Michigan Wolverines get shut out from elite defender’s recruitment in favor of staying local
There are some recruiting battles that were doomed from the start. That’s what Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore has to take away from his program’s pursuit of four-star safety Kentavion Anderson. The dynamic South Carolina prospect would’ve been an excellent fit in Michigan’s NFL-style defense, but he opted to stay local by committing to […]
There are some recruiting battles that were doomed from the start. That’s what Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore has to take away from his program’s pursuit of four-star safety Kentavion Anderson. The dynamic South Carolina prospect would’ve been an excellent fit in Michigan’s NFL-style defense, but he opted to stay local by committing to Clemson.
Any chances of a flip scenario seemed to go down the drain this week as the top-100 overall recruit made a clear statement he’s locked in with the Tigers with his X post.
“I’m ALL IN?‼️Locked in with Clemson University 1000%.Big thanks to every coach who rocked with me, but it’s up now. Let’s work. Let’s eat. Let’s make history.”
Michigan wasn’t alone in being left in the dust. Anderson was heavily considering South Carolina and Alabama, plus a few other fringe teams. In retrospect, it’s likely the Wolverines weren’t a big force in his recruitment at all. He originally committed to Clemson back in May.
The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder visited the Gamecocks three times since July 2024 and Alabama once, all unofficially. Still, what swayed Anderson was his connection to the Tigers’ staff.
“He is a great person,” Anderson said of Swinney. “We know what he has done as a coach, but Coach Dabo is going to help me become a better man off the field, too. It is not just about football with him or his coaching staff. They do a lot more for their players, and I am going to learn a lot about life and football from Coach Dabo and all the people at Clemson.”
Ultimately, it never seemed as though Anderson felt that connection with Moore and the Wolverines. The fact that he focused on staying within the Southeast region shows that the pitch to relocate to Ann Arbor might’ve been a no-go from the jump. It’s rarely personal.
“It is just about family,” Anderson said. “South Carolina and North Carolina are great schools and they were high on my list too, but that culture at Clemson gave me a different feeling … The people there care for each other. The culture, the family, the people and the staff are the biggest reasons I chose Clemson.”
