If you want to play offensive line in college football, there’s arguably nowhere better to do so than in Ann Arbor. But that doesn’t entice everyone.
Michigan football won two straight Joe Moore Awards but may have had among its best years at the position the year after, when the Wolverines won the national championship. And though the Wolverines have two offensive line commits in Avery Gach and Kaden Strayhorn, one target who appeared likely to end up in Ann Arbor is now trending away.
The Wolverines were in a battle with Clemson to secure the commitment of 2025 Brookline (Mass.) Dexter School four-star interior offensive lineman Hardy Watts. And after Clemson had received a 247Sports Crystal Ball, Michigan football got all the momentum and he appeared destined to end up wearing maize and blue.
However, there was a turn of events and all the Michigan predictions have been flipped to Big Ten foe Wisconsin.
Here is how Watts rates according to the recruiting services:
| Stars | Ovr | Pos | State | |
| 247Sports Composite | 4 | 217 | 12 | 1 |
| On3 Industry Ranking | 4 | 251 | 16 | 2 |
| 247Sports | 4 | – | 16 | 1 |
| On3 | 4 | 119 | 9 | 1 |
| Rivals | 4 | 178 | 6 | 1 |
| ESPN | 3 | – | 40 | 2 |
Watts also has offers from Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Miami, Penn State, Tennessee, and Texas A&M. He’s listed at 6-foot-6, 290 pounds, and was previously expected to end up at Clemson and then Michigan before Wisconsin made a push.
When it comes to linemen, Michigan is still in excellent position with five-star Andrew Babalola — though he plays on the exterior.