Michigan football makes big climb in ESPN 2026 recruiting rankings with elite commitments
The last time that ESPN updated its 2026 college football recruiting rankings, Michigan football had just made its debut, coming in at No. 17 overall. After a torrid month of June, the Wolverines are moving up even more.
Last week, ESPN updated its rankings, and though it doesn't include the commitment of wide receiver Travis Johnson or cornerback Dorian Barney -- or the flip of cornerback Brody Jennings to Miami -- the Wolverines have moved up 10 spots and are now just outside of the top five at No. 7 overall.
The Wolverines signed the No. 1 QB for the 2025 cycle in Bryce Underwood and he carries high expectations, but they continue to add talent to the position and landed ESPN 300 signal-caller Brady Smigiel. The onetime Florida State commit is not only an accurate passer, but he also plays with the confidence and swagger that will be needed battling with five-star Underwood.
After losing two DLs in the first round of the NFL draft, Michigan added several DLs to this class, including ESPN 300 DEs Titan Davis and McHale Blade. Four-star DE Tariq Boney is a player to keep an eye on. He lacks ideal length but can be a well-rounded technician and a quick contributor. In addition to pulling Boney out of the nation's capital, Michigan also landed Carter Meadows, a rangy edge defender who can bend well.
As noted, at No. 44 overall, Smigiel continues to be the highest-rated commitment for the Wolverines in this class, according to ESPN. Wide receiver target Calvin Russell, who committed to Syracuse in a surprise pledge on Saturday, would have been the top offensive player at No. 28. Meadows, the highest-rated defensive commitment, is No. 88 according to ESPN's rankings.
Here is where each of the current commits ranks in the ESPN300:
With 10 included in the ranking and 12 overall now, the Wolverines are in a good spot to continue moving up. Of the remaining top targets in the 2026 class, Mineral (Va.) Louisa County running back Savion Hiter is No. 24, Ogden (Utah) Fremont athlete Salesi Moa is No. 35, Suwanee (Ga.) Collins Hill defensive tackle Deuce Geralds is No. 40, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy linebacker DQ Forkpa is No. 41, Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian cornerback Davon Benjamin is No. 63, and Marietta (Ga.) Kell linebacker Brayden Rouse is No. 153.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Houston Rockets Not Prioritizing Kevin Durant Contract Extension
Houston Rockets Not Prioritizing Kevin Durant Contract Extension originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Kevin Durant's future in Houston isn't a pressing matter, at least not yet. According to a new report, the Rockets are not prioritizing an extension for the two-time Finals MVP this summer, instead focusing on other offseason business. While Durant remains a central piece of Houston's title ambitions, both sides are reportedly content to take a patient approach before entering serious contract talks. "There's not a sense of urgency to get it done right now. The Rockets have other business that they need to handle this summer," said ESPN's Tim MacMahon. "Primarily, the extension for Tari Eason. It was a big splash; it was a potential final piece that they needed to be a real-deal contender, that go-to guy they were sorely missing last season." As it stands, Kevin Durant is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, meaning that he could leave the Rockets after just one season with the team. While the 36-year-old legend is the Rockets' best player (26.6 points per game last season), the organization is not rushing to commit the next five years to the 2x Finals MVP. "They didn't push all their chips in; they were very patient as far as the pursuit of a trade for Kevin Durant. They waited until the price was at a value that they felt was comfortable for them," MacMahon continued. "Kevin Durant's their best player, he's not necessarily their priority. That's not an insult to him, but their priority is making sure they have as long of a runway as possible while trying to cash in on this window that they created by getting Kevin Durant." On his way out of Phoenix, Kevin Durant was actively working to hand-select his next destination. Despite no promise of a max extension, he chose the Rockets and left his NBA future open-ended. "Both sides want that to be more than a one-year window, but it's not gonna be a max extension. If that was the priority for Kevin Durant, it would've been done in conjunction with the trade, and he probably wouldn't have ended up in Houston. So, I think you'll see both sides take a patient approach.' Both sides are seemingly testing the waters on their next partnership. For Durant, he's still unsure what this tenure in Houston might bring. While he's optimistic about his team's title chances, he has an out next summer if things go horribly wrong, and history tells us he won't be shy about using it. For the Rockets, it would normally be ideal to secure a superstar for as long as possible, but they are not entirely convinced about how he'll fit with their younger roster. At nearly 40 years old, Houston isn't willing to sacrifice the stability of their young core to appease Kevin Durant. For both Durant and the Rockets, their entire partnership hinges on what happens in the 2025-26 campaign. If they can top their performance from last season and make a deep playoff run in the West, it could be all they need to agree on a long-term extension. Ultimately, both sides are in a feeling-out process. Durant is betting on Houston to give him one last legitimate shot at a title, while the Rockets are betting that his star power can elevate their promising young roster. If this season delivers on that potential, the groundwork will be there for a longer commitment. If not, this could end up being just another short stop in Durant's winding Hall of Fame story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Aug 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Punches thrown at Lions-Dolphins joint practice after fight breaks out
