Michigan’s push for 2027 five-star cornerback Josh Dobson isn’t dead yet, even after his commitment to South Carolina last Wednesday.
Dobson made it clear at his commitment ceremony that he’s happy with the Gamecocks, but he also left the door cracked for other programs to keep working. “I think it’s great, but it’s far from over,” Dobson said.
“Obviously, until I sign that dotted line, schools still gonna try to reach out to me. But for now, I’m really 1,000 percent committed to (South Carolina).
I don’t even think I’m going to decommit.”
That’s the kind of quote that keeps recruiting staffs busy. Dobson also said he does not plan on taking visits to other schools, but that won’t stop Michigan cornerbacks coach Jernaro Gilford and the Wolverines from staying in touch and trying to keep the pressure on.
Dobson later tried to clarify some of those comments over the weekend, but the bigger picture didn’t really change. He still didn’t say he’s shutting down communication with other programs, and as he noted himself, the process isn’t finished until December. Michigan is expected to keep recruiting him until then.
While the Wolverines missed on Dobson, they did land a big one in the 2027 class with four-star cornerback Monsanna Torbert. The Cincinnati, Ohio native picked Michigan over Ohio State, giving the Wolverines a notable win in the Buckeyes’ backyard.
Torbert’s high school teammate at Princeton High School, 2028 four-star wide receiver Lorenzo McMullen Jr., is already a name to watch for Michigan in the next cycle. At 6-foot-2 and 170 pounds, McMullen is ranked No. 27 overall in his class by the Rivals Industry Rankings, and he already holds offers from Michigan, Ohio State and others.
McMullen said Torbert’s decision didn’t surprise him. “(Torbert’s commitment) wasn’t that shocking to me,” McMullen said.
“We talk a lot, so I kind of knew already. My interest definitely went up having the opportunity to play with a brother of mine.”
Torbert also told 247Sports’ Tom Loy that he plans on recruiting McMullen to Michigan, along with “the whole state of Ohio.”
Michigan is also in a strong spot early with another 2028 target, four-star edge rusher Major Stokes. The 6-foot-5, 237-pound prospect from Orem, Utah is ranked No. 74 overall in the Rivals Industry Rankings and has offers from a long list of major programs, including Miami, Oklahoma, USC, Utah and BYU.
Stokes spoke with Rivals’ Greg Biggins about his latest trip to Ann Arbor, which came in April and marked his second visit to campus. He said the relationship with the staff stands out, especially with Lewis Powell.
“I really love the coaching staff and Lewis Powell is more than a coach, he’s like a father figure,” Stokes said. “He was one of the first coaches to reach out to me when I was just in the eighth grade so I’m really comfortable with him.
… I’ve known coach Whitt for a long time as well,” Stokes said. “I was able to hang out with him and the rest of the staff and really enjoyed getting to know everyone there in a pretty chill environment.
“I like the culture there and coach Whitt’s coaching style. He’s an aggressive coach and that’s what his teams are known for. Michigan is a top five school for me right now but I don’t plan on making an early decision, I want to play out my season first but I do like them a lot.”
Stokes isn’t ready to move fast. He wants to get through the upcoming season before trimming his list and taking more visits. Even so, Michigan should be in the mix when that next round of decisions starts to take shape.
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