Kyle Whittingham picked up an early recruiting win that carries real weight in Ann Arbor.
Monsanna Torbert, a Top-100 defensive back from Princeton High in Cincinnati, Ohio, is shutting down his recruitment and staying committed to Michigan, according to On3’s Ethan McDowell. The decision matters not just because Torbert is a talented prospect, but because Michigan beat out Ohio State for him.
That part of the story is impossible to ignore. Torbert chose the Wolverines over their biggest rival, a victory that gives Whittingham and his staff a major boost as they try to establish themselves in the Midwest.
“From the outside looking in, it felt like Torbert’s recruitment went down to the wire between Michigan and Ohio State. He shared Thursday night that he pretty much made up his mind two weeks before his official visit,” McDowell reported.
“His mother told him that she felt like U-M was the right place, and that was extremely meaningful to him because she did not say many schools felt like home throughout his decision-making process. He silently committed the Sunday of his OV. Ohio State battled until the very end for the nation’s No. 70 recruit, trying to make things interesting down the stretch.”
Torbert’s view is that Michigan gives him the best fit for what comes next.
There’s also a clear path to playing time if he gets to campus and develops as expected. Michigan’s secondary is lined up to lose Zeke Berry and Jyaire Hill after the 2026 season, while Shamari Earls is a talented option who could be pushing for snaps this year. That sets up a realistic opening for Torbert to be in the mix as a starter in 2027.
Nothing is locked in with the transfer portal constantly reshaping rosters, but the opportunity is there.
And that’s what makes this commitment matter beyond one player. Questions have followed Whittingham as he shifts from Utah to Michigan, including whether he can recruit at an elite level to keep the program rolling and whether a coach who spent nearly three decades in the mountains can land Midwest talent. Torbert’s decision doesn’t answer everything, but it does give Whittingham something he can point to immediately.
Taking a player like Torbert away from Ohio State is the kind of result that gets attention. It doesn’t promise anything bigger by itself, but it does show that recruits in the region are willing to trust Whittingham and his staff.
In Ann Arbor, that’s a win worth celebrating.
In Other News...
Michigan Just Landed An Early Ohio Recruiting Win Fans Will Love
Monsanna Torbert Jr. gave Michigan an early jolt on the recruiting trail, becoming a hard commitment for the Wolverines 2027 class after the four-star cornerback out of Princeton High School in Cincinnati chose Ann Arbor over several major programs. For a staff that has long made its living selling defense and development, landing one of Ohios most intriguing prospects so far ahead of signing day is the kind of move that can ripple well beyond one pledge.
Torbert is regarded as a top national cornerback prospect, and his decision points to the kind of impression Michigan made during his visit. The coaching staff and its defensive philosophy clearly resonated, which is especially notable considering where he comes from and who else was in the mix. For Michigan, it is an early win in a neighbors backyard, and the real question now is how firmly the Wolverines can hold onto it as the recruiting process keeps moving. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans O-Line Is Nearly Set But One Key Question Remains
With the opener against Western Michigan closing in, Michigan still has one last bit of line work to sort through. The Wolverines have a pretty clear shape up front, with Blake Frazier and Andrew Sprague lining up at tackle, Jake Guarnera at center and Evan Link set on the left side of the interior. Even with that outline taking form, the staff has not officially settled on a starting offensive line, which keeps a little intrigue attached to a unit that will be critical no matter who gets the nod.
The biggest unresolved spot is the guard job next to Link, where Nathan Efobi and Brady Norton are still vying for the assignment. Andrew Babalola remains sidelined for now, and when he is ready to return he may first be used as an extra blocker rather than being thrown immediately into the full-time mix. For Michigan, the broader picture is encouraging because most of the front appears close to defined, but the final choice at guard will be one of the details worth watching when the season begins. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Rookies Are Already Forcing The NFL To Notice
Detroit got an early look at why Derrick Moore was such a coveted draft pick. The former Michigan edge rusher, selected 44th overall in the 2026 NFL draft, made his mark in a preseason game against the Commanders with a sack and two forced fumbles, a quick reminder that his game can translate fast to the next level. For a Lions team expecting him to help its pass rush right away, that kind of debut matters.
Rayshaun Benny is giving Baltimore reason to keep paying attention, too. The former Wolverines defensive lineman, a seventh-round pick, added a sack in the Ravens preseason win over Minnesota and strengthened his case for a spot on the 53-man roster. It is the kind of early production that can change how teams view late-round picks, especially when roster decisions start getting tight. [Read more 🡒]