Wolverines in December, delayed his expected early enrollment at the University of Michigan.
Malakai Lee took an official visit to Michigan on June 20 and committed to the Wolverines just one week later. Then, he signed with the program at the beginning of the last month of the year. While many fans might have started worrying when he delayed his enrollment, there is no need to panic.
Malakai Lee is still going to be a Wolverine
In his message on social media about delaying his enrollment, Lee ensured that he was still "100 percent committed to the University of Michigan," adding that he would join the team in the summer, like many other true freshmen.
The only change? Lee and his family decided it would be better for him to finish his senior year of high school instead of cutting it short to enroll early at Michigan.
#Michigan Top247 OL Malakai Lee (@MalakaiLee2) announces on his IG that he will not be enrolling early anymore, but remains 100% locked in with the Wolverines and eager to play for new HC Kyle Whittingham. pic.twitter.com/qlkF3foK6P
— Brice Marich (@BriceMarich) January 1, 2026
Lee is part of Michigan's class of 2026 recruits that ranks 12th in the nation and fourth in the Big Ten, only trailing the USC Trojans, the Oregon Ducks, and the Ohio State Buckeyes.
The class is undeniably headlined by five-star EDGE Carter Meadows and five-star running back Savion Hiter, but also includes nine four-star and 13 three-star prospects. The biggest thing of note for the next few weeks will be how Whittingham manages to retain those signees.
Whittingham was a dynamic recruiter and an elite head coach at his previous program, the Utah Utes, so with the resources that Michigan offers, the Wolverines should be just fine with their new head coach at the helm.