It’s a good day to be Ron Bellamy. Michigan football’s wide receivers coach has secured a commitment from 2025 top-100 prospect Andrew Marsh out of Fulshear, Texas.
The commitment is a boon to the class after fellow receiver Phillip Wright III decommitted earlier in August. It’s also important in the context of the receiver room as a whole. Darrius Clemons, Karmello English, and Cristian Dixon all left via the portal in the offseason. There’s unproven depth past Tyler Morris and Semaj Morgan, who still have plenty to prove themselves. It’s a room that will gladly welcome Michigan’s highest-ranked receiver commit since Donovan Peoples-Jones in 2017.
Freshman wide receivers face a steep learning curve. Still, there’s reason to believe the 6′-1″, 180-pound Marsh can make an early push for snaps.
Scouting
Junior Year Stats (Katy Jordan High School):
- 53 receptions
- 845 yards
- 11 touchdowns
There’s a lot to like about Marsh’s film. He pops off the line, accelerates well, and makes adjustments when plays break down to help his quarterback out of trouble. His running style is reminiscent of Steve Breaston’s gallop, though Marsh doesn’t quite have the same elite top gear that Breaston did. Improving speed will be a major focus area once he hits Justin Tress’s strength-and-conditioning program. Where Marsh shines is his ability to get up. A track athlete who has high-jumped 6-foot-4, Marsh looks special when high-pointing contested catches.
He has the shiftiness to make guys miss and will have a chance to contribute on kick returns. He also has deceptive strength for his lean frame. Marsh can deliver hits in stride and fights through contact almost like a running back. Michigan loves wide receivers who can block, and Marsh made sure to include blocking highlights in his tape. Once he tacks on a few more pounds of muscle, he looks like he’ll enjoy regularly escorting Big Ten cornerbacks to the sideline.
All told it’s a nearly complete package for a high school wideout. The knocks on him – size, and speed – are the only things keeping Marsh from five-star status. They’re also clearly not dealbreakers. He’s got enough athleticism and baseline strength to build himself into a threat to do damage all over the field.
Recruitment
Pulling a top recruit out of Big 12/SEC country is no easy feat. Marsh hails from the western fringes of Houston, and Michigan had to fend off regional powers Texas, Oklahoma, and LSU for his services. There was also a push from Jedd Fisch and Washington. Those schools won’t necessarily back off, either, so the Wolverines will have to keep their foot on the gas through to Signing Day.
Michigan has recruited Texas decently of late. For the 2025 class, Marsh joins fellow Texan Jayden Sanders. Other current team members from the Lone Star State include quarterback Alex Orji, running back Tavierre Dunlap, defensive linemen Enow Etta and Ike Iwunnah, and offensive tackle Blake Frazier. Marsh would be the highest-rated Michigan player from Texas since Ryan Mallett and Darryl Stonum in the 2007 and 2008 classes, respectively.
Bellamy has made a point to establish recruiting connections in the south and bring prospects north to Ann Arbor. Marsh would be his second-highest-ranked recruit after stud cornerback Will Johnson. Past successes include Keon Sabb (Florida), Jadyn Davis (North Carolina), Fred Moore (Missouri), and Marsh’s classmate Jacob Washington (Louisiana).
With Washington, Michigan has a big-bodied project to pair with the more polished Marsh for this class. While Marsh should be able to make a more immediate impact, Washington will need a few years to refine his technique and grow into his frame.
The Class As It Stands…For Now
Marsh moves the needle for the class overall – Michigan football moves up to twelfth in 247Sports’ rankings and thirteenth on On3. If five-star Andrew Babalola pledges to Michigan over Stanford shortly, that could vault them into the top ten. It would also give the class a solid range of prospects – some viable top-tier talent to contend as soon as they step on campus, and some promising prospects to prepare for later.
Despite Wright’s decommitment, Michigan seems set at receiver for now with Marsh and Washington. The remaining options atop their wish list at the position are currently committed elsewhere or not considering the Wolverines. They will likely still push for a high-profile player like Jerome Myles out of Utah or current LSU commit Derek Meadows. If those fall through and they have space in the class, they could try for developmental prospects like Dejerrian Miller and Baylor commit Taz Williams.
That lack of options may change as the 2024 season progresses. Current personnel will likely dictate a run-heavy offense – something in the neighborhood of 60-40 run-to-pass. However, if Kirk Campbell and Sherrone Moore open up the playbook a bit more and presumptive starter Alex Orji improves as a passer, that might open doors with recruits looking to block and make plays downfield.
