Michigan football recruiting: ESPN’s No. 1 quarterback will be in Ann Arbor soon

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Next week is looking like a big one for Michigan football recruiting as the Wolverines will be back to hosting some of the nation’s top talent. According to new reports, the Maize and Blue will be welcoming a major visitor next week for the team’s annual ‘BBQ at the Big House’ event: ESPN’s No. 1 quarterback in the nation, Akili Smith Jr.

Michigan football recruiting will host ESPN’s No. 1 quarterback

The top target for Michigan football recruiting in the 2025 cycle is five-star QB Bryce Underwood, a native of Belleville, MI, who is right in Jim Harbaugh’s backyard. That said, the Wolverines are keeping their options open down the stretch, and recently added a new name to the guest list for July 30th’s visitors: Akili Smith Jr.

According to ESPN, Smith is the No. 1 quarterback in the nation for the 2025 cycle, though his composite ranking pins him at No. 6 nationally. Still, regardless of the rankings you choose to use, Smith is a major target in the 2025 class, ranking among the nation’s top 100 according to every service aside from Rivals.

Big visit coming for Akili Smith Jr. and the Wolverines

According to Smith’s ON3 page, he is bound to be in Ann Arbor next week once the recruiting dead period lifts. This will be a major opportunity for Michigan football in the coming cycle. So far, Michigan’s 2024 class ranks 4th (26 commits), while its 2025 class ranks 7th. If the Wolverines want to remain in contention for Big Ten titles and national titles, as the program has been in consecutive seasons now, landing top talent (especially at quarterback) is essential.

Akili Smith Jr. hails from San Diego, CA, and for the time being, it appears that the PAC-12’s Oregon Ducks have the edge in his recruitment. For Michigan football recruiting, this month’s visit could mark a potentially crucial turning point if they choose to pursue him harder down the stretch.

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics and Big Ten content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Publisher at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest-growing and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!