How Notre Dame taking a 2026 QB helps Michigan football

College football recruiting always picks up in June. Michigan football will hopefully be landing some commitments this month in the 2025 class, but on Saturday, it was a 2026 QB commitment to Notre Dame that actually means something for the Wolverines.

The Irish took the commitment of four-star Noah Grubbs. He’s ranked No. 118 overall in teh 247 Sports composite rankings for the 2026 class. Michigan football targeted Grubbs and was one of the contenders, but he announced for the Irish on Saturday.

While that might sound like a bad thing, it has just helped the Wolverines narrow their board. We talked earlier this week about four-star Brady Hart, who is ranked 95th overall according to the 247 Sports composite rankings. At 6-foot-4, 180 pounds out of Cocoa, Florida, there is plenty of like about Hart.

A pocket passer, Notre Dame was thought to be the leader for Hart, according to EJ Holland of The Wolverine, so the Irish taking Grubbs should open the door for Michigan football.

Why Noah Grubbs to ND helps Michigan football

The offers are picking up for Hart, so it might not be a slam dunk.  Brady Smigiel is another top-100 quarterback that will Michigan football this month. Hart will visit this month too, along with Troy Huhn, who is ranked No. 152 overall in the 2026 class.

Smigiel is the highest-rated according to the composite rankings. Hart feels like a perfect fit though. Not just on the field and that might be critical. It will be interesting to see who Michigan football makes a priority. But the summer before his junior season was when U-M became the leader for Jadyn Davis.

So even if a commitment doesn’t happen soon, the Wovlerines need to zero in on their QB1 because at that position, getting your work done early is imperative and ideally, you want QB recruiting wrapped up by next spring — at the latest.

As you can see, others aren’t waiting.

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