No. 1 2028 tackle Antijuan Wilkes Jr. names Michigan a standout

What Happened

Antijuan Wilkes Jr., the No. 1 offensive tackle in the 2028 class, identified Michigan as a standout in his recruiting picture. Wilkes plays for Cass Tech. His comments describe interest in the Wolverines and a connection to Michigan, but they do not amount to a commitment. No official Michigan announcement or comment was included. The early attention gives the Wolverines a position in the conversation for one of the highest-rated offensive tackles in his class, with the 2028 recruiting cycle still ahead.

Why It Matters

• Michigan has an early connection to the top-ranked offensive tackle in the 2028 class, giving the program a name to track at a premium position.
• Wilkes plays at Cass Tech, adding a local recruiting link to Michigan's pursuit.
• Interest is not commitment. The next meaningful change would be a visit, a narrowed list, or a decision from Wilkes.

THE PATE STATE READ

THE PATE STATE READ: Michigan gets credit for being in the conversation early, especially with a top tackle from Cass Tech. The task now is maintaining that connection through a long recruiting cycle, not treating one positive comment as a finish line. This moves Michigan into the early picture, not to the front of a completed race. The verification point is Wilkes' next public recruiting action: a Michigan visit, a stated finalist list, or a commitment would change the weight of this update.(Josh has not yet commented.)

What's Next

• 2028 recruiting cycle: watch for Wilkes' next public update on Michigan, including a visit or finalist list.
• No specific visit date or decision deadline was provided.