Five Midwest battles that will shape Michigan’s 2026 recruiting class

Multiple targets remain in Michigan’s 2025 recruiting class, but the reigning national champions are fully emphasizing the 2026 class, where double-digit prospects out of the Midwest yield offers.

The Wolverine examines five local battles that will shape U-M next cycle.

Top 100 DL McHale Blade, Chicago (Ill.) Simeon

Industry Ranking: No. 91 Overall, No. 10 Defensive Lineman, No. 1 in Illinois
On3 Ranking: No. 100 Overall, No. 6 Defensive Lineman, No. 1 in Illinois
RPM: Michigan (5.9%)
Past U-M Visits: 6/19/24

Other Schools In Contention: Notre Dame, Illinois, Purdue, Michigan State, Northwestern, Oregon, USC, Florida, Miami, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Missouri, others

Michigan has landed at least one commit from Chicagoland in every recruiting cycle since 2019. 2026 is littered with pass rushers out of The Windy City, with McHale Blade listed as the highest target on the Industry and On3 Rankings. Head coach Sherrone Moore has held strong connections in the area since his time as an assistant, and so does defensive line coach Lou Esposito, who offered Blade during the spring evaluation period. Blade visited Ann Arbor in June when U-M held camps inside Al Glick Field House. He’s been impressed with Esposito’s coaching and also knows sophomore defensive lineman Trey Pierce well. Blade plans on returning for a game this season. Unlike some other targets on this list, Blade has yet to cut down his offer sheet, but local schools like Notre Dame and Illinois have had him at their respective campuses the most. He’s coming off a visit to Miami as well, with the Hurricanes pushing hard in Chicago lately. Either way, the Wolverines will use their ties in the city to continue plucking away talent, with Blade among those at the top of the list.

Top 100 OL Greg Patrick, Portage (Mich.) Northern

Industry Ranking: No. 120 Overall, No. 7 Interior Offensive Lineman, No. 2 in Michigan
On3 Ranking: No. 73 Overall, No. 5 Interior Offensive Lineman, No. 1 in Michigan
RPM: Michigan (16.9%)
Past U-M Visits: 7/27/24, 5/31/24, 3/30/24, 9/23/23, 6/21/23

Other Schools In Contention: Nebraska, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Penn State, Alabama, Michigan State, Minnesota, Oklahoma

After Gregory Patrick returned to Michigan for the annual late July BBQ at The Big House, he publicly dropped a Top 9 list that included the Wolverines. He’s taken the short drive across I-94 to Ann Arbor a total of five times since June of last year, with the family garnering a sense of priority from Moore and offensive line coach Grant Newsome. Patrick’s father, who’s the offensive line coach at Portage Northern, thinks highly of both coaches and their knowledge of the position. Also, every available resource off the field for players catches the family’s attention. The major storyline surrounding Patrick is his legacy status to Michigan State, the early favorite on the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. Not only has he visited East Lansing the most out of any school, but his father played for the Spartans’ football team decades ago. U-M recognizes the ties but isn’t going about negative recruiting. Patrick is also a Nebraska legacy through his uncle. Either way, the celebration of offensive linemen at Michigan is among the catalysts for Patrick likely scheduling an official visit to Ann Arbor next offseason.

On300 WR CJ Sadler, Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech

Industry Ranking: No. 101 Overall, No. 15 Wide Receiver, No. 1 in Michigan
On3 Ranking: No. 212 Overall, No. 30 Wide Receiver, No. 3 in Michigan
RPM: Michigan (90.6%)
Past U-M Visits: 7/27/24, 6/19/24, 4/20/24, 11/25/23, 3/26/23, 10/29/22, 10/15/22

Other Schools In Contention: Michigan State, Penn State, Alabama, Florida, Colorado, LSU, Ohio State, others

