Michigan football recruiting is picking up in a big way with some huge visit weekends taking place and the Wolverines looking to capitalize.
Last week with rival MSU in town, the maize and blue hosted multiple recruits who were committed elsewhere, including Georgia commit Shamari Earls, Syracuse commit Quante Gillians, and Cincinnati commit Benny Patterson.
The visit made a strong impression on Patterson, so much so that he ended up pulling the trigger, less than a week later, to flip his commitment from the Bearcats to the that of the Wolverines.
With Carter Smith having dropped out of his pledge, Patterson’s commitment makes him the 17th commit in the 2025 cycle.
BREAKING: Four-Star DL Benny Patterson has Flipped his Commitment from Cincinnati to Michigan, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’3 245 DL from Newburgh, IN had been Committed to the Bearcats since April
“Blessed 〽️”https://t.co/AM7b4wBxDW pic.twitter.com/MDmgsbheGk
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) November 1, 2024
Patterson hails from Newburgh (Ind.) Castle and is a three-star prospect along the defensive line according to all recruiting services but On3, where he’s a four-star. He’s listed at 6-foot-4, 245 pounds.
Here is how he ranks according to the recruiting services:
| * | Ovr | Pos | St | |
| 247Sports Composite | 3 | 659 | 75 | 10 |
| On3 Industry Ranking | 3 | 681 | 65 | 20 |
| 247Sports | 3 | – | 49 | 9 |
| On3 | 4 | 223 | 23 | 5 |
| ESPN | 3 | – | 92 | 22 |
| Rivals | – | – | – | – |
The last time Michigan got a three-star defensive tackle from Indiana, it was Kenneth Grant, who turned out to be a superstar in the middle. We’ll see if Patterson can follow suit.
Patterson also has offers from Florida State, LSU, Penn State, and USC.