Michigan football had long been in the JaDon Blair sweepstakes, but the four-star safety committed to rival Notre Dame. But the Wolverines may be getting the last laugh.
2025 Winter Garden (Florida) West Orange four-star safety Ivan Taylor is rated higher than Blair across the board. There’s just one little problem: He’s been committed to the Irish since December. However, Taylor officially visited Ann Arbor for Victors Weekend, and it turns out Ann Arbor was a better destination for him than South Bend.
A few weeks after his official visit, Taylor ended up flipping to the maize and blue.
BREAKING: Four-Star Safety Ivan Taylor has Flipped his Commitment from Notre Dame to Michigan, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’0 180 S from Winter Garden, FL had been Committed to the Fighting Irish since December
Is the son of former NFL CB & 2x Super Bowl Champion Ike… pic.twitter.com/Kz8VH3u6pt
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 8, 2024
Here is how Taylor ranks according to the recruiting services:
| * | Ovr. | Pos. | St. | |
| 247Sports Composite | 4 | 50 | 5 | 8 |
| On3 Industry Ranking | 4 | 58 | 6 | 8 |
| 247Sports | 4 | 41 | 2 | 5 |
| On3 | 4 | 132 | 14 | 21 |
| ESPN | 4 | 41 | 5 | 5 |
| Rivals | 4 | 102 | 11 | 20 |
The scouting report from 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins:
A high-IQ safety prospect with elite NFL bloodlines and a top-flight testing profile. Measured roughly 6-foot, 170 pounds spring before junior campaign, clocking a 4.5-second effort in the 40-yard dash that day to go along with a 4.25-second short shuttle. Quick-footed with plenty of agility. Has spent most of prep career working in a two-deep system and has shown that he can get where he needs to be. Competitive at the catch point and does a nice job of turning his head to find the football. A sound open-field tackler at this stage that will launch at legs and get ball carries on the ground. However, needs to get a little bit better at getting off blocks and sifting through traffic. Will eventually need to add some mass and improve play strength, but should be viewed as a potential multi-year starter for a top 25 program. Likely to find a home at the third level of a defense, but sticky enough in man-coverage possibly warrant a look as an inside corner on Saturdays.
It’s not the first time in recent memory Michigan has flipped a safety from Notre Dame. Two years ago, Brandyn Hillman signed his letter of intent but transferred to the Wolverines — and he’s looking for an increased role in his second year with the program.
Taylor also had offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Penn State, USC and others.