Kyle Whittingham Reportedly Making Move for 5-Star Georgia Commit as Potential Bryce Underwood Successor

Michigan is aiming to repeat another similar move like how they got Bryce Underwood. The nation hasn’t forgotten how the Wolverines landed the former No. 1 overall recruit who stunned the recruiting world when he flipped from LSU. Kyle Whittingham may have already secured their 2027 QB with 4-star Kamden Lopati out of Utah. But they haven’t stopped recruiting the next guy which is a 5-star Georgia QB commit.

According to Rivals, Michigan has begun making a serious push to flip Jayden Wade, one of the crown jewels of the 2028 recruiting cycle. And this one comes with a visit to Ann Arbor now being planned. That’s a big sign because recruits don’t schedule visits to schools they’re completely finished considering. 

“Michigan came up to IMG and they were watching me play and they asked me if my options were still open,” he told Rivals. “I told them my options were still open so they wanted to take more of a deeper dive in recruiting me. I’m going to end up taking a visit there soon.”

Maybe that should bother Kirby Smart a bit. For months, Jayden Wade looked like one of the safest commitments in the country. The California native, now at IMG Academy in Florida, committed to Georgia back in November 2025. The Bulldogs beat out Michigan, Texas, Ohio State, Oregon, Florida, and Washington for his commitment.

#Michigan has found its 2027 QB in four-star Kamden Lopati, and while the Wolverines could take another signal caller in the class — Michigan is looking to land a big fish in 2028.

According to Rivals, Michigan is making a move to flip 5-star QB Jayden Wade from Georgia.

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— Trent Knoop (@TrentKnoop) May 31, 2026

Jayden Wade publicly backed the Bulldogs, celebrated Georgia’s SEC Championship online, and praised the program’s NFL development track. Back in February, he let the nation know where his loyalty lay via 247Sports. 

“I’m all the way locked in with Georgia,” he said. “I might visit a couple other schools, but nothing has changed with Georgia. Nothing is changing with Georgia. I feel like if you want to go to Georgia, and you want to get developed early, and really get developed for the NFL, for the league, or where you want to get to, Georgia’s the spot.”

On the surface, there wasn’t much drama. But this is Michigan, the program that landed Bryce Underwood, the once hard LSU commit. The Wolverines kept showing up, kept recruiting, kept building relationships, and eventually pulled off one of the biggest recruiting flips. Now they’re attempting something similar again.

For the immediate future though, Michigan already views Kamden Lopati as the QB behind Bryce Underwood in 2027. Jayden Wade would represent the next wave and the Wolverines’ interest is understandable. Rivals’ Charles Power described the 6’3, 195 pounder as one of the most physically gifted QBs in the 2028 cycle. And then there’s the numbers. 

Jayden Wade took over IMG Academy as a sophomore and guided them to a 9-0 record as a starter while throwing for 1,383 yards, 20 touchdowns, and just two interceptions. He also added 243 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground. And here’s where Michigan may have found its strongest recruiting pitch. The Wolverines already have Bryce Underwood. And Wade wants to see what they’re doing with him.

Bryce Underwood could influence his potential replacement 

Michigan’s pursuit isn’t just about facilities, NIL opportunities, or championship aspirations. It’s about QB development. Jayden Wade openly admitted that one of the biggest reasons he wants to visit Ann Arbor is to watch how OC Jason Beck and QBs coach Koy Detmer Jr. are developing Bryce Underwood.

“Plus, they have Bryce Underwood so I want to see what they’re doing with him and how they’re making him better,” he told Rivals. “It’s super important because we both play the same type of game so if they do well with Bryce Underwood, there is potential they could do good with me.”

As his comments suggest, Jayden Wade is evaluating Michigan based on evidence as much as promises. He sees similarities between his game and Bryce Underwood’s and wants proof that the Wolverines can maximize that skill set.

This development doesn’t mean Georgia is suddenly in danger as he has stated he’s solid with the Bulldogs. But for the first time since his commitment, Kirby Smart appears to have intense competition with Michigan who are already building a QB pipeline. Bryce Underwood is already on campus to help Kyle Whittingham. Kamden Lopati is on the way. And now Jayden Wade is seriously considering taking a closer look.

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