Michigan football picked up one major defensive win on Wednesday and still has another elite target hanging in the balance.
The Wolverines landed four-star cornerback Monsanna Torbert over Ohio State, a significant head-to-head victory in the 2027 class. But they also came up short in the chase for five-star cornerback Joshua Dobson, who committed to South Carolina and then made it clear the story may not be finished.
Dobson didn’t slam the door after choosing the Gamecocks. In fact, he left it cracked wide open.
“It came down to Michigan & South Carolina….it’s not over until I sign that dotted line”👀 https://t.co/kUuGxbuuUv
- Double BB🌟 (@BBsBigHouse1) July 2, 2026
“It came down to Michigan & South Carolina….it’s not over until I sign that dotted line," Dobson said after his commitment on Wednesda y.
That’s why Michigan is expected to keep pushing here. Brice Marich of The Michigan Insider reported that he didn’t expect the Wolverines to back off Dobson, and that keeps a flip in play for a class that still has work to do.
Torbert’s commitment mattered on its own. He came out of Cincinnati and beat out Ohio State after the Buckeyes had hosted him for a visit and were widely projected to land him.
Michigan pulled it off anyway. He’s listed at 5-foot-10.5 and also plays quarterback, with more than 2,000 total yards last season, along with 40 tackles and three interceptions on defense.
He may not carry five-star status, but he’s still a top-100 player in the 2027 class according to Rivals, and Michigan clearly valued the matchup enough to keep grinding until the end. Torbert even called himself the “Villain,” the kind of edge Wolverine fans usually love.
Still, Wednesday also showed why Michigan wants more. Ohio State landed Jett Harrison, and that makes the Buckeyes’ side of the equation a little louder. It’s hard to celebrate one cornerback win without noticing that another elite one is still on the board.
Dobson would be the bigger prize. A corner tandem of Dobson and Torbert would give Michigan the kind of answer it needs against Ohio State’s receiver talent. The source points to the kind of balance Will Johnson provided against Marvin Harrison Jr., and that’s the level Michigan would be chasing again.
Jyaire Hill would have to handle Jeremiah Smith if Michigan is going to have a shot at winning a third straight game in the Shoe.
For now, Dobson looks sold on South Carolina and on Kyle Whittingham’s first class. But Shane Beamer’s recent record gives Michigan a window. South Carolina has had losing seasons in two of the past three years, and if the Wolverines are sitting as a playoff team or even around nine wins, that could be enough to make Dobson think twice.
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Michigan Just Lost One Of Its Biggest 2027 Recruiting Battles
Michigan spent months working to get Josh Dobson on campus and in the mix, and the Wolverines made a real push for one of the top defensive backs in the 2027 class. The five-star cornerback from the nation's elite tier, ranked No. 12 overall, visited Ann Arbor multiple times and even took an official trip the weekend of June 12 after LSU was bumped from his schedule, a sign of how seriously Michigan was pursuing him.
Still, the recruitment ended with Michigan watching one of its biggest battles slip away, leaving the Wolverines to regroup on a player they had treated as a major priority. The good news for Michigan is that the secondary class is not empty behind him, with five defensive backs already pledged and enough early commitment strength to keep the long-term picture intact while the staff moves on to the next high-end target. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Missed On One Elite Corner But Landed A Massive Recruiting Win
Michigans cornerback board took a hit with five-star Joshua Dobson choosing elsewhere, but the Wolverines quickly answered with a significant win of their own. Four-star defensive back Monsanna Torbert committed to Michigan, giving the staff another promising cover man in the 2027 class and strengthening a position group that has become a clear priority in this cycle.
Torberts pledge matters beyond the rating next to his name because Michigan beat out Ohio State for his commitment, a swing that carries extra weight in any recruiting battle between those two programs. The Wolverines now have multiple cornerback commitments lined up in 2027, and the class is starting to look like one the staff can build around in the secondary. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Just Got A Huge Offseason Answer In The Frontcourt
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For Michigan, the timing is especially useful because Mike Boynton Jr. has already locked in several key pieces before the transfer portal officially opens. Estrellas decision helps stabilize a group that needed answers inside, and with another transfer portal commitment already in place, the Wolverines have started to build something tangible in the frontcourt rather than chase it from scratch. [Read more 🡒]