Following the spring game this past Saturday, the Michigan Wolverines’ spring football season is now complete. Now, even more attention can shift towards recruiting. Official visits will commence in the next month, and Kyle Whittingham and his staff will be hosting plenty of prospects.
On today’s Recruiting Roundup, we’ll discuss a pair of top defensive targets that have a commitment timeframe in mind. But first, let’s get to a surprise visitor from this past week.
It’s always great to get elite players on campus, but it feels even better when it’s a visit that goes under the radar. That was the case this past week with 2027 five-star cornerback Donte Wright, who showed up in Ann Arbor and let everyone know about it when he posted it on social media.
I would like to thank @UMichFootball for welcoming me and my family on a wonderful unofficial visit…can’t wait to get back for OV @GregBiggins @adamgorney @ChadSimmons_ @Rivals @247recruiting @On3 @LBPoly_Football pic.twitter.com/qjVRKXa70j
— Donte' Wright Jr. (@DonteWright_11) April 17, 2026
The 6-foot, 170-pounder from Long Beach, California has been committed to Georgia since last June. However, recruiting experts believe he will eventually decommit and play college football somewhere else, meaning Michigan has as good of a chance as any school to pull off a flip.
“The visit went really well,” Wright told The Michigan Insider’s Brice Marich ($). “I got to meet and know the new staff and check the team out. What stood out about the trip was how cool coach Whitt is and how he really want me in Ann Arbor.
“Coach Whitt is laid back and chill, but he is about his business. They have a lot of older guys in their defensive back room, so I will say I’m a big target for them.”
Wright will be back for his official visit the weekend of June 12, giving the Wolverines another prime opportunity to pry him away from Georgia. However, Oregon is viewed as the top contender and is set to host him on an official visit the weekend of June 19. Miami will also have him for an official visit the weekend of June 5.
“Always thought highly of Michigan, which is why I had to get out here and visit to see campus,” Wright said. “I’ll be back for official visit, so we will see.”
Marcus Fakatou has quickly become one of Michigan’s top priorities in the 2027 class. The 6-foot-7, 295-pounder from California was offered by the old coaching staff, but edge coach Lewis Powell and company have stepped in and reassured him that he is needed in Ann Arbor.
Fakatou was supposed to visit Michigan this past weekend for the spring game, but opted to take a trip to Texas instead. However, he will be back on Michigan’s campus for his official visit on June 15, which will be his final visit before he goes into decision mode. Speaking recently with On3’s Ethan McDowell ($), he explained how Michigan getting his final visit was intentional.
“It’s them and Oregon,” Fakatou said. “Oregon was second to last. I wanted to set the school that I really am considering last so they could get the last say on how they how and why they need me over there.”
That’s pretty telling as far as where Michigan stands in his recruitment. However, that doesn’t mean the Wolverines can coast to the finish line here. In fact, while Powell and defensive tackles coach Larry Black have done a great job recruiting him, Fakatou wants another coach to be more prevalent in his recruitment as well.
“(Oregon head coach Dan Lanning) was sitting with me in meetings over there in Oregon,” Fakatou said. “When I had D-line meetings, he was sitting next to me saying, ‘Hey, do this better, or this and that.’ So I feel like with Michigan, I just kind of need to grow a better relationship with (Whittingham) for sure.”
In addition to Michigan and Oregon, Fakatou has official visits scheduled for Ohio State and Georgia. A commitment should come shortly after he takes all those trips.
“My decision is probably going to come the first week of August,” Fakatou said.
Announced late last week, 2027 four-star cornerback Juju Johnson is set to make his commitment on June 27. The 5-foot-10, 160-pounder from Long Beach, California will be picking between Michigan, Miami, Oklahoma, Cal and UCLA.
“I was looking for a school that I had great relationships with the staff, the chance to compete for playing time early and also where I was comfortable living for three or four years. I want to be happy away from football too and these were the schools that best fit me,” he told Rivals’ Greg Biggins ($).
As it pertains to Michigan, there is a lot for Johnson to be excited about.