Michigan Lands Elite Utah QB Recruit from Big Ten Rival

Kamden Lopati decommits from Illinois, commits to Michigan and head coach Kyle Whittingham

Apr. 15, 2026 at 12:37am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a quarterback in motion, with sharp geometric shapes and planes of bright blue, green, and orange colors capturing the dynamic energy of the sport.Michigan's successful recruitment of elite quarterback Kamden Lopati from a Big Ten rival signals a new era of Wolverines football under coach Kyle Whittingham.West Valley City Today

Four-star quarterback Kamden Lopati, ranked as the No. 9 QB in the 2027 class, has decommitted from the University of Illinois and committed to play for the University of Michigan and head coach Kyle Whittingham. Lopati, who is from West Valley City, Utah, had previously been recruited by Whittingham and Michigan offensive coordinator Jason Beck when they were at the University of Utah.

Why it matters

This is a major recruiting win for Michigan and Whittingham, who were able to flip an elite quarterback prospect from a Big Ten rival. Lopati is considered one of the top recruits coming out of Utah, and his commitment gives Michigan a potential star quarterback for the future.

The details

Lopati had originally committed to the University of Illinois in July 2025, but decommitted less than 24 hours before announcing his commitment to Michigan. Whittingham and Beck had developed a strong relationship with Lopati during their time recruiting him at Utah, and that familiarity gave Michigan an advantage in his recruitment. Lopati cited the game day atmosphere, facilities, and overall culture of the Michigan program as key factors in his decision.

  • Lopati committed to Illinois in July 2025.
  • Michigan offered Lopati a scholarship in February 2026.
  • Lopati decommitted from Illinois less than 24 hours before committing to Michigan in April 2026.

The players

Kamden Lopati

A 4-star quarterback recruit from West Valley City, Utah, ranked as the No. 9 QB in the 2027 class.

Kyle Whittingham

The new head coach of the University of Michigan football team, previously the head coach at the University of Utah.

Jason Beck

The offensive coordinator for the University of Michigan football team, previously on staff at the University of Utah.

University of Illinois

The Big Ten rival that Lopati originally committed to before decommitting and choosing Michigan.

University of Michigan

The school that was able to flip the elite quarterback recruit Kamden Lopati from their Big Ten rival.

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What they’re saying

“I have great relationships with the entire Michigan staff and that was big for me. All of those coaches were recruiting me when they were at Utah and picked things right back up when they got to Michigan.”

— Kamden Lopati, Quarterback Recruit

“The game day atmosphere there is incredible and the fan base is so passionate. I love the culture of the program and it's just a special place. The Big House is incredible, the facilities are as good as you're going to see and it's just different there. When you combine all that with my relationships with the staff, it really helped put them over the top.”

— Kamden Lopati, Quarterback Recruit

What’s next

Lopati will now begin preparing to enroll at the University of Michigan in 2027 and compete for the starting quarterback job.

The takeaway

This high-profile recruiting win for Michigan and head coach Kyle Whittingham demonstrates the power of established relationships and the appeal of the Wolverines' storied football program. Flipping an elite quarterback prospect from a Big Ten rival is a major coup that should pay dividends for Michigan in the years to come.