Punches thrown at Lions-Dolphins joint practice after fight breaks out originally appeared on The Sporting News The Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins are holding two joint practices this week, with the first taking place on Wednesday. And, as we've seen so many times over the years, there was a fight during the session. The fight took place near the end of the practice, with wideout Jameson Williams "swinging hands" on a Dolphins defender, Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit reported. According to Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News, the Dolphins defender was none other than safety Ifeatu Melifonwu, the Lions' 2021 third-round pick who spent four seasons with the team before he wasn't re-signed in 2024. Upon getting into the dust-up, both teams "converged quickly," and the fight was ultimately broken up, Reisman added. By all accounts, the Lions handily out-classed the Dolphins at the joint practice, and did so on both sides of the ball. "Lions defense had the most dominant joint practice I've ever witnessed," Reisman reported after the session. "That was the most lopsided joint practice I've ever seen. Lions dominated both sides," The Athletic's Colton Pouncy wrote. The Lions and Dolphins will be back on the practice field together on Thursday, and then the two teams will meet at Ford Field for the preseason Week 2 contest on Saturday. MORE DETROIT LIONS NEWS Lions-Dolphins joint practice sees 1st injury after defender is carted off Lions predicted to cut ties with Hendon Hooker after disastrous preseason performance Detroit Lions veteran thinks team might be cursed after bad injury luck Dan Campbell 'fired up' about Detroit Lions quarterback Kyle Allen
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Lakers' Austin Reaves Could Get 'Wake-Up Call' on Massive New Contract
Lakers' Austin Reaves Could Get 'Wake-Up Call' on Massive New Contract originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It's no secret that the contract the Lakers gave guard Austin Reaves when he hit free agency in 2023--four years and $54 million--was a rock-bottom NBA bargain. Many expected Reaves to get something in the four-year, $100 million range, but under league rules, the Lakers were not allowed to pay Reaves at that level and, ultimately, he could not get anyone else to make that investment, either. So he took his hefty deal from L.A. and is now careening toward his next crack at free agency, next summer when he surely will exercise his player option. As one executive told Tim Bontemps of ESPN, "I think he will get $30 [million] plus." That's per season, of course, and could mean that Reaves is in line for a five-year, $150 million megadeal. Lakers Could Benefit Ah, but not all executives agree. One GM said he thinks Reaves will be, "a little bit of a test case" for the NBA's new, stiffer luxury-tax rules. "Two years ago, Reaves would get $30 million, no doubt," the GM said. "If there had been more (cap) space, he might have gotten it then. There has been a mindset to being willing to overpay players based on, almost, where they're supposed to slot in. So, Zach LaVine got $215 (million) even though the Bulls knew they did not want to give it to him and tried to trade him as soon as they did give it. And there's 15, 20 guys like that. "You can't do that anymore. You can't just say, 'Well, he averages 20 (points) so he needs to get $30 (million) per year.' No. You're going to have to take these negotiations more seriously. You're going to have to be realistic about what a guy is worth, on both ends of the floor, before you put a number out there. And Austin Reaves should get $24, $25 (million) a year. Not $30. "It matters." If teams are being tighter, of course, that figures to benefit the Lakers. Lakers Will Have Cap Space Reaves had a breakout season, averaging 20.2 points. But he remains a defensive liability, and a player who has struggled in the playoffs. More important, while there will be teams with cap space next season, it's still a limited field. It could held Reaves that, other than the Lakers and the Clippers, the rest of the list of teams with cap space are is made up of mostly teams that are low on talent--teams like Washington, Charlotte, Chicago and Brooklyn could have space. But the league's salary cap will be set at a lower mark than expected. That's going to eat into cap space for a player like Reaves. Austin Reaves Contract: 'It Only Takes One' Said another NBA executive, "Look, $30 million for Austin Reaves, it only takes one team to make the offer and I don't think you can rule that out. But everything is tighter now. Derrick White gets $30 million from the Celtics, and so you have to ask, does Austin Reaves affect winning as much as Derrick White?" We have seen players like Jonathan Kuminga and Josh Giddey seeking paydays in the $30 million range per year in restricted free agency. Neither is going to get anything close to that level. Reaves is a better player than either. But some expect him to feel the chill of cooled NBA spending next summer. "We'll see what kind of year he has, that's going to be a factor," the executive said. "And we'll see what kind of things teams do that give them more or less space. But I would not assume $30 million for Austin Reaves. It could be a wake-up call for a lot of guys." This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
