Four-star Michigan DL commit Bobby Kanka details return visit for spring game, Carter Smith, Lou Esposito, more

Two of Michigan’s verbal commits in the 2025 recruiting class returned to Ann Arbor over the weekend to watch the spring game. Among the pair was four-star Howell (Mich.) High defensive lineman Bobby Kanka.

The intrasquad scrimmage was the first visit for Kanka this offseason, so being back with the program when the ring ceremony was also happening exceeded every expectation.

“Good,” Kanka told The Wolverine. “It’s been months since I’ve been back. It was just great to be back. Been forever since I was there, so it was just nice to be back home. It was a little different than last year’s spring game just because they won (the national) championship. The energy was great. It was cool seeing that and seeing all the former players who were on the team last year mingle around with the current team. That part was cool.”

Joining Kanka on campus was Ft. Myers (Fla.) Bishop Verot quarterback and Michigan commit Carter Smith They had gotten to know each other over the phone since Smith pledged in November, but the spring game provided them an opportunity to connect face-to-face.

“It was good,” Kanka said. “(Saturday) was actually my first time connecting with Carter in person. He seems like a good dude. Enjoyed my time with him, met his family, and everything like that. So, that was awesome.”

Kanka and Smith are part of a three-man class that includes three-star Alcoa (Tenn.) High tight end Eli Owens, and ranks in the Top 25 this cycle, according to the On3 Industry National Team Recruiting Rankings. They’re are working together to add more talented pieces to the fold.

“I think similar to what the last class did – build a great group of guys that we want to play on the field with,” Kanka said. “You want to build that relationship. So, when you’re on the field with those guys, you can just look at them and know you got the right guys to get the job done. I think guys like that are the people we want in our class, guys that we can mesh with and bring another title to Ann Arbor.”

A priority target that Michigan is looking to land, and who returned to Ann Arbor for the third time this spring to watch the exhibition, was four-star Birmingham (Mich.) Groves offensive lineman Avery Gach.

“Avery, I’ve seen him numerous times on visits, during camps, and showcases. But he’s another guy that I want to get on board at Michigan,” Kanka said. “Great tape, great player, great dude. So, it was good catching up with him and just trying to get him to come over to the maize and blue.”

In addition to peer recruiting, the spring game also gave Kanka the chance to connect further with new Michigan defensive line coach Lou Esposito.

“He’s a good dude,” Kanka said. “I talked to him on the phone last week, and he’s going to call me again this week and then come out to school the next week or two. Then, just talk it up there. But just off the bat, he seems like a great guy. The type of guy I want to play for. A good guy, family guy, and somebody I’m looking forward to playing for.”

Kanka hoped to obtain a solid understanding of Esposito’s approach to coaching and his demeanor around the players, and he was pleased with the results after Saturday.

“He just seems to be very high-energy,” Kanka said. “The type of guy I want to be around. Very positive. He’s always on the field, giving his guys some encouragement. You could always see him clapping and telling his guys to come over. Just helping people out during the game is a big thing for me. It’s just not beating them down. Watching him coaching in the game was big for me.”

Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore also talked to Kanka and his family.

“He’s a great dude,” Kanka said. “Had a good chance to talk to him after the spring game. Still a great guy, great coach. Looking forward to playing for him. Just so much going on in his life right now. It’s a sudden change, and it’s crazy, and he’s doing great with it.”

Moore was the person Kanka wanted to succeed Jim Harbaugh following the latter’s departure in the winter.

“All the players seem to love him,” Kanka said. “All the coaches he’s hired, they seem to all be great guys and great coaches, so that’s a big plus. The relationships he has with the guys, I think he carries that over to the families, too. I think it’s a great job, and he’s doing a fantastic job, and I’m just excited to get there.”

Kanka committed to Michigan last August and is the longest-serving verbal commit in the 2025 class. He’s accentuated countless times about the team’s history of defensive line development and how the best pass rushers are playing for the College Football Playoff winners. That was further proven from Kanka’s perspective at the spring game.

“Mason Graham, he’ll be a Top 10 pick,” Kanka said. “I don’t care what anybody says. He’s the best. He’s the best defensive tackle I’ve seen play. KG (Kenneth Grant), same thing. They’ll be the best defense tackle duo in the country.”

Knowing that freshmen who arrived in Ann Arbor three months ago were given the stage to contribute in the spring game also piqued Kanka’s interest.

“I think it was good,” Kanka said. “I was able to watch a bunch of early enrollees play, which was promising for me. I saw every single one of them get some significant time during the game. So, that was pretty cool. I think the energy was just as good as last year. So, I think they’re not losing any strides in that part.”

Kanka plans to schedule an official visit with Michigan soon. MSU and Tennessee are slated to host the junior on June 14-16 and June 21-23, respectively.

“I think just being around the culture a little bit more,” Kanka said. “I’ve been to Ann Arbor probably 50 to 100 times in my life, but not really as a part of the program, I guess. So, I think that official visit will be good. Go do that with the other commits in the class, be a part of it for a weekend, and see what it’s really going to be like when we’re there.”

At 6-foot-5, 279 pounds, Kanka is listed as the No. 26 overall defensive lineman in the country and No. 3 in-state recruit, according to On3.

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