Michigan has scored a big win on the recruiting trail.

On300 Kilgore (Texas) High cornerback Jayden Sanders gave the Wolverines a verbal pledge on Saturday. He picked U-M over fellow finalists Baylor and Oklahoma State.

Sanders announced his decision after making an unofficial visit to Michigan in June and returning for the annual BBQ at The Big House last month.

“It went well,” Sanders said. “I got to see the facilities, tour around campus, and talk to more staff members. I came in not knowing what to expect, but they definitely passed my standards. I definitely liked the weight room. I didn’t know it was that big. I liked building relationships with the staff.”

This visits gave Sanders an opportunity to sit down and meet with new Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore.

“It went well,” Sanders said. “We talked about future plans for the team and just the team itself. We talked about him becoming the head coach and how he’s going to lead the team. We talked about ways I could fit in.”

Sanders worked out in front of new Michigan secondary coach LaMar Morgan and spent some time with him away from the field as well.

“I got to see how he coaches,” Sanders said. “He treats you like one of his own players. I really liked it. I feel like he can develop me. He was calm and collected. He’s a chill dude. He’s laid back but knows when to be serious.”

At 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, Sanders is ranked as the No. 27 cornerback and No. 234 overall prospect nationally, per the On3 Industry Ranking.

Michigan now has 16 commits in its 2025 recruiting class — Sanders, Top 100 Center Valley (Pa.) Southern Lehigh tight end Andrew Olesh, Top 100 Winter Garden (Fla.) West Orange safety Ivan Taylor, Top 100 Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga defensive back Kainoa Winston, Top 100 Oak Park (Ill.) Fenwick defensive lineman Nate Marshall, On300 Fort Myers (Fla.) Bishop Verot quarterback Carter Smith, On300 Alpharetta (Ga.) High EDGE Julius Holly, On300 Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy running back Donovan Johnson, four-star New Orleans (La.) Archbishop Shaw wide receiver Jacob Washington, four-star Palatine (Ill.) High EDGE Jaylen Williams, four-star Birmingham (Mich.) Groves offensive lineman Avery Gach, four-star Howell (Mich.) High defensive lineman Bobby Kanka, three-star New Orleans (La.) Archbishop Shaw running back Jasper Parker, three-star Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy offensive lineman Kaden Strayhorn, three-star Stockbridge (Ga.) High linebacker Chase Taylor and three-star Alcoa (Tenn.) High tight end Eli Owens.

The class entered the day ranked No. 14 nationally and No. 3 in the Big Ten, per the On3 Industry national team recruiting rankings. The Wolverines currently sit behind Ohio State and Oregon.