Michigan football gets commit from out-of-state athlete

The Michigan Wolverines and head coach Sherrone Moore have landed another commitment in the 2026 class, this time in three-star athlete Markel Dabney from Richmond, VA.

He took to social media to make the announcement:

VA ➡️ AA #AGTG #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/E8XxDDdZef

— Markel “Kel” Dabney (@JustKallMeKel) June 27, 2025

Dabney plays for Huguenot High School in Richmond. He had previously been committed to SMU. In February, he named a top five schools that included Michigan, SMU, Virginia Tech, Penn State, and Pittsburgh.

At a 6'1 height and 220-pound weight, Dabney currently plays linebacker at Huguenot but could also end up moving to safety if he maintains his slimmer physique. Dabney is listed as the 807th-ranked player by the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is also ranked as the 53rd athlete in the country and the 20th-best player in Virginia.

He is now the 16th commitment in Michigan's 2026 class, which is ranked 11th in the nation by both 247 and On3.

The class is headlined by a handful of four-star players, including wide receiver Zion Robinson, defensive linemen Titan Davis, Alister Vallejo, and McHale Blade, as well as quarterback Brady Smigiel, offensive tackle Malakai Lee, and tight end Matt Ludwig.

Moore and the Wolverines will look to continue momentum on the recruiting trail this summer and fall while also looking to improve on the field from an 8-5 record last season. They will be led by freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood and transfer running back Justice Haynes, who are two of the key pieces in a new look Wolverine offense under new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey.