Four-star CB Earls flips from Georgia to Michigan

Eli Lederman, ESPN Staff WriterNov 1, 2024, 10:02 PM ET

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Eli Lederman covers college football and recruiting for ESPN.com. He signed up with ESPN in 2024 after covering the University of Oklahoma for Sellout Crowd and the Tulsa World.Four-star cornerback Shamari Earls, ESPN’s No. 71 overall possibility in the 2025 class, turned his pledge from Georgia to Michigan on Friday night, handing Sherrone Moore and the Wolverines their third top-100 defensive back commitment in the current cycle.Earls, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound defender from Chester, Virginia, is ESPN

‘s ninth-ranked cornerback in the 2025 class. Initially devoted to South Carolina earlier this year, Earls turned his promise to Georgia on July 7 and stayed in the Bulldogs’inbound class till Friday night, when he revealed his commitment to Michigan.Earls, who announced the relocation through social networks, lands with the Wolverines six days after visiting Ann Arbor during the program’s

24-17 Week 9 win over Michigan State.Editor’s Picks 2 Related”This choice boils down to personal factors and discovering the best possible suitable for me both academically and athletically,” Earls composed in a declaration.”I am excited for

the future

and to be a part of Coach Sherrone Moore’s vision for sustained success and … to be the most competitive & disciplined secondary in the nation!!! “The second-ranked possibility in the state of Virginia, Earls took early 2024 trips to Tennessee, Texas A&M, Alabama and South Carolina ahead of his April 20 commitment to the Gamecocks. He followed with spring authorities sees to South Carolina, Virginia, Michigan, Duke and Georgia before Earls pulled his promise from South Carolina in favor of Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs during the summer.In Earls, Michigan is set to add a physical, high-upside defender who will likely take some time to develop into a bona fide Huge 10 starter. A two-way star at Virginia’s Thomas Dale High School, Earls had 57 total takes on with 5 interceptions across his sophomore and junior seasons while adding 919 yards and 10 goals as a broad receiver.Earls’ promise marks the Wolverines’eighth from the ESPN 300, a group led by four-star offensive deal with Andrew Babalola(No. 27 in the ESPN 300). Earls also signs up with a robust defensive back class headed to Ann Arbor in 2025, following promises from four-star cornerbacks Ivan Taylor(No. 50 in the ESPN 300) and Jayden Sanders(No. 234) and four-star security Kainoa Winston (No. 51). Michigan’s 2025 class presently sits at No. 14 in ESPN’s most current rankings in the closing weeks of Moore’s first cycle in charge of the Wolverines. Michigan is expected to be active on the recruiting path throughout the final stretch of the 2025 cycle over the next month.Earls’commitment gets here a number of days after four-star quarterback Carter Smith (No. 155 in the ESPN 300 )pulled his promise from the Wolverines in the middle of Michigan’s pursuit of No. 1 general possibility and five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood. The program likewise remains in the mix for top-100 protectors, consisting of linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng(No. 80 in the ESPN 300) and current Clemson cornerback decommit Graceson Littleton(100). Four-star safety Jordan Young(No. 106) will pick among Michigan, Clemson and NC State when he reveals his dedication Saturday afternoon.The Wolverines host No. 1 Oregon on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET.