Wolverine Digest

New Michigan Football Coach Explains How He Kept the 2026 Class Intact

The new Michigan football coach addressed the 2026 recruiting class and several former Utes who followed him to Ann Arbor.
Justice Steiner|
Michigan football head coach Kyle Whittingham speaks as he is being introduced on the floor during the first half between Michigan and USC at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026.
Michigan football head coach Kyle Whittingham speaks as he is being introduced on the floor during the first half between Michigan and USC at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Michigan Wolverines

With National Signing Day just taking place this week (Wednesday, Feb. 4), new Michigan head football coach Kyle Whittingham sat down  and talked about the 2026 class.

Whittingham and the Wolverines had a slight disadvantage in recruiting with the circumstances of the previous regime, as Sherrone Moore was fired on Dec. 10, 2025, while Whittingham was then hired on Dec. 26, 2025. With that, the 2026 recruiting cycle was close to its end, and the Wolverines had a host of student-athletes set to come to Ann Arbor next fall, but who were not recruited by Whittingham.

On Thursday (Feb. 5), Whittingham was asked about retaining the student-athletes who were committed to the Wolverines, whom he did not recruit.

“First thing I did was got on the phone with each one of them and had conversations,” Whittingham said. “They were all excited, not necessarily the coaching change, but to continue to be a Michigan man and play for Michigan. That was really the first order of business when I got hired on was to meet with the entire team that is here now and to make sure we had as much retention as possible, then to get on the phone with all the signees.”

Michigan’s 2026 class ranked 12th in the nation, fourth in the Big Ten, while having the 16th highest ranked transfer class via 247Sports Composite. A big part of that transfer class was five Utah Utes that followed Whittingham to Ann Arbor.

“What we did here at Michigan, just like every other school, waited to see who jumped in the portal,” Whittingham said. “Of those guys who did jump in the portal, the ones who were a good fit were the ones we pursued. We feel like we came away with five really good players from the University.

Michigan transfer JJ Buchanan.
Dec 31, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Utah Utes tight end JJ Buchanan (81) celebrates after a reception against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the first half during the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The four student-athletes who made the jump from Utah to Michigan were Salesi Moa (CB), Smith Snowden (CB), Jonah Leaea (DL), JJ Buchanan (WR) and John Henry-Daley (EDGE).

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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.

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