Tag: Shamari Earls

2025 Defensive Recruiting Update: December 3, 2024

With National Signing Day looming in a couple days – and lots of recruiting movement – I wanted to catch up on some of the most recent happenings as Michigan tries to fill out its 2025 recruiting class. If you want a look at offensive recruiting, check it out HERE.

EDGE

COMMIT: Michigan gained the re-commitment of Oak Park (IL) Fenwick defensive end Nathaniel Marshall (LINK) earlier today. There has been some talk that Alpharetta (GA) Alpharetta edge Julius Holly might flip elsewhere, but as of this writing, he’s still committed to the Wolverines.

KEEP AN EYE ON: Indianapolis (IN) Warren Central’s Damien Shanklin was reportedly contacted once Bryce Underwood went public with his flip from LSU to Michigan, but Shanklin has since said he’s solid with LSU. Michigan threw out an offer to Warner Robins (GA) Warner Robins edge Isaiah Gibson, a top-10 player and Georgia commit who surprisingly didn’t have an offer from the Wolverines until the last couple weeks. Michigan has also stepped up its pursuit of Houston (TX) Mayde Creek edge Tobi Haastrup, a raw prospect who has taken official visits to Florida State, Michigan, Oregon, Texas Tech, and USC during the month of November. Ohio State decommit Zahir Mathis from Philadelphia (PA) Imhotep has also been contacted since he backed off his pledge to Ryan Day.

Hit the jump for more.

Visitors: Michigan vs. Northwestern

2025

Andrew Babalola – OT – Overland Park (KS) Blue Valley North: Babalola is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Jayvan Boggs – WR – Cocoa (FL) Cocoa: Boggs is a 6’2″, 200 lb. prospect who has been committed to UCF since August 2024; he also has offers from Florida State and Missouri, both of which he visited officially. Michigan offered Boggs this past week after seeing him live last week; head coach Sherrone Moore and offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell were both at his game last Friday watching 2026 quarterback commit Brady Hart, Boggs’s teammate. Boggs is a 4-star, the #30 wide receiver, and #231 overall. This is an official visit. UPDATE: Boggs is no longer planning to visit.

Shamari Earls – CB – Chester (VA) Thomas Dale: Earls is committed to Michigan (LINK). This is an official visit.

Tobi Haastrup – DE – Houston (TX) Mayde Creek: Haastrup is a 6’4″, 230-pounder with offers from Florida State, Michigan, Oregon, Texas Tech, and USC, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #24 edge, and #279 overall. This is an official visit to Ann Arbor and he has a visit lined up for Oregon next weekend.

Hit the jump for more.

Shamari Earls, Wolverine

Chester (VA) Thomas Dale cornerback Shamari Earls flipped from Georgia to Michigan. He picked the Wolverines over other offers from Alabama, Miami, Tennessee, and USC, among others.

Earls is listed at 6’2″ and 180 pounds on 247 Sports, although I have heard he’s closer to 200 pounds now; an article on 247 Sports says he’s 203 pounds. As a junior in 2023, he caught 29 passes for 715 yards and 8 touchdowns; he also made 25 tackles and 3 interceptions. He runs a 10.8 in the meters and a 21.78 in the 200 meters, and both his high jump (6’2″) and long jump (23’10 3/4″) numbers are pretty good.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 84 grade, #9 CB, #71 overall
On3: 4-star, 96 grade, #4 CB, #23 overall
Rivals: 3-star, 5.7 grade, #46 CB
247 Sports: 4-star, 94 grade, #9 CB, #67 overall

Hit the jump for more.

Visitors: Michigan vs. Michigan State

TRANSFER PORTAL

Donaven McCulley – WR – Indiana: McCulley is a 6’5″, 203 lb. former quarterback who transitioned to receiver at Indiana. He entered the transfer portal in the off-season and was courted by Michigan, but he was convinced to rejoin Indiana’s squad. After not being a major factor early in the year (2 catches, 21 yards, 1 TD in the first five weeks), he decided to re-enter the transfer portal and is now considering Michigan again. UPDATE: McCulley visited Virginia Tech and may visit Michigan later, but did not come to Ann Arbor this weekend.

2025

Andrew Babalola – OT – Overland Park (KS) Blue Valley Northwest: Babalola (5-star, #2 OT, #11 overall) committed to Michigan.

Avery Gach – OT – Franklin (MI) Groves: Gach is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Quante Gillians – DE – Rochester (NY) Aquinas Institute: Gillians is a 6’3″, 278 lb. prospect who has been committed to Syracuse since June 2024. Michigan offered him in the last month, and he also has offers from Boston College and Pitt, among others. He’s a 3-star, the #101 defensive lineman, and #978 overall.

Hit the jump for more.

Visitors: June 14-16, 2024

2025

Andrew Babalola – OT – Overland Park (KS) Blue Valley Northwest: Babalola is a 6’6″, 280 lb. prospect with officials to Stanford, Missouri, Auburn, Oklahoma, and this one to Michigan. He’s a 5-star, the #4 offensive tackle, and #25 overall.

JaDon Blair – S – Winston Salem (NC) Mount Tabor: Blair is a 6’4″, 190-pounder with offers from Florida State, Louisville, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Penn State, among others; he also has official visits to all five of the aforementioned schools. Blair is a 4-star, the #13 safety, and #158 overall. He plans to announce his decision on July 5, 2024, but no crystal ball predictions have been logged yet.

Shamari Earls – S – Chester (VA) Thomas Dale: Earls is a 6’2″, 180 lb. corner who has been committed to South Carolina since April; he’s taking an unofficial visit to Ann Arbor this weekend and also has offers from Alabama, Georgia, Penn State, USC, and others. Earls is a 4-star, the #11 cornerback, and #102 overall.

Hit the jump for more.