What’s next? An early look at 2025 Michigan running back targets

Michigan may very well be done at the running back position this cycle.

The Wolverines picked up a verbal commitment from three-star Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman running back Micah Ka’apana over the weekend. He joins a class that already featured Top 100 Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller running back Jordan Marshall.

With both Ka’apana and Marshall fully locked in, the status of Top 100 Longview (Texas) High running back Taylor Tatum, who is slated to make an official visit this weekend, remains in limbo. Even if Tatum does make his trip to Ann Arbor, all signs point to USC.

Michigan, however, is fine with that.

The Wolverines love what they are getting in Ka’apana and Marshall and are already off to a hot start with multiple priority ball carriers in the 2025 recruiting class. This is the first year that position coach Mike Hart has really been proactive with underclassmen. And that is paying dividends.

Michigan hosted Top 100 Cleveland (Ohio) Villa-Angela St. Joseph prospect Bo Jackson for an unofficial visit earlier this month. The Wolverines are making plenty of progress with Jackson, who is considered an Ohio State lean. Could this be another Marshall situation? Don’t rule it out.

Jackson isn’t the only high-profile back the Wolverines have hosted this offseason. On300 Gaithersburg (Md.) Quince Orchard prospect Iverson Howard named Michigan his leader following a spring visit. Nicknamed Rocket, Howard is a speedy all-purpose back in the sam mold as Ka’apana. Expect him to make a return trip soon — potentially for the BBQ at The Big House.

Michigan received a visit from four-star Buford (Ga.) High running back Justin Baker this month, which resulted in an On3 Recruiting Prediction from our own Zach Libby. Baker is a teammate of 2025 Michigan linebacker commit Mantrez Walker and already has a strong connection with Hart.

An underrated back that Hart really likes is Katy (Texas) Jordan prospect Chad Gasper, who made his first visit last week. Gasper is not ranked at this time, but he’s starting to gain some serious traction on the trail with offers from Ohio State and Oregon. Hart was in on Gasper early and should have a good shot at plucking him from the Lone Star State.

On300 prospects Bud McCoombs of DMV powerhouse Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha and Deondrae Riden of Dallas-area powerhouse DeSoto both notched Michigan offers this offseason and have expressed interest in visiting Ann Arbor soon.

Hart, of course, is known as a diamond finder and also has his eyes on more under-the-radar backs like Atlanta (Ga.) Westlake’s Tomir Bransford and Jefferson (Texas) High’s Kamran Williams.

Five-star level backs like Metairie (La.) St. Martin’s Episcopal’s Harlem Berry and Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei’s Jordan Davison, who actually visited as an underclassman, would obviously be takes for the Wolverines but seem unlikely at this time.

One of the more intriguing names on the board is On300 Cleveland (Ohio) Heights athlete Marquise Davis, who could play running back, linebacker or safety at the next level. Some are projecting Davis on the defensive side of the ball, but his film at running back is really impressive.

Overall, Michigan is once again expected to take two backs next cycle.

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