Despite a tough loss to Ohio State on Saturday, Michigan football is showing no signs of slowing down on the recruiting trail. The Wolverines just landed a big-time commitment from one of the top defensive prospects in the country, and it’s a clear sign that this program is still building for the long haul.
On Sunday, Michigan secured a pledge from four-star EDGE Recarder Kitchen, a 6-foot-6, 240-pound pass rusher out of Muskegon, Michigan. Kitchen is ranked No. 110 overall in the 2027 class, according to the 247Sports composite, and he’s widely considered one of the premier defensive talents in the country. His commitment is a major in-state win and adds another high-ceiling defender to a pipeline that’s been steadily producing top-tier talent.
Kitchen’s commitment marks the third straight recruiting class in which Michigan has landed an EDGE ranked inside the top 110 nationally. That’s not just consistency - that’s a clear identity taking shape on the defensive side of the ball.
For a program that has built much of its recent success on dominant front-seven play, Kitchen fits the mold perfectly. He’s long, explosive, and already productive at the high school level, with a knack for getting after the quarterback.
And Kitchen wasn’t the only good news for Michigan on Sunday.
The Wolverines also flipped four-star cornerback Jamarion Vincent, who had previously been committed elsewhere. Vincent, ranked No. 168 overall in the 2026 class, brings length, athleticism, and versatility to the secondary - and his decision to join Michigan just one day after the loss to Ohio State speaks volumes about the program’s recruiting momentum. It’s not easy to pull off a flip like that, especially coming off a rivalry defeat, but Michigan did it.
Vincent’s offer list tells you everything you need to know about the kind of talent Michigan just added. Programs like USC, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Penn State, Tennessee, and others were all in the mix. But in the end, Michigan got the job done.
The loss to Ohio State stings - there’s no sugarcoating that. But if you’re looking for reasons to feel optimistic about the Wolverines’ future, look no further than Sunday’s recruiting haul. Two top-200 players across two different classes, both on the defensive side of the ball, both choosing Michigan over a host of national powers.
This is how you stay competitive in the Big Ten. This is how you close the gap in the rivalry. And if Michigan keeps stacking defensive talent like this, they won’t just be in the conversation - they’ll be leading it.