Wolverine Digest

Michigan football trending down for 2026 WR ahead of decision

This receiver has Michigan in his top 4, but it looks like a Big 12 school is in the lead
Seth Berry|
Nov 25, 2023; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy yells from the sideline during the NCAA football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Stadium.
Nov 25, 2023; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy yells from the sideline during the NCAA football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Stadium. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

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Michigan Wolverines

Class of 2026 three-star IMG Academy wide receiver Christian Ward, who has Michigan football in his top four, will make his decision next week on Sept. 24, Rivals reported.

However, despite the Wolverines staying in this recruitment and Ward taking a visit to Ann Arbor back in March, it looks like the Buffaloes are leading heading into his decision, according to a report from Rivals' Steve Wiltfong earlier in the week.

"They’re top in my list,” Ward told Wiltfong after his official visit to Colorado to check out Deion Sanders' program earlier this month

"It was a good visit," Ward continued. "I got to see the facilities, spend time with the staff, and just get a feel for what life would be like there. The energy around the program is real, and being on campus made that even clearer."

Even if the Wolverines miss out on Ward, which looks like it will be the case, wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy and the staff still have three wideouts committed in Michigan's class of 2026, including Zion Robinson, Jaylen Pile and Travis Johnson.

Sherrone Moore's 2026 class currently has 23 verbal commitments and ranks as the No. 10 class in the nation, according to the Rivals Industry Rankings.

Deion Sanders
Sep 12, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders looks on from the sideline during the first half against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

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Seth Berry
SETH BERRY

Seth began writing on Michigan athletics in 2015 and has remained in the U-M media space ever since, which includes stops at Maize N Brew and Rivals before coming onto Michigan On SI in June of 2025. Seth has covered various angles of Michigan football and basketball, including recruiting, overall team coverage and feature/analysis stories relating to the Wolverines. His passion for Michigan sports and desire to tell stories led him to the sports journalism world. He is a 2020 graduate of Western Michigan University and is the former sports editor of the Western Herald, WMU's student newspaper.

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