Wolverine Digest

Michigan Adds Former Cal Safety Commit to 2026 class

The Wolverines continue to rebuild the secondary with another addition to the 2026 class.
Justice Steiner|
A Michigan football helmet on the sideline.
A Michigan football helmet on the sideline. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

In this story:

Michigan Wolverines

On Tuesday evening (Jan. 20), three-star safety Ernest Nunley announced that he has committed to Michigan via X. Nunley was formerly signed with California on Dec. 3, 2025, but was granted a release after coaching changes took place for the Golden Bears.

Nunley, who is ranked the 99th-ranked recruit in the state of California and the 121st-ranked safety in the class of 2026 via On3, had offers from Wake Forest, UCLA, Arizona and UNLV, among others.

Michigan officially offered Nunley the day he decommitted from Cal (Jan. 15) and was the only school to offer him since then.

The Anaheim, Calif. native prepped at Western High School, competing in both football and track and field. Between his sophomore and junior seasons, he accumulated 54 tackles and five interceptions.

The Impact on Michigan

He will mark the 22nd member of the 2026 class and the second freshman safety the Wolverines will have coming in. The Wolverines also have Jordan Deck incoming, a four-star safety from Frisco, Texas.

Rod Moore
Rod Moore makes a tackle. | Melanie Maxwell / USA TODAY NETWORK

Through the portal, Michigan also brought in former Memphis safety Chris Bracy.

Rod Moore will return at the safety position for UofM after back-to-back seasons of battling injuries. It is slowly becoming a deep position group for the Wolverines, despite losing starter TJ Metcalf to the transfer portal (Tennessee). 

— Sign up for the Michigan Daily Digest newsletter for more free coverage fromMichigan Wolverines on SI —

Published
Justice Steiner
JUSTICE STEINER

A Battle Creek, Mich. native, Justice Steiner has been passionately involved in sports, currently as the sports information director at Davenport University, an NCAA Division II program, where he covers 12 sports. He also serves as the creative services director for the men's and women's baseball teams. Prior to DU, Steiner worked as a graduate assistant in the sports information office at the University of Louisville, working closely with the women's soccer, women's basketball, men's tennis and softball programs. While at Grand Valley State University, Steiner began his writing career at the Grand Valley Lanthorn. He graduated from GVSU with a degree in advertising and public relations.

Share on XFollow JusticeSteiner2
Home/Recruiting