Texas has a chance to poach blue-chip DL as Kyle Whittingham continues to crumble at Michigan

Over the last few years, it has felt like the Texas Longhorns have sort of had their way with the Michigan Wolverines.

Between going to Ann Arbor and walloping the Wolverines on their home turf in 2024 and breezing past them in the 2025 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, Michigan simply hasn't had an answer for the Horns. Now, it looks like that may apply to the recruiting trail as well.

Earlier this week, recruiting insider Cody Carpentier reported that Xaiver Muhammad, a four-star defensive line prospect from the class of 2027, had scheduled a visit to the 40 Acres, despite being committed to the Wolverines.

Muhammad, a top-10 defensive lineman in the cycle, committed to Michigan in May, pledging his allegiance to new head coach Kyle Whittingham.

However, with how poorly things are going in Ann Arbor under Whittingham's leadership, it seems like the Wolverines could experience a bloodletting of their top recruits.

Kyle Whittingham's inability to tap into Michigan ways opens door for Steve Sarkisian

Over the last few months, as Whittingham's first season as the Wolverines' head coach has unfolded, the Michigan football team has not only regressed, but he has simply been unable, or unwilling, to align with how the Michigan fanbase expects its head coach to act.

Beyond the 5-3 overall record and 11th-place standing in the Big Ten, Whittingham has failed to dig into Michigan's rivalries and has sounded almost apathetic about his job.

So, of course, top recruits like Muhammad are looking elsewhere, especially to programs like Texas that are refusing to accept that losing games is where the team should be.

Muhammad scheduled a trip to the 40 Acres when the Arkansas Razorbacks are coming to town in Week 12. Not only will the No. 7 Longhorns be favored over their long-time rival, but they will have the chance to put on display just how much a rivalry game means to them and just how dominantly they can play in those matchups.

It doesn't hurt that Muhammad is a Texas native, growing up just outside of Houston, and is already eyeing the Horns, just a few weeks after finally receiving an offer from his home-state team.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian didn't offer Muhammad until Oct. 22, and just two days later, the blue-chip defensive lineman was on campus for his first unofficial visit to Texas. Now, he's scheduled to spend even more time on campus, giving Sarkisian and his staff further opportunities to poach him from the Wolverines.

Of course, when he initially committed to Michigan, he had received offers from quite a few Power Conference teams in the Lone Star State, including the Texas Tech Red Raiders, Houston Cougars, TCU Horned Frogs, and SMU Mustangs.

However, with how his recruitment is trending, it looks as though none of those programs can hold a candle to what the Longhorns have to offer.

Texas and Arkansas are scheduled to play on Saturday, Nov. 21, and one should expect Sarkisian and the Horns to put on an absolute show, especially with recruits like Muhammad on the sidelines.

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