Michigan Wolverines’ efforts to flip coveted signal-caller away from Big Ten rival begin bearing fruit with latest update

Michigan’s new coaching staff has quickly found their next top quarterback recruit and are aiming to pull off a strong flip.

AJ Schulte — College Football Trending News Writer
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Michigan football head coach Kyle Whittingham speaks as he is being introduced on the floor during the first half between Michigan and USC at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026.
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Michigan Wolverines underwent plenty of turnover when Kyle Whittingham arrived in Ann Arbor. With an entirely new coaching staff in town and Whittingham hiring a new general manager, they had to reorganize their recruiting efforts across multiple classes.

Last month, one of their biggest changes hit. 2027 four-star quarterback Peter Bourque, a top-10 quarterback recruit across every service and the No.1 player from the state of Massachusetts, decommitted from the Wolverines and has opened up his recruitment. Bourque committed to the Wolverines under former head coach Sherrone Moore, and Whittingham’s crew wasn’t the same fit for him.

Despite that setback, the Wolverines have already found a new target and are aiming to pluck him away from a Big Ten rival.

Kamden Lopati is Michigan’s next big fish in recruiting

Michigan is turning to a familiar name to find their next potential signal-caller under center in four-star Kamden Lopati. Lopati is currently committed to the Illinois Fighting Illini, and is the consensus No.9 quarterback in the 2027 class.

It’s worth noting that Lopati is from Utah and was once a priority target for Whittingham when he was the head coach of the Utes. Now, with his entire staff over from Utah, Whittingham is working to ensure Lopati stays in the Big Ten, but with the Wolverines instead. His efforts to flip Lopati have borne fruit, as Lopati has confirmed he will be in attendance for Michigan’s “Victors Weekend”, one of their biggest recruiting weekends of the entire season.

Lopati is ranked No.2 in the state of Utah and is the 122nd-overall recruit in the 2027 class according to Rivals’ composite rankings. As a junior this past season, he completed 114-of-176 passes for 2,671 yards, 34 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also ran 90 times for 730 yards and 10 touchdowns.

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