Michigan Wolverines
· 2026-07-06
Michigan Wolverines lost their top recruiting target, five-star cornerback Joshua Dobson, to South Carolina on July 1.
The Wolverines had Dobson as their top 2027 cornerback target for several months, but he ultimately opted to join the Gamecocks.
Dobson, rated the No. 1 player in North Carolina, No. 3 corner in the nation, and No. 17 player in the country, chose South Carolina over Michigan in a ceremony shown on Rivals' YouTube channel.
He was a true blue-chip target, with 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins describing him as a "speedy zone corner with a wiry frame that can race into the deeper third".
The loss of Dobson is a significant blow to Michigan's recruiting class, but the team's secondary class is still in good shape.
Michigan had gotten Dobson on campus in mid-June for a visit, but his last official visit was to South Carolina a week later.
The Wolverines will look to regroup and focus on their upcoming season, with their next game scheduled against Western Michigan Broncos on September 5, 2026.
Michigan landed a pledge from four-star cornerback Monsanna Torbert Jr. out of Cincinnati, a borderline top-100 player, just an hour before losing out on Dobson.
Dobson played his junior year at Fort Mill Catawba Ridge in South Carolina, with limited numbers, but he also contributed in other phases, catching three passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns on offense.
He was invited to the Under Armour All-American Game, where he had a tackle and an interception.
The loss of Dobson is another close miss for Michigan, but the team remains optimistic about their recruiting class.
Michigan's secondary class is still strong, with the addition of Torbert Jr.
The team will look to build on their current roster and prepare for the upcoming season.