Michigan football loses LB target to Rutgers

Michigan football had seemed like it was surging in terms of recruiting but as of late, the momentum has waned.

The Wolverines slowed things down for Princeton (N.J.) Hun School four-star linebacker Kamar Archie, which allowed both Rutgers and Clemson get back into the fight. With a former high school teammate already in Ann Arbor in freshman defensive tackle Owen Wafle, perhaps the maize and blue had something of an inside track, but would that damage done earlier in the process keep Michigan from getting one of its top targets in the 2025 recruiting cycle?

Ultimately, Archie sided with one of the schools that came in while the Wolverines slow-played him, as he committed to Rutgers on Friday.

Here is how Archie ranks according to the recruiting services:

* Ovr. Pos. St.

247Sports Composite 4 281 32 9

On3 Industry Ranking 4 261 28 9

247Sports 3 – 41 11

On3 4 196 21 7

ESPN 4 – 32 12

Rivals 4 – 12 7

Archie also had offers from Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Miami, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, and more.

Michigan does have Chase Taylor committed at linebacker and now all eggs go into the Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng basket. The Wolverines are in desperate need for linebackers after losing four to the transfer portal this offseason.