Michigan is already making noise in the 2028 cycle, and the Wolverines may be setting up another head-to-head fight with Ohio State for one of the class’s most coveted defensive linemen.
Kyle Whittingham has put together a strong first recruiting class in Ann Arbor, with Michigan sitting just outside the top 10 in the 247 Sports composite rankings and already holding commitments from 15 blue-chip prospects. But the staff hasn’t slowed down. It has pushed hard into 2028, where the Wolverines are gaining traction with a pair of top EDGE targets and now a highly sought-after defensive tackle.
Asa Burch, a four-star EDGE from Ohio, and Major Stokes, a four-star EDGE from Utah, have both been projected to end up at Michigan in the 2028 class. Stokes checks in at 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, ranked 74th overall and as the second-highest-rated player in Utah. Burch is sitting at No. 129 overall, and the Rivals Recruiting Prediction Machine currently favors the Wolverines.
That kind of early momentum on the edge would be a strong start. But Michigan’s bigger battle may be for Aedyn Havili, the 6-foot-2, 320-pound defensive tackle from Sammamish, Washington. Havili posted 7.5 sacks last season, along with 33 tackles and 2.5 pass breakups, and Michigan is among the top five teams in his recruitment, according to Brice Marich of The Michigan Insider.
The Wolverines also have a visit working in their favor. Havili is planning to get to Ann Arbor, likely for a game this fall.
That matters. If Michigan can get him on campus in the fall, bring him back in the spring, and then close the deal with an official visit over the summer, the path to a commitment starts to look a lot cleaner.
The competition is real, though. Havili hasn’t released an official top five, but Washington, Ohio State, USC, and Arizona State are viewed as the other major players.
Michigan first offered him in June of 2025 under the previous staff, and Whittingham has since re-affirmed that offer. That fits with his history, too - he’s shown an affinity for West-Coast defensive linemen after two decades at Utah.
Ohio State entered the picture in May, and the race has only gotten busier since then. Oregon, LSU, and Penn State all offered last month, which tells you this recruitment is still gaining steam.
Havili is ranked 98th overall in the 247 Sports composite rankings, while the Rivals Industry Rankings have him all the way up at No. 50.
For now, Ohio State is the team to beat. The Buckeyes hold a 32 percent chance to land his commitment via the Rivals Recruiting Prediction Machine. Michigan still has ground to make up, but the relationship the Wolverines have built with Havili gives them a real shot to stay in the hunt.
And with Michigan and Ohio State both involved, this is exactly the kind of recruiting battle that can take on a life of its own.
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