Michigan’s recruiting momentum got another boost with Xavier Muhammad shutting the door on a possible flip.
The highly regarded defensive lineman, a consensus four-star prospect and one of the top high school players in the country, is staying locked in with the Wolverines after fielding interest from Texas and other Power Four programs. Muhammad originally pledged to Michigan in May, and according to 247 Sports’ Brice Marich, he has now made it clear he is not taking official visits elsewhere.
Marich reported that Muhammad “is putting an end to the outside noise surrounding his recruiting, reaffirming his commitment to the Wolverines and confirming he will not take an official visit elsewhere,”
Muhammad addressed the decision directly in a statement to 247 Sports, saying:
"First, I want Michigan fans to know how much I appreciate the love and support you've shown me and my family throughout this process. It truly means a lot.
I'm also grateful for the opportunity Texas presented and the interest they've shown in me. I have nothing but respect for their program and coaching staff.
However, my commitment to Michigan is solid, and I'm excited about what lies ahead."
Even with that firm stance, he still plans to be in Ann Arbor soon. Marich reported that Muhammad will return on Nov. 21 for Michigan’s game against UCLA, which also serves as the final home game of the season.
If things stay on track, Muhammad will become part of a 2027 Michigan class that currently sits 16th nationally in 247 Sports’ rankings and 11th in the composite. Depending on the outlet, he ranks third or fourth in the group, with cornerback Monsanna Torbert and offensive lineman Jakari Lipsey both placed slightly ahead of him.
The commitment matters for a Michigan program sitting at 5-3, because the Wolverines have managed to keep building on the trail even as the season has gone sideways. That’s been especially important with questions swirling around head coach Kyle Whittingham and his staff. Losing a player of Muhammad’s caliber would have only added to the noise.
Instead, Michigan can point to Muhammad’s decision as another sign that the class is holding together. The Wolverines also recently made the shortlist for Kellan Hall, the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2028 class, who will announce his final choice on Jan. 3 at the Under Armour All-American Game.
In Other News...
Texas Fans Have Two Fresh Reasons To Be Furious Vs Missouri
The first half in Columbia gave Texas fans two separate reasons to stew, and both came in the kind of moments that can swing a tight SEC game. Early on, officials let a clear forced fumble by Texas safety Jelani McDonald stand as Missouri ball after ruling the play dead too quickly, even with video showing the ball was out before the whistle. The Longhorns thought they had a takeaway, but the review did not change the call.
Steve Sarkisian then added to the frustration late in the half by letting the clock keep moving without using a timeout to set up a field goal try. In a game where every possession mattered, the sequence left Texas without the turnover it wanted and without a chance to put more points on the board before halftime. [Read more 🡒]
USC Just Got Pulled Into A Fascinating Arch Manning Debate
Jayden Maiavas decision to stay at USC and bypass the 2026 NFL Draft gives Lincoln Riley another season to build around a quarterback who already knows the system, and it also keeps the Trojans in the middle of the broader national quarterback conversation. With USCs offensive talent and Rileys reputation for developing passers, the program is once again being viewed as a destination that can appeal to elite talent if the opportunity ever opens up.
That is why NFL Network draft scout Daniel Jeremiahs recent suggestion about Arch Manning caught attention around college football, even if it was framed as speculation rather than anything concrete. If Manning were to enter the transfer portal, USC would make sense on paper, but for now it remains exactly that: a hypothetical rooted in fit, not a move that has been made or even confirmed. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Suddenly Has A Defensive Front Problem Fans Feared
Late in the third quarter against Missouri, Texas had to navigate a familiar kind of stress on its defensive front when Hero Kanu went down with an injury. He eventually returned in the fourth quarter, but even a brief absence from one of the Longhorns most important interior defenders was enough to underline how thin the margin can be up front when the game gets physical and the rotation gets tested.
Alex January, Josiah Sharma and Zion Williams are the next men up if Texas needs help inside, and that is where the concern lingers for a defense already dealing with enough disruption. Kanus role has mattered all season, and any setback for him forces the Longhorns to lean harder on depth that has not had nearly the same runway, which is exactly the kind of front-line issue teams hope to avoid this late in the year. [Read more 🡒]