Sherrone Moore has had some recruiting fireworks in his first year, landing thus far one of the best classes for Michigan football in memory — including in Jim Harbaugh’s tenure.
And it’s getting even better.
The Kansas native head coach went all-in to secure a commitment from 2025 Overland Park (Kan.) Blue Valley Northwest five-star offensive tackle Andrew Babalola, who was long seen as a Stanford lean. However, other schools — Auburn and Oklahoma — got heavily involved late, making things interesting.
However, Moore officially has his first five-star in the fold as Babalola officially made his verbal commitment to the maize and blue.
BREAKING: Five-Star OT Andrew Babalola has Committed to Michigan, he tells me for @On3Recruits
The 6’6 300 OT from Overland Park, KS chose the Wolverines over Stanford, Auburn, Oklahoma, & Mizzou
Ranked as the No. 11 Recruit in the ‘25 Class (per On3)https://t.co/K3wRrqtGNA pic.twitter.com/Znbjeh3S1E
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) October 22, 2024
Here is how Babalola ranks according to the recruiting services:
| * | Ovr | Pos | St | |
| 247Sports Composite | 5 | 21 | 4 | 1 |
| On3 Industry Ranking | 5 | 19 | 4 | 1 |
| 247Sports | 5 | 11 | 2 | 1 |
| On3 | 5 | 11 | 3 | 1 |
| ESPN | 4 | 51 | 7 | 1 |
| Rivals | 4 | 63 | 9 | 3 |
The scouting report from 247Sports’ Gabe Brooks:
Immensely gifted offensive tackle prospect who’s relatively newer to football and possesses virtually limitless long-term potential. Showing noticeably more block-finishing conviction as a senior. Outstanding physical measurables with a frame approaching 6-6 and 34+ arms with huge paws. Lean with ample frame space, though perhaps a tad more narrow than originally perceived upon live evaluation. Natural bender who plays with a wide base in pass protection, where he’s capable of consistently and effectively anchoring vs. strength. Originally a basketball player whose functional athleticism in pads reflects that background. Logged valuable two-way snaps previously in high school. Still developing hand placement technique and can more consistently exploit length to his advantage. May need a bit more time to develop at the P4 level than more ready-made tackle prospects, but owns a case for the highest-ceiling OT prospect in the 2025 recruiting cycle.
Oddly enough, Babalola is the first five-star that Michigan football has landed on the offensive line as a recruit since Kyle Kalis flipped from Ohio State to the Wolverines back during the Brady Hoke era. However, the maize and blue do currently have a five-star playing on the OL, with Myles Hinton originally having that ranking but having originally committed to Stanford before transferring to Michigan.
Babalola is Michigan’s 17th commitment in 2025. With the pledge, Michigan moves up from No. 15 to No. 14, surpassing Penn State.