Recruiting Roundup: Michigan offers younger brother of future 1st-round pick

PROVO, UT - OCTOBER 18: Offensive Lineman Spencer Fano #55 of the Utah Utes as seen during a college football game between the Utah Utes and the BYU Cougars on October 18, 2025 at Lavell Edwards Stadium in Provo, UT. (Photo by Aaron Baker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Michigan offers younger brother of Spencer Fano

Announced late last week, the Wolverines extended an offer to 2028 four-star offensive lineman Mataio Fano, the younger brother of former Utah offensive lineman and future first-round pick Spencer Fano.

The 6-foot-4, 235-pounder from Orem, Utah is the No. 58 overall player in the class on Rivals’ Industry Ranking. Even though he just received the Michigan offer, the new coaching staff has been recruiting him for months, even dating back to their days with the Utes. And offensive line coach Jim Harding is clearly familiar with him, having coached his older brother into a future first-round draft pick.

Fano also has offers from Utah, UCLA, BYU, Cal, Colorado and others.

Recently offered recruit calls Michigan a ‘top choice’

Michigan recently offered 2027 three-star offensive lineman Tye Kennedy, as you may have seen on our Monday edition of the roundup. The 6-foot-6, 275-pounder from Arizona is a Washington legacy recruit, as his father, Lincoln, played on the offensive line for the Huskies back in the 90s. His brother, Zach, also played at USC.

But he doesn’t seem to mind the idea of leaving the West Coast, as Harding and the Wolverines have made a big move on him after the offer.

“I’ve had a relationship with coach Harding ever since he was at Utah, but it got stronger when he went to Michigan,” Kennedy told The Michigan Insider’s Brice Marich ($). “I was looking forward to meeting him after building the relationship and it’s looking more promising.

“I am interested. The history with Michigan and also the education. I’m so excited to build a relationship with the coaching staff and hopeful to see what the future brings.”

Kennedy is so interested in the Wolverines that he immediately scheduled an official visit to Ann Arbor for the weekend of June 12. He also told Marich that he may try to come up for an unofficial visit this spring. But even if he isn’t able to, Kennedy admitted Michigan will “be a top choice for sure.”

In addition to Michigan, Kennedy also has offers from Washington, Utah, Minnesota, Illinois, Arizona, Kansas, Kansas State, Boise State and more.

Four-star WR enjoys latest trip to Michigan

Damani Warren, a 2027 four-star wide receiver from Las Vegas, took an unofficial visit to Michigan last weekend. The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder visited with his high school quarterback, three-star Thaddeus Thatcher, who ended up receiving an offer from the Wolverines.

Speaking with Rivals’ Greg Biggins ($), Warren recapped the visit and spoke highly about the coaching staff.

“I had a great visit,” Warren said. “I visited once before when I was a sophomore but this was my first time back since coach Whit (Kyle Whittingham) came over.

“I have a good relationship with all the coaches and really enjoyed being around them again. We know each other really well from when they were at Utah and used to come around all the time and it was great to re-connect.”

Warren said Michigan was already high on his list heading into this trip, but after the fact, the Wolverines “definitely moved up for me after this visit.” He also said Thatcher being offered is “definitely going to play a role in my decision.”

Most of the time when you hear that, it’s because the two have good chemistry on the field and want to succeed with each other at the next level. But this situation is even more understandable when you learn that Warren actually lives with Thatcher and his family. Biggins reported Thatcher and Warren have “always wanted to play together in college.” Their bonds seems pretty unbreakable, so if the Wolverines land one of them, odds are they will land both of them.

Along with Michigan, Warren also has offers from schools like Texas A&M, Oregon, USC, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Alabama, Tennessee, LSU, Washington, Nebraska and more.

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