Michigan’s 2027 recruiting class took a hit on Wednesday when Joshua Dobson, a five-star cornerback from Cornelius, North Carolina, committed to South Carolina during a streamed announcement on Rivals’ YouTube channel. The Wolverines had made Dobson a priority target for months, but he ultimately chose the Gamecocks over Michigan, Auburn, and Texas A&M. It wasn’t just a regular pickup for South Carolina either. Dobson is the No. 1 player in North Carolina, the No. 3 cornerback nationally, and the No. 17 overall prospect in the 247Sports composite. ESPN has him even higher — No. 2 cornerback and No. 7 overall in the 2027 cycle. Rivals’ Industry Rankings slot him at No. 12 nationally.
The 6-foot-1, 180-185 pound defensive back originally played at Catawba Ridge High School in South Carolina before transferring to Hough High School in North Carolina during his junior year. That North Carolina-South Carolina connection seemed to matter. His junior season stats aren’t eye-popping — four tackles, one pass breakup in eight games — but he also showed some offensive versatility with three catches for 135 yards and two touchdowns, plus a kickoff return score. He added a tackle and an interception during the Under Armour All-American Game. The film, not the raw numbers, is what had scouts buzzing.
How South Carolina sealed the deal
Dobson took official visits to all four finalists: Auburn, South Carolina, Michigan, and Texas A&M. His last trip came to South Carolina just a week before his decision. The Gamecocks reportedly put together a stronger NIL package than the other schools, which pushed things in their favor. Michigan and Texas A&M made late pushes, but it wasn’t enough.
Dobson joins a 2027 South Carolina class that already has multiple top-300 commits, including defensive tackle John Archer, running back Brayden Tyson, cornerback Kelvin Millington, and linebacker Jackson Ross. For a program that’s been building momentum on the recruiting trail, this feels like another statement.
What this means for Michigan
Missing on Dobson stings, but the Wolverines still have a solid secondary class coming in. They’ve got commitments from Monsanna Torbert Jr., Blake Jenkins, Darius Johnson, Tavares Harrington, and Charles Woodson Jr. — yes, that Charles Woodson Jr. It’s a group with talent, but none of those guys are five-star recruits at a premium position. Losing a lockdown corner of Dobson’s caliber to an SEC school will be a tough one to spin.
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