Top-5 DT Marshall flips from Auburn to Michigan

Four-star defensive tackle Nathaniel Marshall, No. 83 in the 2025 ESPN 300, flipped his commitment from Auburn to Michigan Tuesday afternoon.

Marshall, the 6-foot-4, 270-pound defender from Oak Park, Illinois, is ESPN’s fifth-ranked defensive tackle in the 2025 class. Initially committed to the Wolverines in April, Marshall flipped his pledge to Auburn in August, remaining as one of the top defenders in the Tigers’ impressive 2025 defensive class before flipping his pledge back to Michigan on Tuesday, less than 24 hours before the start of the three-day signing period on Wednesday.

Marshall’s late-cycle move marks a blow to an Auburn recruiting class that included pledges from more ESPN 300 defenders — 12 — than any other program in the 2025 cycle prior to his decommitment. Auburn is set to enter the early signing period with the nation’s fourth-ranked recruiting class in Hugh Freeze’s third season with the program.

Marshall’s pledge hands Michigan its ninth ESPN 300 commitment in 2025 and the program’s fifth since Nov. 1. The Wolverines’ incoming class is headlined by No. 1 overall prospect and five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, who flipped to Michigan on Nov. 21 after spending 11 months committed to LSU. Offensive tackle Andrew Babalola (No. 27 in the ESPN 300), Georgia cornerback Shamari Earls (No. 71) and Clemson safety flip Jordan Young (No. 107) three more top 300 additions to join coach Sherrone Moore’s inaugural recruiting class over the past six weeks.

Michigan enters the early signing period with the 10th-ranked class in ESPN’s latest class rankings for the 2025 cycle. Others targets for the Wolverines in the final stages in 2025 include five-star Alabama offensive tackle pledge Ty Haywood (No. 18 in the ESPN 300) — who is not expected to sign during the early signing period — and four-star defenders Javion Hilson (No. 77) and Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng (No. 81).