4-star security Ivan Taylor, the son of former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor, has flipped his dedication from Notre Dame to Michigan for the Class of 2025.
Taylor, the No. 54 prospect within the 247Sports Composite rankings, initially dedicated to the Combating Irish in December over Florida State, USC, Michigan, Wisconsin and others. Taylor continued to take recruiting journeys, together with official visits to Alabama and Michigan in June, earlier than saying his intention to signal with Michigan as a substitute of Notre Dame.
Taylor was the No. 2 prospect in Notre Dame’s class, rating behind solely quarterback Deuce Knight within the composite rankings. He’s the No. 2 prospect in Michigan’s class as effectively behind defensive finish Nate Marshall, the No. 43 prospect.
Taylor attends West Orange Excessive Faculty in Winter Backyard, Fla., the place he had 50 tackles, three compelled fumbles and an interception final season. His father performed for the Steelers from 2003 to 2014 and was a starter in three Tremendous Bowls.
BREAKING: 4-Star Security Ivan Taylor has Flipped his Dedication from Notre Dame to Michigan, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’0 180 S from Winter Backyard, FL had been Dedicated to the Combating Irish since December
Is the son of former NFL CB & 2x Tremendous Bowl Champion Ike… pic.twitter.com/Kz8VH3u6pt
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 8, 2024
How Taylor impacts Michigan’s class
This recruiting win has double significance for the Wolverines, who landed certainly one of their prime defensive targets whereas snatching a participant away from certainly one of their rivals. Michigan and Notre Dame go head-to-head in recruiting fairly incessantly, and each packages have been within the hunt for JaDon Blair, a four-star security from Winston Salem, N.C., who dedicated to Notre Dame final week. Michigan obtained even this week by flipping Taylor, one of many prime athletes within the nation at his place. The Wolverines even have a dedication from top-100 prospect Kainoa Winston, however with Winston’s skill to play nickel, there’s a transparent function for Taylor within the class as a security.
Although Michigan’s class continues to be on the smaller aspect, the highest of the category continues to get stronger. The Wolverines have commitments from three gamers within the prime 100 of the composite rankings after signing one top-100 participant final cycle and none within the Class of 2023. Taylor’s dedication is one other win for brand spanking new defensive backs coach LaMar Morgan, who helped the Wolverines land Winston and 4 gamers from the switch portal. Cornerback continues to be a necessity for Michigan on this class, however the way forward for the secondary seems robust. — Austin Meek, Michigan beat author
What does shedding Taylor imply for Notre Dame?
In addition to Notre Dame has recruited to guard itself in opposition to shedding Taylor, his departure continues to be an enormous blow to the Irish class. If he wasn’t the most effective prospect in Notre Dame’s haul, he was at the very least within the prime 5. It felt just like the Irish ought to have or might have held onto the Florida prospect contemplating the Pittsburgh Steelers connections round Notre Dame, with the sons of Plaxico Burress and Jerome Bettis dedicated, plus the son of Ryan Clark on the roster.
As an alternative, Notre Dame misplaced Taylor to the worst doable rival in Michigan. The dedication of Blair final week helps soften the blow, with the Irish nonetheless proudly owning commitments from three top-200 defensive backs for the primary time within the 247Sports rankings period. It’s simply that Notre Dame had 4 dedicated earlier than Taylor’s flip. Within the race to shut the hole with Ohio State, Alabama and Georgia by way of uncooked expertise, holding onto prospects pretty much as good as Taylor is a should. Notre Dame didn’t, even when it nonetheless has loads of blue-chip expertise on the board.
If Notre Dame decides it wants one other security in its class, search for the Irish to maneuver on Brandon Logan from Fort Wayne, who’s at present dedicated to Vanderbilt baseball. — Pete Sampson, Notre Dame beat author
Required studying
(Photograph: Scott W. Grau / Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures)
