Michigan’s football program has lost six members of its 2026 recruiting class since Sherrone Moore was fired on Dec. 10, but the Wolverines appear to be in position to make a late splash this cycle.
Salesi Moa, the No. 1 player in Utah and a top-50 prospect nationally, signed with the Utes during the early window Dec. 3-5, but his time with the program likely will be short-lived. The two-way athlete entered the transfer portal this week and is expected to announce his new destination on NFL Network during Friday night’s Polynesian Bowl.
The Michigan Insider’s Brice Marich and other recruiting pundits believe the Wolverines are the frontrunner to land Moa now that former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham is in charge in Ann Arbor.
“Michigan looks good there,” Marich told MLive regarding Moa.
Michigan has been involved in Moa’s recruitment dating back to the previous coaching regime. The standout receiver and defensive back from Fremont High in Ogden visited Ann Arbor for the Ohio State game on Nov. 29 when he was committed to Tennessee. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder flipped to Utah on signing day – a major coup for new Utah head coach Morgan Scalley.
But with multiple members of the Utes’ staff following Whittingham to Michigan – offensive coordinator Jason Beck, receivers coach Micah Simon, defensive ends coach Lewis Powell and tight ends coach Freddie Whittingham – the equation changed in Moa’s recruitment.
“I just feel like this is what God wants me to do,” Moa told Rivals during Polynesian Bowl practices. “I can’t really explain it but I feel like God wants me to play on the biggest stage out there.
“I will always have love for Coach Scalley and the Utah program. They will always be close to my heart, but this is the best move for me and my family moving forward.”
Marich said Michigan’s former staff was recruiting him as a defensive back, but Whittingham and Co. view him more as an athlete.
While his 2025 stats aren’t publicly available, Moa had 58 catches for 800 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior on offense while totaling 40 tackles and two interceptions on defense.
“If you watch him, he’s actually a very, very good wide receiver,” Marich said. “That was something where I thought the old staff kind of dropped the ball. This kid can do it all.”
Landing Moa would be a major addition for Michigan. He would become its third top-100 prospect in the class, joining five-star running back Savion Hiter and five-star edge Carter Meadows.
He also could help offset some of the losses in the class since Moore’s departure. The Wolverines have had six players back out of their signings, including top-250 players Brady Marchese (receiver), Andre Clarke Jr. (cornerback) and Matt Ludwig (tight end).
“Productive two-way athlete with slick athleticism that could play on either side of the ball in college, but might make the most sense at wide receiver,” 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins wrote in his scouting report. “Frequently finds ways to slip behind defenders and race into the deeper third as he’s a technically advanced route runner that can mix gears and create separation. Shifty and elusive after the catch with his agility and vision, but probably lacks a true breakaway gear at this stage.
“Constantly plays with a chip on his shoulder and doesn’t lack physicality as he hits people on defense and tries to move people as a perimeter blocker on offense.”
There could be more ancillary benefits, too. His older brother, Aisea Moa, also is in the portal and is trending toward picking Michigan. The redshirt junior linebacker had 12 tackles in 12 games last season for Michigan State after spending his first three years at BYU.
