Michigan’s 2027 recruiting momentum could be picking up again, and this time the Wolverines are making noise for another prospect from Utah.
The latest name drawing attention is three-star defensive lineman Amanaki Henoa. Michigan has become the team to watch for him in recent days, with two Crystal Ball predictions on 247Sports leaning toward the Wolverines.
Henoa’s rise has come fast. According to On3, Michigan defensive ends coach Lewis Powell extended an offer on July 15.
That matters because this is Henoa’s first season playing high school football. He only recently arrived in the United States from New Zealand.
Before that, Henoa was a rugby player, and he came to college football with limited background in the sport but plenty of natural tools. He enrolled at Layton Christian Academy in Layton, Utah, and is listed at 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds.
The rankings reflect how quickly he’s gotten onto recruiting boards. Henoa is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 211 defensive lineman in the 2027 class and the No. 35 player in Utah.
Michigan won’t have a clear path, though. Henoa has also drawn interest from BYU, Texas Tech, Penn State and Utah, among others, according to 247Sports.
The Wolverines’ pursuit fits a broader pattern. With Kyle Whittingham’s move from Utah to Michigan, the staff has leaned harder into the West Coast, and Utah has become a particularly important target area. Michigan already has two commitments from Utah in the 2027 class.
Quarterback Kamden Lopati is the biggest piece so far, and Michigan appears intent on building around him. The Wolverines also hold a commitment from four-star receiver Quentin Burrell, who got off to a strong start in his 2026 high school season.
The Utah pipeline may not stop there. Michigan is also trending for two 2028 prospects from the state: offensive tackle Mataio Fano and edge rusher Major Stokes.
Whittingham isn’t the only former Ute helping the Wolverines on the trail. Jason Beck, Freddie Whittingham, Lewis Powell and Micah Simon have all made an immediate impression in Ann Arbor as recruiters.
Michigan has long done well in the Midwest and the South, and that part of the approach isn’t changing. But the staff also looks ready to keep leaning on its West Coast ties, especially when it comes to landing top talent in Utah.
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