Recruiting Roundup: Michigan trying to flip player committed to ACC team

In-state RB target discusses Michigan interest

Tony Alford has cast a wide net at the running back position in the 2027 class, but one of the fastest-rising targets on the Wolverines’ board is in-state three-star Lundon Hampton. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Grand Rapids native earned his offer recently and he took a couple trips to Ann Arbor this spring.

The vibes are very high in this recruitment, as there are few predictions in favor of the Wolverines to eventually land his commitment.

“Michigan is definitely a great program,” Hampton told Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong ($). “I like their culture, the way they develop players, and how they compete at a high level every year.”

A big reason for his high interest in the Wolverines is the new coaching staff.

“The coaching staff has been real with me and I’ve built a good relationship with them,” Hampton said. “I feel like it could be a good fit because of how they use their players and prepare them for the next level.”

Despite having those aforementioned Michigan predictions, Hampton is keeping an open mind to other schools. Other options for him include Michigan State, Iowa, Kentucky and Kansas, per Wiltfong. He also has offers from Penn State and Pitt, among others.

“I’m still keeping my options open and focused on finding the best situation for me,” Hampton said.

Michigan making elite in-state edge rusher feel like a priority

Shifting gears to the 2028 class, and the Wolverines are prioritizing a ton of local talent in that cycle as well. One of the stars of the Mitten State in the junior class is four-star edge rusher Jayden Bell. The Brother Rice High School standout is a Top 100 overall prospect and is a Top 5 player in the state in his class and 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds. He was offered by the Wolverines a couple months ago and most recently visited this spring.

In a recent conversation with On3’s Ethan McDowell ($), Bell said he is “very interested” in Michigan thanks to the bond he has made with the coaching staff, particularly defensive tackles coach Larry Black, which goes back to his days in the SEC.

“(Getting the offer) meant a lot,” Bell said. “With coach Black, he just got there from Vanderbilt, so like two weeks before he got there, I went and checked out Vanderbilt, so it was kind of crazy how that worked out.

“When he got to Michigan, I just stopped by. He was just like, ‘Yeah, I want to re-offer you because you’re a guy I want,’ so it was great.”

Michigan is “definitely” making Bell feel like a priority, and the coaches want him to visit again soon.

“They’ve been trying to get me down back on campus,” Bell said. “I for sure got to go back up there a couple times.”

Bell already holds other offers from Ohio State, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Georgia, Alabama, Penn State, Indiana, Florida, Oregon, Wisconsin, Miami and many more.