Kyle Whittingham is pulling no punches, and it doesn’t look like he’s slowing down anytime soon. And while 2027 is on the clock, he’s also working behind the scenes on the 2028 class.
And that starts with the quarterback position.
Once upon a time, when a top name was committed early to a top-tier SEC school, they were essentially immovable. Michigan football proved that’s not always the case when Bryce Underwood flipped from LSU to the Wolverines late in the process. Whittingham is trying to make a similar move, albeit much earlier, stealing away an elite quarterback from an elite school.
California native Jayden Wade, who’s a 2028 prospect at the helm of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy has been committed to Georgia since November. The five-star quarterback is the No. 2 overall player in the 2028 class per 247Sports, and though he can’t participate in the Elite 11, according to Rivals’ Adam Gorney, Michigan is diligently trying to flip him from the Bulldogs, so much so that he plans to visit Ann Arbor. (subscription required)
On Friday, Wade made headlines because he said Michigan has been coming on very strong and he’s now planning a visit to Ann Arbor.
Here’s the latest scouting report from Rivals’ Charles Power:
Physically-gifted quarterback prospect with a high-end combination of arm strength and athleticism. Measured in at around 6-foot-3.5, 195 pounds with 10-inch hands prior to his junior season, having added good mass to his frame over the past year. A combine standout who has been timed in the 4.4-second range in the 40-yard dash. Started at quarterback at power IMG Academy as a sophomore after serving as a backup as a freshman. Has a tight, quick throwing motion and shows the ability to throw with palpable velocity. Primarily worked as a distributor for IMG’s talented receiving corps, throwing a high percentage of RPO’s as a sophomore. Completed 73 of 119 passes for 1,376 yards and 20 touchdowns against two interceptions as a sophomore. Shows flashes of his immense physical ability but needs more quality in-game reps as a passer, as he’s relatively less experienced than most of his highly-ranked peers at this stage. Older for the cycle and will turn 18 years-old in October of his junior season.
What are the chances that the Wolverines will succeed at this venture? That won’t likely be answerable until he does make it to campus. But with a top-tier talent in 2027 committed in four-star QB Kamden Lopati, Whittingham is swinging for the fences, clearly unwilling to settle now that he’s at a school that has a bit more cache — in name brand as well as NIL — than his previous stop.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football targets five-star Georgia commit
Reporting by Isaiah Hole, Wolverines Wire / Wolverines Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
