In college football, you’re only as good as your recruits. In today’s NIL and transfer portal world, getting recruits is very complicated, because there’s money involved. I miss the “old days” of just a few years ago when money wasn’t as much a factor, but here we are, so let’s deal with it.
Now, following the Michigan Wolverines‘ high-profile win over the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes last weekend, Michigan is getting some more attention, and that means some recruits are switching to them.
The Michigan Wolverines have now won four straight years against Ohio State, which is impressive. Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore is 2-0 against the Buckeyes after taking over for previous Jim Harbaugh last season during Harbaugh’s suspension.
Nate Marshall to Michigan
Now, Moore and the Michigan football program have more reason to celebrate. On Tuesday, December 3, On3 Recruits posted that four-star EDGE rusher Nate Marshall has officially changed his commitment from Auburn to Michigan, and the news has been confirmed.
Marshall had actually decommitted from Michigan in August to head to Auburn, but now, he’s back to the Wolverines. So, next year’s Wolverine’s class is looking stellar, to say the least. It’s wild how one win over a high-profile rival can make someone change their mind about for which school they’re going to play.
🚨BREAKING🚨 4-star DL Nate Marshall has flipped his commitment from Auburn to Michigan, per @Hayesfawcett3〽️
Marshall previously flipped from the Wolverines to the Tigers in August.
Read: https://t.co/HpwnnGZ1Oy pic.twitter.com/A5SmEwTekM
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) December 3, 2024
“On the field, Michigan is getting an excellent player,” noted Rivals in a December 3 feature about the change. “Marshall has a basketball background which you can see in the way that he moves around on the football field. His combination of size and athleticism allows him to dominate on Friday nights on both offense and defense.”
Rivals added, “The biggest reason he’s been such a coveted defensive lineman is because he can play any spot along the defensive front. He has the agility to stand up and play more of an EDGE type role. He’s got the size and strength to play a traditional defensive end. The night I saw him play his team let him line up at defensive tackle and cause havoc from that spot.”
Nate Marshall Stats
The scouting report on Marshall from 247Sports notes that he “has a background that includes basketball and offense, where he sometimes splits way out wide and can be effective playing from that spot. Carries that athleticism over to defense where he is comfortable in space and pursuit. Can change directions and chase down plays.”
The scouting report adds that he, “shows motor and does not give up on plays. Shifts from outside to inside and has played up and down the line. Carries his weight very well so could continue to pack on pounds and be a combo guy in college. Does not currently have bad weight. Long-term projection is likely most likely as a five-tech but that depends on physical development.”
Marshall is also the No. 55 overall recruit in the 2025 cycle and the No. 8 defensive lineman. He comes from Oak Park (IL) Fenwick.
“Combo of athleticism and versatility make him a high-end prospect,” 247Sports added. “Has to continue developing from a technical standpoint with his hands and get stronger, but he looks like he will be a starter for high-major program and has the baseline tools to play beyond college.”