The recruitment saga of four-star defensive lineman Nathaniel Marshall has been a turbulent journey for Michigan fans. Originally committed to Michigan on April 22, Marshall, a standout from Oak Park (IL) Fenwick, continued to explore other options. There were moments when it seemed he might depart from Michigan, but he reaffirmed his commitment after a visit on May 31.
However, the situation has shifted once again. Recent projections suggest that Marshall may be poised to leave Michigan for Auburn. He visited Auburn officially on June 7, and since then, there has been a surge in predictions favoring Auburn in the race for his commitment.
As of Friday, four Crystal Ball forecasts have tipped the scales in Auburn’s favor, indicating a strong likelihood that Marshall will switch his commitment from Michigan to Auburn. According to On3, the Tigers now have a 93.8% chance of securing Marshall, while Michigan’s chances have dropped to under 3%.
Losing Marshall would be a significant blow to Michigan’s 2025 recruiting class. Currently, Marshall is the highest-ranked recruit for the Wolverines, according to the Composite rankings. He is positioned as the No. 46 recruit overall and the No. 6 defensive lineman in the class, as well as the second-highest-rated player from Illinois.
Should Marshall decide to leave Michigan, the Wolverines would still have three defensive linemen committed for the 2025 cycle, including fellow Illinois talent Jaylen Williams.