Kyle Whittingham Wins Big Recruiting Battle for Top-100 Defensive Back

Monsanna Torbert has shut down his recruitment, stating his loyalty to the Wolverines. Why that matters as Kyle Whittingham tries to establish himself.

Jul 30, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Michigan Football head coach Kyle Whittingham speaks during Big Ten Media Days at Hilton Chicago. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Can Kyle Whittingham recruit at an elite level to sustain success at Michigan? That’s one of the questions surrounding his tenure as he transitions from Utah to Ann Arbor. The other question is whether a guy who has spent nearly three decades in the mountains, can recruit the Midwest.

Recruiting is an inexact science these days thanks to NIL dollars and the transfer portal causing all sorts of chaos in the college football world, but the early returns for Whittingham have been encouraging.

On3’s Ethan McDowell reported that Monsanna Torbert out of Princeton High in Cincinnati, Ohio is shutting down his recruitment, and he remains committed to Michigan.

Torbert is a Top-100 defensive back and committed to Michigan over their biggest rival.

The biggest piece of news out of Torbert’s recruitment is that Michigan was able to steal him away from Ohio State, which is a big feather in the cap of Whittingham and his staff.

“From the outside looking in, it felt like Torbert’s recruitment went down to the wire between Michigan and Ohio State. He shared Thursday night that he pretty much made up his mind two weeks before his official visit,” McDowell reported.

“His mother told him that she felt like U-M was the right place, and that was extremely meaningful to him because she did not say many schools felt like home throughout his decision-making process. He silently committed the Sunday of his OV. Ohio State battled until the very end for the nation’s No. 70 recruit, trying to make things interesting down the stretch.”

Ultimately Torbert feels that Michigan is his best fit for his future.

Where Does He Fit?

Well, if you’re looking for a spot to get on the field in the near future, the secondary at Michigan is not a bad place to look. Zeke Berry and Jyaire Hill will both be headed for the NFL after the 2026 season. Michigan does have the talented Shamari Earls who could push for playing time this year, which makes him a logical fit to be a starter in 2027.

Of course, nothing is set in stone in the era of the transfer portal, but if Torbert is looking for a chance to play early, Michigan may be the place to be in that regard.

A Win over Ohio State

This part of Torbert’s recruitment cannot be understated at this point. With the concerns surrounding whether or not Whittingham could recruit in the Midwest, that has undoubtedly been echoed by rival teams looking to secure commitments for players.

It’s logical to assume that Ryan Day and his staff were trying to keep a talented player in their home state. The track record at Ohio State is a hard one to ignore, and Whittingham for all he has done, does not have a track record in the Big Ten.

Winning Torbert’s recruitment over the Buckeyes is not going to guarantee a national championship. It will, however, prove to other recruits around the country that Whittingham is trusted by those in the area. It’s an excellent step toward giving Whittingham credibility as a recruiter.

Of course, beating Ohio State, on the field or off, is never going to upset anyone in Ann Arbor.

#Michigan basketball begins its foreign tour on Sunday, playing three exhibitions overseas.

Here are 5 things we hope to learn about the Wolverines.

STORY: https://t.co/CgzvEiUkJS pic.twitter.com/NoZGfNSj8r

— Trent Knoop (@TrentKnoop) August 22, 2026