Commit Impact: What landing key LB target Cole Sullivan means for Michigan

Michigan scored an important recruiting win when three-star Pittsburgh (Pa.) Central Catholic linebacker Cole Sullivan gave U-M a verbal pledge on Friday.

The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder picked the Wolverines over offers from Boston College, Miami, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn State, Utah and others.

Sullivan is the 17th member of Michigan’s 2024 recruiting class.

Here are some quick takes on what Sullivan’s commitment means for the Wolverines.

1 Michigan is on a roll on the recruiting trail. The Wolverines were one of the biggest winners nationally in April with three On300 lands in tight end Brady Prieskorn and offensive linemen Blake Frazier and Andrew Sprague. The Wolverines also scored commitments from four-star defensive lineman Jerod Smith and three-star offensive lineman Jake Guarnera. Michigan has continued to build momentum in May with the commitments on three-star wide receiver Channing Goodwin and Sullivan this week.

2 So how did this one happen? Notre Dame was considered the clear leader for Sullivan for several months, and most expected him to land in South Bend. It’s not often the Irish lose a kid with the last name Sullivan from a Catholic school. However, Michigan wowed Sullivan on his visit last month. The Wolverines are obviously winning both on the field and on the trail, and the vibrant atmosphere around the program really moved the needle for Sullivan.

3 That’s two Michigan recruiting wins in a row over rival Notre Dame. And in both cases, it appears the Irish were caught off guard. Michigan has done a fantastic job of making surges in recruitments this cycle and impressing recruits and their families on visits. Much like with Jerod Smith, Michigan came out of a hidden corner to pull out the victory with Sullivan. There is no reason Michigan shouldn’t win even bigger battles against Notre Dame moving forward.

4 Sullivan is listed as a linebacker, but I wouldn’t pigeonhole him. Sullivan is very much in the same mold as fellow commit Mason Curtis and brings plenty of versatility. Sullivan and Curtis have similar frames and could end up at multiple positions in Ann Arbor — whether that’s EDGE, linebacker or safety. While Sullivan isn’t very highly rated, Michigan loves his position flexibility and upside.

5 I would personally classify Sullivan as a defensive athlete. Where both he and Curtis end up will depend a lot on how they develop in the Michigan strength and conditioning program under Ben Herbert, who is arguably the best at his job in the country. Herbert is extremely valuable with guys like Curtis and Sullivan because he can take their bodies in so many different directions. Having Herbert should give Michigan even more confidence to take recruits that lack true a true position but have intriguing frames and skillsets.

6 I haven’t seen Sullivan live nor have I watched enough film to give a true evaluation. However, Sullivan has an impressive highlight reel for a guy with his lowly ranking. Sullivan looks quick off the edge and knows how to get after the quarterback. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him be a pass rusher at the next level. With that said, Sullivan does display traditional linebacker traits — ability to sift through blockers, physicality when tackling and comfort playing in space. Overall, Sullivan is an intriguing prospect that I’d like to see more of.

7 Taking Sullivan does not mean Michigan is feeling any less confident with top linebacker targets Aaron Chiles and Jeremiah Beasley. The Wolverines just made the Top 3 for Chiles, and I have no reason to doubt my prediction at this time. Beasley is looking to make a decision this summer, and the Wolverines will have an opportunity to shut the door on his official visit.

8 It’s good to see Michigan winning some battles in Western Pennsylvania. Former Michigan quarterbacks coach Matt Weiss was the area recruiter there the last couple of cycles and did a poor job. With Kirk Campbell now leading the charge and Chris Partridge and Grant Newsome having a presence in Pennsylvania in general, the Wolverines should be able to continue finding success. There is a lot of talent in Western PA that isn’t guaranteed to go to Penn State.

9. Here are the commits by position

1 – Quarterback

1 – Running Back

1 – Wide Receiver

2 – Tight End

5 – Offensive Line

3 – Defensive Line

2 – Linebacker

1 – Defensive Back

10. Here are the commits by state

2 – Connecticut

1 – Florida

2 – Michigan

1 – Missouri

2 – North Carolina

4 – Ohio

1 – Pennsylvania

1 – Tennessee

1 – Texas

1 – Washington

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