Michigan may be lining up another big win on the recruiting trail, and the latest buzz points to a rising defensive lineman from Utah.
Two Crystal Ball picks have come in over the past few days for Amanaki Henoa, a 6-foot-4, 310-pound 2027 prospect from Layton (Utah) Christian Academy, with the Wolverines now trending for his commitment. Henoa’s path to this point has been anything but traditional.
A native of New Zealand, he grew up playing rugby before coming to the United States. He spent last year in Oregon but was not able to play, which means his first real high school football action has come this season.
Even with that limited background, Henoa has already flashed production in three games: 14 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack and three quarterback pressures. A source with knowledge of the recruitment told 247Sports’ Blair Angulo that “He has shown that he has some legit upside, even with the inexperience,”
Michigan offered Henoa in mid-July, and he is working on arranging a game-day visit to Ann Arbor this fall. Penn State, Texas Tech, Iowa State, Washington, Utah, BYU and Boise State are also showing “high” interest, though none of those schools has offered him yet. The Wolverines already have two Utah prospects committed in four-star quarterback Kamden Lopati and three-star tight end Christian Hanshaw, and Henoa looks like another name to watch from that state in this cycle.
Michigan is also making a strong push for a top in-state edge rusher in the 2028 class. Bloomfield Hills (Mich.)
Brother Rice standout Jayden Bell opened his junior season with a bang, posting six tackles and 3.5 sacks in a 30-20 win over Dakota. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Bell already has more than 40 offers, and Michigan has clearly made him one of its priorities.
Defensive tackles coach Larry Black and assistant defensive line coach David Denham have been central figures in Bell’s recruitment. Bell said they reached out on game day with a simple message.
“They texted me today actually to have a good game and all that,” Bell told The Michigan Insider’s Brice Marich ($). “Coach Black texts me and coach Denham, too.
They are great guys and Coach Black actually offered me when he was up at Vanderbilt. When he came to Michigan, he offered me again, so he’s a great guy.”
Michigan’s pitch has also been straightforward.
“They said they’re going to try to do whatever to keep me in the city, so I love it,” Bell said.
Bell plans to visit Oregon, Florida, Georgia, Texas A&M, USC and Texas this fall, and Michigan will get him back on campus as well. He said he could make multiple trips after already visiting four or five times.
“They’re definitely top three of schools recruiting me the hardest,” Bell said. “They definitely are.”
Another familiar name on Michigan’s board is 2028 four-star offensive tackle Mataio Fano, who is set to visit later this month. The Orem (Utah) lineman is ranked No. 145 overall and No. 16 among offensive tackles in the Rivals Industry Ranking. His trip was originally set for Sept. 12, but it was moved to the Iowa game on Sept. 26 because of scheduling issues.
Michigan has a built-in advantage here thanks to long-standing relationships. Offensive line coach Jim Harding previously coached Fano’s older brother, Spencer, at Utah, and Fano said he has known Harding and Michigan defensive line coach Lewis Powell for years.
“I’ve known coach Harding and coach Powell since I was young,” Fano told Rivals’ Greg Biggins ($). “I’ve kind of grown up with them so my comfort level there is really strong.”
That family connection matters, too.
“Spencer loved coach Harding as a coach and has nothing but great things to say about him,” Fano said. “I really like his coaching style as well, so it’s not just what Spencer says; I see it for myself.”
Fano also has upcoming visits planned to BYU, Alabama, Utah, Miami and Oklahoma, while USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington are still in the mix.
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