Michigan Wolverines and Sherrone Moore Push to Close the Deal on Elite Four-Star Two-Way Recruit Ahead of August Commitment
With just days left before one of the nation’s top uncommitted four-star recruits makes his decision, Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore and his staff are mounting an all-out effort to land the elite two-way prospect who has the potential to reshape both sides of the ball in Ann Arbor.
Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing in at a muscular 205 pounds, Jalen “Jet” Richardson out of St. Louis, Missouri, is the kind of rare athletic specimen who dominates under Friday night lights on both offense and defense. A wide receiver with track speed and a safety with closing speed and elite instincts, Richardson has drawn comparisons to Charles Woodson — lofty praise that he doesn’t shy away from.
“I want to be a game-changer,” Richardson said earlier this month. “Not just play the game, but flip it. I want to be that player who takes over, no matter where I line up.”
While programs like Georgia, Oregon, and Penn State have made hard pushes, it’s Michigan that has surged to the front of the race in recent weeks. Sources close to Richardson’s camp say that Moore’s personal involvement, along with Michigan’s strong NIL infrastructure and a clear vision for Richardson’s two-way future, have positioned the Wolverines as the team to beat heading into his August 3rd announcement.
Coach Moore has made Richardson a top priority, even visiting him twice this summer during the quiet period — a rare move that underscores Michigan’s intent. According to insiders, Moore laid out a detailed blueprint showing how Richardson could thrive as both a dynamic slot weapon and a rangy playmaking safety in Michigan’s evolving pro-style and multiple-look defensive schemes.
“Coach Moore didn’t just talk football,” Richardson’s high school coach, DeAngelo Wright, told local reporters. “He talked legacy, character, and leadership. He told Jalen, ‘We want you to be the heartbeat of our next championship team.’ That stuck with him.”
Michigan’s pitch includes immediate playing time, a hybrid development plan with position coaches on both sides of the ball, and a mentorship pipeline that connects Richardson directly with Wolverines legends — including a recent video call with Woodson himself, who told the young recruit: “Don’t just follow the path. Make a new one.”
Richardson visited Ann Arbor again in mid-July for the Barbecue at the Big House, where he bonded with fellow 2025 commits and soaked in the energy of a program that’s hungry to defend its Big Ten crown and make another national title run. One source described the visit as “transformational.”
With his decision looming, the momentum is real. Barring a late surge from an SEC heavyweight, the Wolverines may be on the cusp of landing their most impactful two-way player in a generation.
August 3rd can’t come soon enough in Ann Arbor.
