Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Top Michigan recruiting target receives coveted fifth star from 247Sports

Originally posted on Michigan Wolverines on SI
By Jerred Johnson | Last updated May 15, 2025 9:19 AM ET

The Michigan coaching staff has continued its methodical approach to the 2026 recruiting cycle. The Wolverines have made the cut for a handful of elite five-star talents and if they land a few could easily build another top 10 class in '26. The commitments have been slow, but the team and staff appear to have a blueprint for how they want to build this class, and they are sticking to it.

One of Michigan's top defensive targets, safety Joey O'Brien, recently shared his excitement on receiving the coveted fifth star from 247Sports. O'Brien, who is now ranked 30th overall in the nation, fourth best as a safety, and the number one overall player in Pennsylvania, took to social media to share the news.

I am extremely blessed to be named a 5 star by @247Sports! @LaSalleFball @TomLoy247 @BrettGordonLSHS @TorreySmithWR pic.twitter.com/GoAnYf45mH
— Joey O’Brien (@Joey_obrien6) May 14, 2025

The 6-foot-3 185-pound O'Brien is hard hitting safety with the ability to come up and defend the run. Moving to the D1 level, he will surely add 10-15 pounds to his lanky frame and could be a three-year starter for any program he chooses. Currently, the crystal balls for O'Brien heavily favor in-state school Penn State at 75% with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish second at 25%. It would be a heck of coup for coach Sherrone Moore and his team to pull O'Brien out of the clutches of James Franklin and the Nittany Lions, but stranger things have happened in the world of college football recruiting,

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

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