Michigan football misses out on top-10 WR Gatlin Bair, a key target in 2024 class

Published Aug. 05, 2023, 7:37 p.m.
By Ryan Zuke |
Michigan’s football program appears to have finished runner-up for another top-100 prospect in the 2024 class.
Burley (Idaho) four-star receiver Gatlin Bair announced his commitment to Boise State on Saturday night in a live video on Instagram. Although he had a top five list that included the Wolverines, TCU, Nebraska and Oregon, many recruiting experts believed it was a two-program at the race at the end between Michigan and Boise State.
The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder is ranked as the top player in Idaho, No. 40 in the country and No. 10 at the receiver position, according to the 247Sports Composite. Although he is a 2024 recruit, Bair won’t begin his college career until 2026. He is slated to take a two-year mission through his church, just like Michigan current offensive tackle Andrew Gentry did before joining the Wolverines last season.
Nevertheless, Bair would have been an important land for Michigan. The wideout holds the state record in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.15 seconds, and that speed translates to the football field. He caught 73 passes for 1,073 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2022 for Burley, which is coached by Cameron Andersen, who also coached current Michigan tight end Colston Loveland in high school.
The Wolverines first offered Bair in June 2022 and welcomed him on an official visit this June. However, he took an unofficial visit to Boise last week, where the Broncos propelled themselves to the top of his recruitment.
Michigan has now missed out on its last two key receiver targets this cycle: Bair and Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day four-star Jordan Shipp. It also began the week on a sour note, losing a recruiting battle to Ohio State for Springfield (Ohio) four-star cornerback Aaron Scott, another top-100 prospect.
It has two wideouts committed in the 2024 class: Chicago Kenwood Academy four-star I’Marion Stewart and Providence Day three-star Channing Goodwin. Overall, Michigan’s class ranks fourth nationally with 27 commits.