Michigan’s push on the recruiting trail is leaning hard into family ties, and one of the newest names in that lane is 2028 three-star safety Marquis Ray.
Ray, whose father Marcus Ray played defensive back for the Wolverines and won a national championship in 1997, recently picked up an offer from Michigan. That connection has already turned into an early prediction from Rivals’ Allen Trieu ($), who expects Ray to end up in Ann Arbor.
“Ray got a Michigan offer recently. His father Marcus played for the Wolverines and this Michigan staff is putting more emphasis on legacy recruits.
One they have committed is Charles Woodson Jr., whose father shared a secondary with Ray’s father. Marquis also likes Tennessee and some other schools but with all that history, Michigan is the early prediction here.”
There’s no hurry on Ray’s side. He still has two years of high school left, and he won’t need to sign until much later. Even so, an early lean like this is a positive sign for Michigan as it continues building around those legacy connections.
That same recruiting strategy is showing up in the 2026 and 2027 classes, too. Michigan already has legacy commitments from quarterback Tommy Carr, offensive lineman Tommy Fraumann and edge rusher Ndi Etta in the 2026 group, while safety Charles Woodson Jr. is committed in the 2027 class.
Another in-state target to watch is 2028 four-star safety LaMarcus Army, a Cass Tech standout who has lined up a game day visit for the 2026 season. Army told The Michigan Insider ($) that he plans to be at the week two matchup with Oklahoma.
”I’m planning on going to the week two game versus Oklahoma,” Army told The Michigan Insider ($).
Michigan has been working him consistently, and Army said the communication has been steady.
“Yes, me and one of the safeties coaches talk once or twice a week,” Army said. “They want me to get down to campus as fast and as much I can.”
That Oklahoma game is shaping up to be an important one on the field and on the recruiting front. Michigan has home dates this season against Oklahoma, Iowa, Penn State, Indiana and Michigan State, giving recruits several chances to see the Wolverines in person.
Elsewhere, 2027 four-star defensive lineman Seth Tillman is set to announce his commitment tomorrow, and Michigan remains firmly in the mix. The Wolverines entered his recruitment later than some others, but they’ve clearly made up ground.
”They came on later in my recruitment but have been talking every day,” Tillman told 247Sports’ Anna Adams ($). “I loved my official visit there.”
Tillman said his decision came down to consistency and honesty throughout the process.
“I reached my decision based on the school being good to be over my whole recruitment process,” he said. “This school has been straightforward with me the whole time.”
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