Michigan had two big 2027 cornerback decisions on the board Wednesday, and the Wolverines ended the day with one elite win and one painful miss.
Five-star Joshua Dobson went to South Carolina, while four-star Monsanna Torbert picked Michigan in a head-to-head battle with Ohio State. For Michigan, that’s the kind of mixed outcome that still leaves plenty to build on.
Dobson, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound corner from Cornelius, North Carolina, was ranked No. 12 overall in the Rivals Industry Rankings for 2027. His recruitment was a major rise for Michigan, which went from not being in the mix to finishing in his top two. South Carolina got the last official visit and made its push count, with the Gamecocks ultimately landing the five-star shortly after 6 PM EST on the Rivals YouTube Channel.
It was a surprise to see South Carolina come out on top after Texas A&M had seemed like the team to beat for much of the process. That makes it the second straight week the Aggies have lost out on a five-star after holding the lead for an extended stretch.
Michigan was in the fight, and the source material suggests the Wolverines had a strong offer in place. Kyle Whittingham also built a strong relationship with Dobson, but Shane Beamer had been in the mix longer, and that may have helped South Carolina close.
If Dobson was the swing-and-miss, Torbert was the answer.
Michigan beat out Ohio State for the Cincinnati native, who checks in at No. 97 overall. Torbert is just under 5-foot-11, and the report notes that if he were 6-foot-1 like Dobson, he’d likely be in five-star territory himself.
Even without that extra height, he brings real production and versatility. Last season, he started at quarterback and piled up more than 2,000 total yards, while also recording 40 tackles, three interceptions, and three pass breakups.
Ohio State was the favorite coming out of Torbert’s official visit, but Michigan surged during Victors Weekend and finished the job. The report also notes that Torbert is one of Kyle Whittingham’s biggest commitments in the 2027 class.
Michigan’s cornerback class now includes three four-star commitments, along with four-star safety/cornerback Tavares Harrington and three-star safety Charles Woodson Jr. Even with Dobson headed elsewhere, the Wolverines still sit with a top-10 recruiting class in 2027.
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