The spring game last weekend was the setting for double-digit Michigan targets to arrive on campus for the exhibition. Recruits high on the radar, including rising 2026 Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban athlete Ace Brown , also attended.
The three-star from Northeast Ohio returned to Ann Arbor to see how the program looked live following offseason preparations and the national championship, and his time back didn’t disappoint.
“It was pretty awesome to me,” Brown told The Wolverine . “We’ve seen a lot of new things. We’ve seen the running back (Donovan Edwards) who came back who everybody thought was going to get the draft with Blake (Corum) . We’ve seen Jadyn Davis perform. We’ve seen Alex Orji perform. It was a crazy experience with a crazy atmosphere like usual every time I go to Michigan.”
Brown had previously traveled to Michigan on three visits, and the constant from every unofficial is the energy the fanbase brings to each event.
“The fans are always crazy,” Brown said. “The atmosphere is wild. The talent that I watched was out of this world. I don’t think Michigan really lost anything, in my opinion, except a great head coach, and they picked up another great head coach. But other than that, I think they are still set to still win a natty this year, maybe.”
Although On3 lists Brown as a tight end, he’s transitioned to linebacker for the upcoming season, so his focus was on the group and how they performed at the scrimmage.
“Watching the linebackers, they do move a lot,” Brown said. “Sometimes they do come down and edge rush. Sometimes, they pull back and they drop into coverage. But I did like the drill they started off in pregame. They started them off fast. There wasn’t just stick and shuffle. No, it was game speed – run this way, run that way, run this way, run that way, ball, run this way, run that way, ball. I did like that a lot.”
The visit allowed Brown to have face-to-face time with new Michigan linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary , who, along with defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale , were eager to issue in person greeting after connecting with Brown’s loved ones earlier in the offseason.
“(Jean-Mary) said he was very grateful to meet me,” Brown said. “When I got there, he introduced himself and told me who he was. He loved my film. He just wants to see me move in person at a camp in June. So, when I come back down, he’s definitely looking forward to seeing me. That was really what we talked about the most, and coming back down for a visit.”
Overall impressions of Jean-Mary are high from Brown’s perspective.
“Right now, it sounds like he’s very outgoing,” Brown said. “He talked to me a lot. He was just trying to get to know me and then trying to get me out of that way. He sat down, talked to me like I was one of his players, broke everything down on what they’re doing on defense, stuff like that.”
As Brown mentioned, he plans to return in two months and compete in a team-hosted camp. Should Michigan pull the trigger, the program will become an instant contender.
“That’s a great thing,” Brown said. “They, no matter what, would be top five on my list. If they offer me right now, they’re definitely top five, no matter what.”
At 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, Brown is listed as the No. 526 overall prospect in the country and No. 26 player in Ohio, according to the On3 Industry Ranking , a weighted average that utilizes all four primary recruiting media services.
The post Rising 2026 Ohio ATH Ace Brown talks return visit to Michigan for the spring game appeared first on On3 .
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