Michigan football trending to add 4-star edge Major Stokes as 2028 class heats up

Michigan football is trending toward a major recruiting addition for the 2028 class, with 4-star edge rusher Major Stokes drawing increasing interest from the Wolverines. Stokes, a prospect from Orem, Utah, is described as an elite-level defensive front target, and the recruiting chatter suggests Michigan could be positioning itself to land another cornerstone piece on the edge.

The Wolverines’ progress in the 2028 recruiting cycle has been relatively light in public reporting. As of the time of the report, Michigan has just one commitment for the class: Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy kicker Ryan Jung, who pledged to the program over the weekend. That context matters because it frames Stokes as a potential swing in the direction and speed of Michigan’s recruiting momentum for the class.

Stokes’ profile as an edge rusher is significant for Michigan’s long-term roster-building. The program’s defensive identity has long emphasized pass rush and pressure creation, and high-end edge talent is often the type of prospect teams prioritize when trying to reload across recruiting cycles. Even before any official confirmation, a name like Stokes being closely linked to Michigan highlights how the staff may be targeting speed, athleticism, and development at the position.

The report places Stokes in the same conversation as Michigan’s recruiting priorities from the program’s traditional recruiting footprint. It also connects the recruiting interest to a familiar recruiting geography, with the story noting the prospect hails from an area associated with former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. For Michigan fans, the headline takeaway is less about that personal tie and more about the recruiting traction the Wolverines appear to be building with a high-level defensive prospect.

Still, this is not the same as an official commitment. The wording in the report is that Michigan is trending toward Stokes, which is a common stage in recruiting where momentum can shift based on visits, in-person access, and how other programs respond. Until Michigan and Stokes each confirm the decision publicly, the situation should be treated as a recruiting watch, not a finalized outcome.

For what to watch next, the most important marker will be whether Michigan converts the interest into an announcement during or around the peak offseason recruiting window. If Stokes does become the next public commitment, it would expand Michigan’s early 2028 class picture quickly beyond the one existing pledge, potentially setting the tone for additional defensive recruiting across the next several weeks.