Michigan loses pledge from 4-star DL in 2023 class
Michigan’s 2023 recruiting class has taken a hit.
Joel Starlings, a 4-star defensive lineman out of Virginia, revealed on Twitter on Sunday that he’s decommitting from the program. The decision comes after defensive line coach Shaun Nua took a job on Lincoln Riley’s staff at USC.
The Wolverines are hiring Mike Elston away from Notre Dame to fill that role, but Starlings wants to re-open his recruitment and reconsider his options.
“I would like to thank the University of Michigan for showing the hospitality they’ve shown to me and my family,” Starlings wrote on Twitter. “With the changing of the coaching situation at my position at the University of Michigan, me and my family have decided to re-open my recruitment from here on out.”
Starlings is ranked as one of the Top 250 overall prospects in the 2023 class, coming in at No. 216, per 247Sports composite rankings. He’s the No. 35 defensive lineman and the No. 3 talent out of Virginia.
Over a dozen programs have offered Starlings on the recruiting front. Along with Michigan, the 4-star prospect has raked in interest from Florida State, Georgia, Michigan State, Arizona, Ole Miss, Penn State, Minnesota, Tennessee, Texas A&M, South Carolina and others.
With Starlings decommitting, Michigan is now down to verbal pledges in the 2023 class. The Wolverines currently rank No. 9 nationally and No. 2 in the B1G.