Wolverine Digest

Michigan football flips ACC prospect to the Wolverines for 2026 class

The Wolverines flipped a prospect they coveted.
Trent Knoop|
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Michigan Wolverines

Michigan football added its 16th commitment on Friday night when SMU commit Markel Dabney flipped to the Wolverines.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound linebacker committed to SMU last month, but the tides have turned in Michigan's favor after LB coach Brian Jean-Mary made him a priority. Dabney isn't a highly-rated recruit, but the Wolverines love what they see in the Richmond (VA) product. According to the Composite, Danbney is a three-star recruit, who is the No. 807-ranked recruit in the 2026 cycle.

Dabney wrote on X following his commitment:

"This recruiting journey has been nothing short of a blessing. I want to give a huge thank you to the coaching staff at SMU, Y'all welcomed me like family, and I'll always be grateful for that. After long talks with my family and deep thought, I've decided to decommit from SMU and officially commit to THE University of Michigan! It's time to go to work."

Dabney holds a respectable offer sheet from teams like Florida State, Kentucky, Miami, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Penn State, and Tennessee, among others.

Dabney is Michigan's first LB commitment in the 2026 class, but the Wolverines are after a few more. Guys like Kenneth Goodwin, Nick Abrams, and Brayden Rouse are priorities for the Wolverines.

Enjoy more Michigan Wolverines coverage on Michigan Wolverines On SI -

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Trent Knoop
TRENT KNOOP

Trent began writing and covering Michigan athletics back in 2020. He became a credentialed member of the media in 2021. Trent began writing with Sports Illustrated in 2023 and became the Managing Editor for Michigan Wolverines On SI during the 2025 football season. Trent also serves as the Publisher of Baylor Bears on SI. His other bylines have appeared on Maryland on SI, Wisconsin on SI, and across the USA TODAY Sports network. Trent’s love of sports and being able to tell stories to fans is what made him get into writing.

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