Recruiting Roundup: Michigan to host 5-star CB for 2nd time this fall

Welcome to the Recruiting Roundup, our twice-per-week series breaking down the latest developments on the recruiting trail for the Michigan Wolverines. We’ll keep you up to date on the top targets, the visits they take, the predictions that analysts make, and everything in between. Here’s what you need to know today…

Five-star CB Nasir Richardson plans to return to Michigan

Michigan is set to get another visit from the top cornerback in the 2028 class. Nasir Richardson plans to return to Ann Arbor this weekend, according to Ethan McDowell of The Wolverine. The five-star out of Newark (N.J.) Malcolm X Shabazz is the No. 8 overall prospect and No. 1 cornerback in the class.

Richardson first visited Michigan for the Oklahoma game and hit it off with cornerbacks coach Jernaro Gilford. He was already thinking about a return trip by the time he got home, according to McDowell.

“The coaches, they was very welcoming,” Richardson told McDowell. “I know they’re supposed to do that, but I really felt it.”

His father, Dominique, came away impressed, too.

“It showed us real college football up close. The tradition, the fans, the facilities, it was high-level stuff,” Dominique told Steve Wiltfong of Rivals.

Richardson had Michigan and Penn State standing out before an October visit to Miami, and he now considers the Hurricanes a top option. With Miami gaining ground, Michigan gets another chance this weekend to build on the relationship Gilford started during the Oklahoma visit.

Four-star LB Skylar Alston sets Sunday commitment date

Skylar Alston will announce his commitment Sunday, Nov. 8. The 2028 linebacker from Raleigh (N.C.) Cardinal Gibbons is down to Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina and UCLA. He’s the No. 171 overall prospect and No. 14 linebacker in the Rivals Industry Ranking.

“Now feels like the right time for me to commit,” Alston told Anna Adams of 247Sports. “I have been talking to my family and praying about it, and I’m ready to do it.”

Alston visited all six finalists this season. He’s been to North Carolina more times than he can count and has made several trips to Tennessee, but his one visit to Ann Arbor made an impression.

“I visited once and it blew me away, just everything they have to offer,” Alston said. “I love the linebacker play.”

Should he commit to the Wolverines, he would be the first member of their 2028 class following kicker Ryan Jung reclassifying to the 2027 class.

Stanford commit to take official visit to Michigan

Michigan offered Braden Chaffin last week, and the 2027 in-state offensive lineman will take an official visit this weekend, per Allen Trieu of Rivals. The 6-foot-6, 290-pound Sterling Heights Stevenson senior remains committed to Stanford, but Michigan will be the first other school he’s visited since pledging to the Cardinal.

Chaffin had already heard from Michigan about a game day visit and figured offensive line coach Jim Harding was calling to just follow up with him. Instead, Harding offered him a scholarship and told him he could see a role for him on Michigan’s offensive line.

“Every kid from Michigan dreams of playing for the Wolverines, so I personally feel like I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to see what the new staff and university are about,” Chaffin said.

Chaffin originally committed to Miami (Ohio) before flipping to Stanford after an official visit back in this summer. He told Trieu that two things have kept him committed to the Cardinal.

“The main thing that has kept me committed to Stanford was the relationships I have built with the coaches and the education,” Chaffin said.

We’ll see if Michigan can make up some ground this weekend.