Four-star 2025 RB Deondrae Riden talks recent Michigan offer, Mike Hart

Michigan running backs coach Mike Hart made a swing through the Lone Star State this winter and extended an offer to Deondrae Riden.

The four-star running back from Dallas-area powerhouse DeSoto (Texas) High was both surprised and excited when Hart put the scholarship on the table.

“I was excited to get that offer,” Riden said. “(Hart) came up to the school and offered me after that. I talked to him, and he told me that he wanted to get me out there for a visit. I was really excited about that one.”

Riden was able to have a short conversation with Hart after the offer. And it’s clear Hart made a strong first impression.

“Coach Hart seems like a really genuine guy,” Riden said. “He was telling me about his time as a running back at Michigan. I’m hoping to build a better relationship with him over the next two years.”

Michigan has obviously become a destination school for top-level ball carriers.

After all, the Wolverines boast one of the most potent ground attacks in the country. With Hart, Michigan’s all-time leading rusher, coaching the group, there are few if any better situations for running back recruits.

“I know they produce running backs,” Riden said. “They had a big rushing season. They had a running back up for the Heisman (Blake Corum), so that’s something that really impresses me as a running back.”

The next step for Riden is making his first-ever trip to Ann Arbor for an unofficial visit.

“I’m trying maybe get out there in the summer,” Riden said. “I just want to meet some of the coaches and the players. I want to see what type of school it is. I definitely want to see The Big House.”

Riden rushed for 1,354 yards and 18 touchdowns as a sophomore.

Along with Michigan, Riden holds offers from Alabama, Miami, Ohio State, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, USC and others.

At 5-foot-10, 195 pounds, Riden is ranked as the No. 15 running back and No. 186 overall prospect nationally, per the On3 Industry Ranking.

Riden has an On3 NIL Valuation of $37K with 3.6K followers across all platforms. The On3 NIL Valuation is an index that looks to set the standard market value for both high school and college-level athletes. The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.

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