Sherrone Moore's Michigan lands prediction for four-star TE to the Class of 2026

Four-star tight end Matt Ludwig of Billings West High School has strengthened his position as one of Montana’s top high school football players. The junior phenom narrowed his recruitment to four schools on Friday: Michigan, Georgia, Tennessee and Texas Tech.

On Saturday, Steve Wiltfong of On3 predicted Ludwig to commit to Michigan, boosting the Wolverines' chances to 92.8%, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.

Ludwig is the No. 16 athlete in the 2026 class and the No. 1 recruit in Montana, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. He is listed as an athlete on most recruiting sites, but he is generally a tight end prospect. Besides these four schools, he also held offers from Nebraska, Washington, Oregon, Auburn, LSU, Florida and Penn State, among others.

Adding Ludwig would be a big recruiting win for Sherrone Moore's program, as he had an exceptional junior season as a tight end for the Golden Bear football team, earning first-team All-State honors. He recorded 53 receptions for 822 receiving yards, averaging 15.4 yards per catch, and scored six receiving touchdowns. He also added 133 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.

On the defensive side, Ludwig earned Honorable Mention recognition as a defensive end. He tallied four tackles for loss, five solo tackles, six pass breakups and four quarterback hurries.

Matt Ludwig opens up about his trip to Michigan

Tight ends coach Steve Casula is recruiting Matt Ludwig at Michigan, and the prospect visited Ann Arbor in early November.

“The visit to Michigan was awesome,” Ludwig told On3 after the trip. “Loved every minute of being there. Loved seeing how much they use their tight end and the whole development of their players on and off the field.”

Michigan’s reputation for developing elite tight ends makes the program an attractive destination for players like Ludwig. Recent standout Colston Loveland serves as a prime example, having emerged as one of the top tight ends in college football and a likely high pick in the upcoming NFL draft.

The Wolverines’ 2026 recruiting class is in its early stages, with cornerback Brody Jennings and wide receiver Jaylen Pile committed.