Winning the national championship didn’t produce immediate returns in recruiting for Michigan, but the first commitment of Sherrone Moore’s tenure was a significant one. Four-star defensive lineman Nathaniel Marshall, the No. 35 player in the 247Sports Composite, committed to Michigan on Monday over Alabama, Illinois, Miami and others. He’s the fourth commitment in Michigan’s 2025 class and the first since early January.
Marshall’s commitment came on the heels of Saturday’s Michigan spring game and could signal a shift in momentum after a quiet stretch following Jim Harbaugh’s departure for the NFL. Marshall, who attends Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Ill., was a priority for new defensive line coach Lou Esposito, who was hired last month from Memphis. Moore posted a celebratory message on social media before meeting with reporters Monday to discuss Michigan’s spring game.
Though Michigan didn’t parlay its national championship into immediate gains in recruiting, Moore said the momentum hasn’t gone to waste.
“I felt some great juice when I got those four rings the other day,” Moore said. “We got all the juice we wanted.”
Extremely blessed and thankful for this opportunity🙏🏾 Go blue〽️ https://t.co/isJYxEagkn
— Nathaniel Marshall (@AllNateMarshall) April 22, 2024
Where does Michigan’s 2025 class stand?
Michigan’s class jumped from the 50s to No. 35 in the 247Sports Composite rankings with Marshall’s commitment. It’s still early, but Marshall is the kind of player who could be a defensive headliner if the Wolverines can hold onto his commitment until signing day.
If Marshall’s ranking holds, he would be the highest-ranked player to sign with Michigan since Will Johnson in the Class of 2022. He’s an explosive athlete at 6-feet-4 and 265 pounds with the frame to add more weight without sacrificing athleticism.
“Obviously there are traits you want like ankle flexibility, like the ability to bend, the ability to carry weight at a high velocity,” Esposito said last week, describing what he looks for in a defensive lineman. “I think the next thing is, do they fit in your puzzle? Everybody has a different puzzle, right? Can they fit in our system?”
Marshall could be a big piece of the puzzle for Michigan’s 2025 class.
Required reading
(Photo of Sherrone Moore: Jaime Crawford / Getty Images)
