Amidst the recruiting landscape, approximately one month after the Early National Signing Day in December and a couple of weeks ahead of the upcoming signing day in February, there is a wealth of recruiting updates.
In this compilation, the father of a recently decommitted player indicates that Michigan is still under consideration. Additionally, a committed defensive lineman sheds light on the speculation surrounding Jim Harbaugh, while a four-star cornerback includes Michigan in his list of top-10 choices.
Father of Chris Ewald says Michigan is still being considered
Four-star recruit Chris Ewald, the sole cornerback in Michigan’s 2025 class, recently decommitted. However, there remains a possibility that he could recommit to Michigan. In an interview with The Wolverine’s EJ Holland, Chris Ewald Sr., the player’s father, mentioned that Michigan still holds the top spot on his son’s list. According to Holland, the decision to decommit was influenced by factors such as NIL opportunities and uncertainties surrounding Jim Harbaugh’s future. The Ewald family was reportedly surprised by Harbaugh’s interview with the Los Angeles Chargers, and this development ultimately led to the decommitment.
While it might be a challenging scenario, there is still hope for Ewald to choose Michigan. Holland noted that the young cornerback maintains a “strong” relationship with co-defensive coordinator Steve Clinkscale. While it’s a bit of a longshot, the possibility is not entirely ruled out. Updates will be provided as Ewald’s recruitment process unfolds.
Three-star DL signee talks Michigan winning natty, Harbaugh speculation
In a recent update, three-star defensive lineman Deyvin Palepale, who switched his commitment from USC to Michigan last month, is set to participate in the Polynesian Bowl in Hawaii later this month, joining a roster of high school talents.
During an interview with The Michigan Insider’s Brice Marich, Palepale expressed his delight in witnessing Michigan’s National Championship victory. He expressed confidence in his potential contribution to the team, drawing parallels to the impact made by young player Mason Graham.
“I do feel like I could produce like (Graham) did. I don’t feel like we are the same player, but I do think I could contribute in ways like he did,” Palepale stated.
While keeping an eye on the Jim Harbaugh situation, Palepale remains committed and praised offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore. He indicated that he trusts Moore, who would likely be considered for the head coach position if Harbaugh were to depart.
“I always keep an open mind to everything, but like Michigan was offering him a contract midseason and I don’t think a program like that would do that if they didn’t trust or believe those things weren’t true,” Palepale remarked. “I see myself staying no matter what. A lot of people commit to schools for the coaches and that’s something, for example right now where Harbaugh is going to be coaching, is kind of messy. But I have trust in coach Sherrone Moore — he’s a fabulous coach. He could be a head coach pretty much anywhere in the country. I’m not really worried about it. I love coach Harbaugh to death, but if he’s gone, then I (have) full belief in them.”
Four-star CB includes Michigan in top-10
In a notable development, Mark Zackery, a highly-rated four-star cornerback from the class of 2025, revealed his top-10 choices earlier this week. Michigan secured a spot on his list, alongside other prominent programs such as Ohio State, Notre Dame, Georgia, Cincinnati, Oregon, Purdue, Penn State, USC, and Tennessee. This signals a competitive recruitment process, and it will be interesting to see which program ultimately secures Zackery’s commitment.
Top 🔟! Very grateful and blessed to be in the position I am in today and looking forward to finding the best place for me. #AGTG🙏🏾 My recruitment is still open!!! pic.twitter.com/WO2F8TQuyy
— Mark “MZ” Zackery IV (@mzackery_) January 15, 2024
Mark Zackery holds an impressive standing on the 247Sports composite, ranking as the 168th-best player in the class of 2025, the 23rd-best cornerback, and the second-best player from Indiana. Notably, he made a mid-week visit to Michigan in November, expressing to The Wolverine at the time that Michigan was prominently positioned on his list.
An intriguing aspect of Zackery’s recruitment is a Crystal Ball prediction filed by 247’s Steve Wiltfong, forecasting that the Indiana native is likely to commit to Notre Dame. As the recruiting process unfolds, it will be interesting to see how Zackery’s decision-making progresses, especially given the competitive landscape for talented cornerbacks. Regular updates will be provided to keep you informed about the latest developments in Zackery’s recruitment.
