Michigan football landed the #1 quarterback in the nation in the 2025 recruiting class. But that isn't stopping the Wolverines from swinging for the fences in 2026 as well. It's been reported widely that four-star quarterback Brady Smigiel is interested in the Wolverines. But it seems like a new name has emerged for Michigan: Ryder Lyons.
Ranked as a top 10 player in the country, the California native is at the top of the wishlist for many elite programs. Michigan football included. On January 29th, Sherrone Moore, Sean Magee, Chip Lindsey, and Steve Casula met with Lyons in California. The Wolverines are pushing for Lyons to visit Ann Arbor. If he does make it in, things could become real.
As we saw firsthand, Michigan football isn't afraid to use NIL for elite players. Even with Bryce Underwood in the 2025 class, I think Michigan would be willing to dish out a sizeable deal to land an elite quarterback like Lyons. The presence of General Manager Sean Magee seems to confirm that.
Right now, USC is the heavy favorite for Lyons. His brother is a current player for the Trojans, and they obviously have the home field advantage. This recruitment is far from over though. A plethora of top programs around the country are going to be pitching Lyons nonstop. While USC definitely is the team to beat, it's far from a done deal.
The odds might not be great for the Wolverines here considering things like the depth chart and distance, but the fact that they're willing to try is very telling. This isn't the Michigan of the past. This version of Michigan is going to go after the top recruits in the nation, and should win a handful of them. It'll be interesting to see if the Wolverines are able to get Lyons on campus. Stay tuned for any updates.