Kyle Whittingham’s recruiting efforts in Ann Arbor are being challenged by powerhouses in his conference. Just a day after he pursued a target with legacy ties to his program, another Big Ten program jumped into the race to land the 4-star recruit.

Michigan’s priority target and Lake Nona’s standout DB Charles Woodson Jr. received an offer from Oregon. Woodson Jr. is a 4-star recruit of the 2027 class and the 26th-ranked safety. More than the priority target, he is Michigan’s legacy recruit.

Woodson Jr. is the son of Michigan legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson, who played for the Wolverines in the 1990s, won the Heisman Trophy, and was a three-time All-Big Ten selection. He was the No. 4 overall pick of the Oakland Raiders and was the Super Bowl XLV champion with the Green Bay Packers. He even praised the program’s hire of Whittingham as a Michigan alum.

“It’s a new day for our Maize and Blue, and I’m excited for a new chapter with our Michigan program,” Woodson said. “Coach Whittingham has been a positive influence in college football for many years and I look forward to him bringing that same passion and toughness to Ann Arbor!”

Just like the father, the son also excels on the defensive side of the ball. The 5-foot-11 safety prospect logged in 73 total tackles and two interceptions and defended eight passes this season as a junior, averaging 81.5 yards per return. Michigan offered Woodson Jr. in June 2025 and has been pushing hard to land a commitment. However, Oregon’s entry into the mix could keep the contest tight.

The Ducks’ move came within a day after Kyle Whittingham visited Woodson Jr. to make an aggressive push in landing a commitment, per Brice Marich of 247Sports. The DB told the publication about Wolverines HC Whittingham visiting him on Thursday, January 29, and what that means to him.

“I mean, it was crazy because, like, that was the head coach sitting across from me, so it just means a lot,” Woodson Jr. told Marich of 247 Sports about Whittingham’s visit.

Oregon’s offer after the visit suggests the recruitment for the prospect has started to heat up. However, Virginia Tech, Kansas State, and Mississippi State all stopped by his school this month. While multiple school visits could cause trouble for Michigan, they have already made a significant stride.

Michigan’s recruiting efforts for Charles Woodson Jr.

According to On3’s Ethan McDowell, Kyle Whittingham is not the only Michigan coach to visit Charles Woodson. DC Jay Hill, safeties coach Tyler Stockton, DL coach Lou Esposito, and DEs coach Lewis Powell all travelled to Lake Nona High School and met with the legacy recruit. Every coach the Wolverines sent had a clear message: make Woodson aware that he is a top priority for the Wolverines.

“I think they were pretty cool,” Woodsman said, per On3. “It was a good first impression. They think I can impact recruiting the 2027 class.”

Reports reveal that Michigan was always the first team mentioned in his recruitment because of family ties. However, Woodson revealed that other schools have also stood out in his recruitment, including the schools that recently offered him, like Oregon and Louisville.

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“Michigan is definitely a top contender, but other schools that have stood out are Kentucky, Virginia Tech, Oregon, and Louisville,” Woodson said.

While the 2027 prospect still has enough time to make his decision, the Wolverines have convinced him to visit Ann Arbor, and he’ll likely be heading to the campus this spring.