Michigan gets commitment from Howell DT Bobby Kanka for 2025 class

Howell defensive tackle Bobby Kanka announced his commitment to Michigan on Tuesday, becoming the third commitment for the Wolverines in the 2025 class.
Kanka is a 6-foot-5, 260-pound prospect who 247Sports sees as the No. 4 junior in the state of Michigan.
He gave the staff his verbal commitment when he visited campus. Minnesota, Penn State, Michigan State, Tennessee, Kansas and others had offered.
Kanka’s father, Tom Kanka, who played at Hillsdale before stints with the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers, says it was his son’s lifelong dream to play at Michigan. From there, the staff has built a strong relationship with Bobby and his family. They credit defensive line coach Mike Elston as the primary contact there.
“He’s a teacher first,” Bobby said of Elston. “He’s not going to tell you for no reason. He brings the type of energy that I like on the football field — the type of energy where it’s not fake, but completely genuine. He’s going to teach you before he resorts to yelling at his guys.”
In addition to that relationship, the totality of what Michigan offers as a school and program led Kanka to his decision.
“Everything from academics, to on-field success, to the culture, to the relationships, and to playing on the most well-known team in the country (are reasons for this commitment). Every one of those aspects that I mentioned just makes Michigan the perfect fit for me,” Kanka said.
A two-way high school player, Kanka said the Wolverines see him playing interior defensive line, specifically the position currently manned by Kris Jenkins.
“What stands out is his size, strength athleticism combo,” Howell head coach Brian Lewis said. “He’s a big athlete. He’s 6-foot-5, 262, 265 pounds and one of his great qualities is the length of his arms. He has long arms, but he’s a 300-pound bencher, which is impressive to have that large of a wingspan and be able to push that weight off his chest. He’s a strong kid and he’s a sponge on the field — very coachable, wants do well and do the right things to improve.”
In the classroom, he is a 3.97 student. He made first-team all-conference and honorable mention all-state as a sophomore. He spent his freshman year on the varsity at Pinckney before transferring to Howell.
“Bobby is everything you want as far as academics and making good decisions,” Lewis said. “He’s been a leader for us, been active in the community as far as giving back. With teachers in the building, the respect he shows is top-notch. It shows his character. There’s nobody who’s ever too big or too small for him to talk to and show respect to and it speaks volumes about who he is.”
Kanka joins cornerback Chris Ewald and linebacker Mantrez Walker as Michigan commits in the 2025 class. He is the first member of the class to come from inside state lines.