Marquis Ray has already made himself a familiar face in Ann Arbor this fall, and the Saline two-way standout is taking a close look at Michigan while carrying a legacy connection to the program.
The son of Marcus Ray, the No. 17 overall 2028 in-state recruit according to 247Sports has now been on campus for both of Michigan’s home games this season. After transferring from central Ohio, Ray’s first fall at Saline has brought an immediate impact for the MHSAA Division I powerhouse.
“I feel like things have been great. We’re in a good defensive scheme and offensive scheme,” Ray told Maize n Brew.
“We’re just a great team, and I could see us going far. I think I’ve been doing great.
I’ve been good at man-to-man coverage. I’ve been covering my zones, breaking on the ball, triggering when I see the run, and just trying to make as many plays as I can.”
Michigan isn’t the only program watching closely. Kentucky, Illinois and Pitt are also showing strong interest, giving Ray a wider field to sort through as the season unfolds. But the Wolverines have had a chance to make their case in person, and the wins over WMU and Oklahoma gave him a better look at how they operate.
“They’re real dominant,” Ray said. “They play with some swag and confidence and I see myself like that.”
Ray’s relationship with the new staff has also been building for months. He earned an offer in June after working at a camp at Schembechler Hall, where he spent time with cornerbacks coach Jernaro Gilford and safeties coach Tyler Stockton.
“I think they’re great coaches, they develop great DBs,” Ray said. “I’ve seen coach Gilford at Utah. He’s brought some pretty good DBs over.”
As the process moves forward, Ray wants the staff to keep seeing him as a player who can do a little bit of everything in the secondary. He’s aiming to show he can tackle, cover and fit wherever he’s needed.
“I’m looking for a good relationship,” Ray said. “If the school would actually wants me and wants to keep recruiting me, instead of just being like, ‘Hey, come to the game.’ Maybe if you’re not going to offer me, I really shouldn’t go there because the clock is ticking.”
A decision could come by the winter, or possibly even sooner. Until then, Ray will keep hearing the pitch from a teammate already headed to Ann Arbor: 2027 offensive lineman commit Louis Esposito.
“(He says), ‘Come to Michigan, man,’” Ray said.
In Other News...
Why L.J. Cason Really Left Michigan Still Stings For Wolverines Fans
L.J. Casons path through Michigan was a short one, but it still left a mark. The three-star guard arrived as part of Dusty Mays recruiting work, spent the year with the Wolverines during their national title run and then saw that season interrupted by a torn ACL. When May left for the Dallas Mavericks, Cason entered the transfer portal and ultimately landed at Miami, a move he said was driven in large part by the coaching change.
Cason was back in Ann Arbor recently to get his championship rings, a reminder that he was part of a season Michigan fans will never forget even if his own role ended earlier than anyone hoped. His return also reopened the conversation around what might have been, and why his departure still resonates with Wolverines supporters who watched a promising young guard leave just as the program was trying to carry its momentum forward into another season. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Has One Clear Chance To Fix Its Biggest Early Concern
Michigan has navigated its first two games with a 2-0 record, but the path there has looked a little uneven. A controversial win over Western Michigan was followed by a defensive grinder against Oklahoma, and now the Wolverines get one last nonconference tuneup at home against UTEP before the schedule tightens. The good news is that the defense has been as advertised, giving up only one touchdown in eight quarters, while Bryce Underwoods running ability has already become an important part of the offense.
What Michigan still has not fully settled is the sort of early-season concern that can linger if it is not cleaned up against an overmatched opponent. UTEP comes in at 1-1, which gives the Wolverines a chance to play from a position of control, but also a chance to show more consistency in a game where the margin should be clearer. For a first-year coach trying to build momentum, this is the kind of Saturday that can either quiet the noise or leave one more question hanging into the heart of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Is Chasing A Defensive Fit Fans Will Want To Track
Michigan has added another name to its defensive board in Javontae Eldridge, a multi-sport athlete whose frame and movement skills make him an easy projection for college coaches looking for upside. At about 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, he brings the kind of length and explosiveness that can stand out quickly in recruiting evaluations, especially for a program that values pass-rush traits and players who can grow into multiple jobs on defense.
The Wolverines staff appears to see Eldridge as more than just a one-position target. His quick first step, ability to work with long arms and versatility in a defensive scheme give him a profile worth monitoring, and the effort he shows on the field only adds to the appeal. For Michigan, the offer signals interest in a player with a high ceiling, and it will be worth watching how strongly the fit develops from here. [Read more 🡒]