Sherrone Moore, Michigan’s second-year head coach, was dealing with a tough situation. He had been working hard to rebuild Michigan’s recruiting machine, modernizing the process and bringing in new faces to boost the program. Moore made moves like promoting Sam Popper and reassigning Albert Karschnia, and he also brought in Jack Dunaway and John Collins as assistant directors of recruiting. There was a renewed energy within the program, and things were looking positive, especially with the recruitment of a 5-star offensive tackle from Nixa, Missouri. But just as momentum was building, Moore faced an unexpected setback.
Michigan lost a key player in its recruiting operation. Joshua Bailey, the Associate Director of On-Campus Recruiting, left for Georgia State as the Director of Recruiting. This was a significant blow to the Wolverines at a crucial time in the recruiting cycle. The loss was reported by Michigan insider EJ Holland on April 5. Bailey had been with Michigan for only 10 months but had already played an important role in laying the groundwork for a more modern recruiting approach. Having worked previously at West Virginia, Georgia, and Georgia Southern, Bailey brought valuable experience to the table. His departure, especially now, was not ideal for Michigan’s recruiting plans.
Michigan was already facing challenges in the 2026 recruiting cycle, where they were ranked 37th and had only three commits so far. This vacancy in the recruiting department was problematic, especially when trying to attract top-tier talent. Sherrone Moore needed all hands on deck to keep Michigan’s recruiting efforts moving forward, and now they would need to regroup and find a replacement quickly.
One of the players Moore was hoping to land was Jackson Cantwell, a 6’7.5″, 305-pound blue-chip prospect from Missouri. Cantwell had been leaning towards Missouri due to hometown ties and family connections, but recently, Michigan had made significant progress with him. He had visited the campus multiple times, and recruiting analysts had noted Michigan’s strong push for him. However, other schools like Oregon and Georgia were also showing interest, and Georgia, in particular, seemed to be gaining momentum. Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs were now seen as a serious contender for Cantwell’s commitment, with Miami also emerging as a competitor, especially due to their strong NIL offerings.
With the recruiting battle for Cantwell intensifying, Michigan’s chances took a hit with the loss of Bailey. The timing was far from ideal, and it could slow down the momentum Moore and his staff had been building. Michigan is still fighting to stay in the race for Cantwell, but losing a key player like Bailey could make the path harder.
In conclusion, this unexpected setback has put Moore and Michigan in a tough position. They will need to act fast to recover and keep their recruiting efforts on track. The Wolverines had been showing real promise in their recruitment process, but now they face the challenge of regaining that momentum after losing a crucial piece of their recruiting puzzle.