Kyle Whittingham quietly flips a 3-star WR who could help Michigan's future offense

For the first time since the 2026 season began, Kyle Whittingham has flipped a 2027 wide receiver recruit. Unfortunately, I am not talking about Dakota Guerrant, but a flip is still a flip.

On Tuesday, just a few days after his visit to Ann Arbor, three-star wide receiver Yuto Kawamura-Johnson switched up his verbal pledge from Toledo to Michigan, giving the Wolverines their 22nd player in the Class of 2027.

I get it, this isn't the flashiest of moves like Guerrant would be from Oregon as a five-star recruit, but if Curt Cignetti and Indiana have proven anything in the last two years, it's that star ratings don't mean everything coming out of high school.

Kawamura-Johnson's national ranking is not the prettiest, coming in at No. 1,761 and No. 244 among wide receivers in his class, according to Rivals player rankings. The Florida native, though, could bring at least something to a Michigan wide receiver group that could seriously use some help going forward.

Yuto Kawamura-Johnson's commitment comes on the heels of Tommy Carr's heroic play

Kawamura-Johnson was dangerously close to seeing the Wolverines totally drop the ball against Penn State in Week 7, going into halftime down 3-0, but Whittingham made the change at quarterback, benching Bryce Underwood and bringing in Tommy Carr. Michigan went on to win the game 21-18 behind the play of Carr, and now suddenly Michigan has a new wide receiver commit.

Now, I am not saying that Kawamura-Johnson had a change of heart solely because he saw what Carr could do with the Wolverines, but the timing is interesting. Underwood has struggled throwing the ball yet again this season, and has also favored only two receivers: JJ Buchanan and Andrew Marsh. Sure, there is riding the hot hand, but there is also forcing the ball to guys who aren't open, which Underwood has done a lot this campaign. It's something fans have grown pretty frustrated with seeing, too.

Carr spread the ball around pretty well when he was given the opportunity to pass, which was only seven times. His first pass went to tight end Hogan Hansen for 11 yards and a first down, getting the offense going on his first play in the game. Seeing Carr's ability to throw the ball could have been what won Kawamura-Johnson over, especially if he thinks this is now Carr's offense to run in the future.

Either way, Michigan needed some help in the wide receiver room, especially after Whittingham missed out on Guerrant during the 2027 recruiting cycle. The Early Signing Period is coming up soon, so Whittingham still has a chance to make a play for Guerrant, but at least he was able to land Kawamura-Johnson.

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