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Elite defender chooses Ohio State over Michigan, Notre Dame

Originally posted on Michigan Wolverines on SI
By Chris Breiler | Last updated May 12, 2025 2:54 PM ET

The Michigan Wolverines appeared to be in the running for elite cornerback Jordan Thomas, but that's no longer the case. On Monday, Thomas announced that he had committed to Ohio State, choosing the Buckeyes over the Wolverines and Fighting Irish.

BREAKING: Four-Star CB Jordan Thomas has Committed to Ohio State, he tells me for @on3recruits

The 6’1 185 CB from Oradell, NJ chose the Buckeyes over Notre Dame and Michigan

“It’s already written, THE Best in America! ”https://t.co/ibJHnJJ5vQ pic.twitter.com/O813dJ20Rp
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 12, 2025

On3 lists Thomas as the No. 3 overall prospect from the state of New Jersey and the No. 19 overall cornerback in the nation for the 2026 class.

Losing out on a highly rated commit is one thing, but seeing that commit go to your biggest rival only adds to the significance of the loss.

Beyond this specific battle, there are growing concerns over the lack of progress being made in Michigan's 2026 recruiting class. Despite landing four-star QB Brady Smigiel recently, Michigan's 2026 class currently ranks No. 44 in the nation according to 247Sports. That spot is also good for No. 12 in the Big 10 conference, trailing programs like Rutgers, Minnesota, and Iowa.

While there's plenty of time for head coach Sherrone Moore and his staff to get things on track in the coming weeks, there's no denying that Michigan could use some big wins on the recruiting trail soon.

This article first appeared on Michigan Wolverines on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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