Michigan’s recruiting picture picked up a little more tension this week, with one target reopening his process and another drawing fresh attention from Texas.
Sidney Rouleau, a three-star prospect from Texas in the 2027 class, decommitted on Tuesday and reopened his recruitment just days after an official visit to Tennessee, according to 247 Sports. That was already enough to make things interesting for Michigan, but the Wolverines also have to keep an eye on Xavier Muhammad, a 6-foot-3.5, 265-pound prospect ranked No. 101 overall in the 247 Sports composite rankings.
According to Cody Carpenter of Orangebloods, the Texas site for Rivals, Muhammad is expected to take an official visit to Texas for the Arkansas game on November 21st. Carpenter also noted, “Texas has a HISTORY of closing big names on that weekend.”
For Michigan, the concern goes beyond one player. Asa Burch, a four-star EDGE in the 2028 class who had been trending toward the Wolverines, is now projected to land at Notre Dame instead. That stings even more because Burch is a legacy.
Muhammad remains one of Michigan’s top commitments in the 2027 class, so keeping him in the fold matters. The 5-3 start has clearly made the road harder, and there’s a sense that the momentum has slipped.
Kyle Whittingham also doesn’t seem to create much buzz in public settings, and with the 66-year-old coach already drawing hot-seat talk, that likely isn’t helping Michigan on the trail. At the very least, other programs are almost certainly using that against the Wolverines in recruiting.
Still, there was a much-needed positive development for Michigan on Wednesday. Five-star kicker Ryan Jung, originally committed in the 2028 class, has reclassified and will now join Michigan’s 2027 class.
Big development... 2028 five-star kicker commit Ryan Jung will now join #Michigan 's 2027 recruiting class after reclassifying.
Jung, who hit a 67-yard FG this off-season, has the chance to play right away next year for the Wolverines. https://t.co/5zIrcJSYC1
- Brice Marich (@BriceMarich) November 4, 2026
Jung, who drilled a 67-yard field goal this offseason, could step in and compete immediately. That matters because Michigan’s kicking game has been a mess lately, with four missed field goals over the last two weeks. Two of those misses came against Indiana in a 6-6 game at the end of regulation before Michigan lost in overtime.
The Wolverines will probably still look for help at kicker in the portal, but Jung gives them a potential answer for the future and a player who could be ready to help right away.
In Other News...
Michigan Coach Just Made Bryce Underwood's Situation Even More Concerning
Tommy Carr is set to make his third start at quarterback for Michigan after Bryce Underwood was benched following a recent game in which turnovers helped force the change. Underwood had entered the season with plenty of expectations and even wore a captains label, but the results have been uneven, with passing accuracy and interceptions becoming recurring issues as the Wolverines try to steady the position.
From the sideline, Underwood has handled the demotion professionally and continued supporting Carr, which has not gone unnoticed inside the program. Quarterbacks coach Koy Detmer praised Underwoods leadership and the way he has responded, while also saying he wishes he had done more to prepare him for the season, a comment that only adds to the sense that Michigans quarterback situation is still searching for firmer footing. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Heads Into Michigan State With One Big Question Still Lingering
Tommy Carr is set to make his third career start when Michigan hosts Michigan State on Saturday at Michigan Stadium, and that alone gives this rivalry matchup a little extra intrigue. The Wolverines are still sorting through a few defensive question marks, but those players are listed as questionable and expected to play, which should help keep the focus on a game that always carries its own edge no matter the records.
Michigan will get the prime-time treatment with Peacock and NBC Sports Network carrying the broadcast, and Paul Burmeister and Yogi Roth on the call. For a team trying to settle in behind a young quarterback, this is the kind of stage that can either steady things or complicate them, and the biggest question around Ann Arbor is whether Carr can keep building momentum in one of the sport's most unforgiving settings. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan's O-Line Problem Is Becoming A Real Concern For Bryce Underwood
Michigans offensive line has become one of the clearest pressure points in a season already defined by shuffling and attrition up front. Only junior Jake Guarnera has started all eight games, and the constant turnover has left the unit searching for any kind of rhythm. For a team that wants to lean on the ground game and make life easier on its offense as a whole, the lack of continuity has shown up in a hurry.
The results have been hard to ignore, with Michigan sitting 97th in rushing offense and still trying to find a combination that can hold up week after week. Coach Kyle Whittingham and offensive line coach Jim Harding have both acknowledged the challenge, and the focus now is on making the group more physical and more efficient. Until that happens, the questions around protection and run-game consistency are going to keep hanging over Bryce Underwood and the offense. [Read more 🡒]