The college football recruiting Class of 2024 has officially ended, with both the early signing period in December and
the regular National Signing Day being behind them. While the typical signing day on Wednesday was rather
uneventful, some unexpected coaching changes early in 2024 had a significant impact on how schools wrapped up
their 2024 recruiting efforts.
With the 2024 classes officially finalized, now is the time to look ahead to the next wave. With that in mind, rather
than focusing on the usual suspects at or near the top of the recruiting heap, let’s take a look at some teams that need
to raise their recruiting game during the 2025 cycle, starting with the reigning national champions who are about to
embark on a new era.
Michigan: Under coach Jim Harbaugh, the Wolverines were a developmental powerhouse, with players continually
surpassing their recruitment rankings as the program advanced to the College Football Playoff National
Championship. Harbaugh is no longer with us, nor are many of the important players who rose to prominence. It is
troubling that Michigan’s 2024 class is outside the top ten nationally, ranking fourth in the Big Ten behind league
newcomer Oregon and Penn State, which recently won a national title.
The fact that Michigan is at the center of two different NCAA investigations, as well as what rival Ohio State is doing
on the field, exacerbates the situation. Sherrone Moore, Michigan’s first-year coach, should be able to get a lot out of
the players he’s signed, and he did an excellent job of keeping the class together despite so much upheaval and
controversy, but the Wolverines are falling behind in the arms race. If they are not careful, this could eventually
catch up with them.
