The news was concerning when Nate Marshall, Michigan football’s top-ranked commit in the 2025 class, decided to take an official visit to Auburn.
Auburn and Miami have been making strong efforts to flip the 6-foot-4, 265-pound defensive lineman, who ranks 41st overall and fourth among defensive linemen in the 2025 class, according to the 247 Sports composite rankings. Marshall committed to Michigan in April after the spring game.
Marshall’s commitment was surprising, given that the Wolverines haven’t secured many top-100 commitments over the past two cycles, partly due to their NIL strategy. Defensive line recruits tend to come with a high price tag.
Hailing from Fenwick, Illinois, Marshall is currently the top-ranked commit in Michigan’s class, and losing him would be a significant blow. Sherrone Moore emphasized that Michigan has to be the right fit, noting that if recruits are primarily seeking guaranteed money, Michigan might not be the best choice.
However, if missing out on top talent continues, Michigan might need to reconsider its approach—a sentiment I’ve expressed for years. If Ohio State can compete financially, why can’t Michigan?
Auburn is gaining momentum to flip Nate Marshall. The Tigers have been successful in recent recruiting efforts, likely aided by NIL incentives. Michigan, on the other hand, faces challenges in selling the development aspect, with a new D-line coach and a new defensive coordinator.
While Wink Martindale has the potential to excel, he still needs to prove his ability to develop players for the NFL. The same goes for position coaches. Joe Esposito’s history supports his ability to develop talent, but this might be working against Michigan.
After his visit, Marshall told Jeffrey Lee of Auburn Live, “It’s Auburn or Michigan. I would say it’s pretty close, especially after this visit.”
This isn’t reassuring for Michigan, and it feels like the Wolverines need to regain momentum to retain his commitment.
