Sherrone Moore is hit with a curveball in Ann Arbor. So here’s the deal. Michigan’s second-year HC has been working overtime to rebuild the Wolverines’ recruiting machine since stepping into the big chair. He was aggressive, hired fresh faces, and modernized the operation. He promoted Sam Popper and reassigned Albert Karschnia. Also brought in guys like Jack Dunaway and John Collins as asst. Directors of Recruiting. The energy was different, and the vision was big. And yeah, they had some momentum, particularly with a 5-star OT out of Nixa, Missouri. But just as Michigan started making some real noises, especially on the trail, Sherrone Moore got hit with a tough one. 

Out of nowhere, Michigan lost a key piece of its recruiting puzzle. U-M insider EJ Holland dropped a concerning report on X on April 5 on the same. “Michigan has lost its Associate Director of On-Campus Recruiting. The Wolverines will look to fill the void and keep modernizing its department in coming months #GoBlue.” Losing Joshua Bailey to Georgia State as Director of Recruiting… not ideal timing. 

Joshua Bailey was only in Ann Arbor for ten months. Yet during that time, he was helping lay the groundwork for a modernized recruiting approach. He worked under Kayli Johnson, who leads the on-campus recruiting and just so happens to be the sister of projected future first-round pick Will Johnson. Losing Bailey right now stings. He had previous stints at West Virginia, Georgia, and Georgia Southern, so he had legit experience. 

Now, Michigan’s got a vacancy in a spot that’s crucial when you’re trying to land top-tier talent. With the Wolverines sitting at No. 37 in the 2026 recruiting cycle with just three commits, they really needed all hands on deck. But now, they’ve got to restock. Fast. After all, this kind of shakeup could throw a wrench into Sherrone Moore’s momentum. 

Sherrone Moore is slipping in Jackson Cantwell’s race

That momentum was starting to feel real, especially with blue-chip prospect Jackson Cantwell. The dude’s a monster—6’7.5, 305 pounds—and he’s been a Mizzou lean forever. Hometown ties, family legacy, all that. But lately, the narrative’s shifting.

Michigan had him on campus multiple times. On3 Chad Simmons laid it out plain and simple that Sherrone Moore and co. are “making a surge.” “I think Michigan definitely is making a surge here,” he said. “They had him on campus again last week and here recently, and they’re doing a great job.” But wait, Oregon and Georgia are sniffing around too. 

The race for Jackson Cantwell is turning into a full-blown recruiting battle. Steve Wiltfong added that Kirby Smart and the Dawgs might be emerging as a frontrunner heading into the summer. “Miami will be as competitive as any program on the NIL front for Cantwell,” Wiltfong added. Michigan’s fighting to stay in it and maybe even lead. But losing Joshua Bailey right now is a hit you can’t ignore. 

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So yeah, a tough break for Sherrone Moore. Right when the Wolverines were starting to punch above their weight, one of the key gears in the machine slipped out. We’ll see how quickly they can rebound.