Four-Star Linebacker Committed Early, But Unfortunately Not to Michigan Football, and the Wolverines Missed Out on Adding an All-American to Their Recruiting Class Due To…

Four-Star Linebacker Committed Early, But Unfortunately Not to Michigan Football, and the Wolverines Missed Out on Adding an All-American to Their Recruiting Class Due To Alabama Stealing the Show With a Last-Minute Push Led by Defensive Coordinator Kane Wommack

In a major recruiting blow to Michigan football, four-star linebacker Justin Hill, one of the most sought-after defensive talents in the 2025 class, has officially committed to the University of Alabama, dashing the Wolverines’ hopes of adding a future All-American to their already impressive haul.

Hill, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound powerhouse from Winton Woods High School in Ohio, had long been considered a Michigan lean. The Wolverines were among the first to offer him, brought him in for multiple unofficial visits, and reportedly had him penciled in as a “future starter” on their internal recruiting boards. However, in a stunning twist that unfolded in the final days leading up to his announcement, Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack spearheaded an aggressive late push that flipped the momentum in Tuscaloosa’s favor.

According to sources close to Hill’s camp, Wommack’s pitch focused heavily on early playing time, NFL development, and the opportunity to play in one of the most dominant linebacker legacies in college football history. The Crimson Tide rolled out the red carpet, and the message landed.

> “Coach Wommack showed me how I’d be used in their system,” Hill told 247Sports. “It felt like the perfect fit. I have a lot of respect for Michigan — they recruited me hard — but at the end of the day, Bama just felt like home.”

What Michigan Lost

Hill’s commitment to Alabama leaves Michigan without a centerpiece linebacker in the 2025 cycle — a hole that stings particularly hard given their recent emphasis on rebuilding the defensive front seven. Hill was viewed not only as an elite run-stopper, but also a versatile player capable of dropping into coverage and calling signals in the middle of the field. His combination of football IQ, sideline-to-sideline speed, and leadership had analysts pegging him as a potential future captain and All-Big Ten performer.

> “He was the kind of linebacker Michigan builds its identity around,” said one Big Ten recruiting analyst. “Losing him to Alabama is not just a miss — it’s a major shift in the linebacker recruiting hierarchy.”

The Fallout

Michigan still holds a top-10 recruiting class, headlined by five-star safety Bryce West and quarterback Carter Smith, but Hill’s decision leaves a noticeable void, especially at a position that has thinned following recent NFL Draft declarations.

This isn’t the first time Michigan has lost a key target to a national rival late in the process. Last cycle, they lost edge rusher Eddrick Houston to Georgia despite being in his top three for months. Insiders say Michigan’s recruiting staff, while elite in evaluation and relationship-building, still struggles to close out top-tier SEC-bound players when the blue bloods put their full muscle behind a push.

Head coach Sherrone Moore, who has impressed in his first full offseason since taking over for Jim Harbaugh, acknowledged the difficulty of securing top national talent when programs like Alabama turn on the jets.

> “We were in it until the end. Justin’s a great kid, and we wish him the best,” Moore said at a recent press conference. “We’ve got a lot of confidence in the guys we’re bringing in, and we’re not done yet.”

Looking Ahead

Michigan will now shift its focus to other linebacker targets still on the board. One name to watch is Elijah Melendez, a rangy, high-motor linebacker out of Miami who has risen up the ranks in recent months. The Wolverines are also making a push for Malik Autry, currently committed to Auburn but believed to be open to flipping if the fit is right.

But there’s no sugarcoating it — losing Justin Hill hurts. He was more than just a four-star commit; he was a potential defensive cornerstone.

As for Alabama, they continue to do what Alabama does — reload, out-recruit, and win key head-to-head battles for blue-chip talent. With Kane Wommack clearly hitting his stride in Tuscaloosa, don’t expect this to be the last elite defensive player he pulls out from under another program’s nose.

For Michigan fans, this serves as a reminder: in modern recruiting, no verbal l

ead is safe when Alabama comes calling.