Patrick is one of the multiple in-staters next cycle who take precedence for Michigan. Another is CJ Sadler, who’s been talked about in the U-M recruiting scene since he was in middle school. Sadler dreams of playing three ways at the next level, like Travis Hunter, and has the athleticism to do so, with the Wolverines taking every step necessary to ensure that the four-star stays close to home. Wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy has taken over for Steve Clinkscale as the lead recruiter for Sadler, who’s gotten close with the offensive assistant and others on the current coaching regime through his three offseason returns. He ended up watching the April spring game at The Big House and also came back for the barbecue. Sadler has taken three game-day appearances over the past two seasons as well. Sadler holds cards close to the vest but has shown strong interest in other schools like LSU and Colorado. The goal this fall will be to have Sadler come back at least once and then finalize an official visit. Pressing on the family atmosphere and genuine love that Sadler gravitates towards every time he’s in Ann Arbor will be pivotal moving forward.

On300 Illinois TEs

Who: Dunlap (Ill.) High’s Mack Sutter and Decatur (Ill.) Mt. Zion’s JC Anderson

Industry Ranking: No. 127 Overall, No. 5 Tight End, No. 3 in Illinois (Sutter)…No. 144 Overall, No. 6 Tight End, No. 4 in Illinois (Anderson)
On3 Ranking: No. 160 Overall, No. 8 Tight End, No. 3 in Illinois (Sutter), No. 234 Overall, No. 11 Tight End, No. 5 in Illinois (Anderson)
RPM: Michigan (1.1%) – Sutter…Michigan (7.5%) – Anderson
Past U-M Visits: 4/20/24 (Sutter)…6/5/24, 4/20/24 (Anderson)

Other Schools In Contention: Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Penn State, Tennessee (Sutter)…Oregon, Notre Dame, Auburn, Penn State, UNC, Florida State, Illinois, LSU, Texas (Anderson)

Michigan tight ends coach Steve Casula has two versatile playmakers committed in this cycle – Andrew Olesh and Eli Owens, with focus transitioing to the 2026 recruiting class, where two On300 tight ends have inserted U-M in their top schools list. Sutter, with a Top 12, and Anderson with a Top 10, both visited Ann Arbor for the spring game, while Anderson returned in early June to participate in workouts that Casula led. There are more tight ends next cycle who Michigan is in the mix for, but if the Wolverines are victorious in at least one of either Sutter and Anderson, that would be a monumental win for Casula and further proves how top tight ends in the country are pulling the trigger because of U-M’s positional usage.

On300 WR Payton Cook, Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban

Industry Ranking: No. 240 Overall, No. 39 Wide Receiver, No. 10 in Ohio
On3 Ranking: No. 299 Overall, No. 48 Wide Receiver, No. 15 in Ohio
RPM: Michigan (57.0%)
Past U-M Visits: 7/27/24, 6/17/24, 4/20/24, 11/25/23, 6/14/23

Other Schools In Contention: Pitt, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Purdue, Missouri, Rutgers, Indiana, Toledo

Tennessee, Wisconsin, Purdue, Missouri, Rutgers, Indiana, Toledo

The state of Ohio remains a priority for the current staff, much like when Jim Harbaugh was at the helm, and Payton Cook is a notable native to know next cycle. Prior to Cook’s return for the barbecue, he competed in a camp setting two months ago, traveled up for the spring game, and took in the win over Ohio State last season. Cook has said in the past that Ann Arbor is beginning to feel like home because of his numerous trips and his comfort around campus, Bellamy, and other coaches. One thing with Cook’s recruitment is whether the Buckeyes offer. Two other Archbishop Hoban targets that the Wolverines are pursuing do have an offer from the in-state school – Top 100 cornerback Elbert Hill and Top 100 offensive tackle Sam Greer. All three have visited Ann Arbor at least twice. If U-M were to land a commitment from Cook, that could spark things in the race for Hill and Greer. Also, Michigan graduate assistant LaTroy Lewis is an Archbishop Hoban alumnus.

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