By the end of May, Michigan had six commitments in next year’s freshman class. This was, by no means, encouraging.

But then there was June.

Michigan now has 21 commitments in the class, including 11 who pledged last month. The class features 13 four-star recruits, including six linemen, three defensive backs, two receivers, a tight end and a quarterback.

“In June, there were more than 500 commitments across the country,” said Adam Gorney, a national recruiting reporter for Rivals. “A lot of schools did really, really well, but Michigan was definitely one of our top-10 schools in terms of the commitments they got, not only in quantity but also in quality.

“You could tell that they focused on the defensive line and the offensive line kind of beefing up there and having success there. Michigan did a very good job, especially across both lines, loading up pretty well.”

The Wolverines have added four more commitments so far in July and the class has moved into the top-10 rankings by Rivals (No. 8) and 247Sports (No. 9).

“It’s funny because I do this, but I barely ever look at the team rankings,” said Allen Trieu, who handles Midwest recruiting for 247Sports and is a Detroit News contributor. “I think they give you an idea (about a class), but they’ll change.

“But just looking at the (Michigan) class objectively on paper, it’s very good by whatever metric you want to use. There’s several ways people can judge recruiting classes, (first) just purely looking at the rankings. You can also look at who the schools are that wanted the kids who you beat, and then does it seem as though the coaches got their first choices? As in, did you miss on some guys and had to offer new guys, or were these guys you’ve been recruiting for a year to two to three years? So no matter which metric you choose to use to decide whether or not a recruiting class is good, I think this class kind of suits all of them.”

Carter Meadows, an edge rusher from Gonzaga High in Washington, D.C., chose Michigan over Ohio State on June 29 and is the Wolverines’ highest-rated recruit. Next on the list is Zion Robinson, a four-star receiver who committed on June 25.

Gorney credited defensive line coach Lou Esposito and offensive line coach Grant Newsome for their recruiting efforts this cycle. He said the recruits love their energy and that they’re younger and relatable.

“(Offensive lineman) Malakai Lee told me that Michigan beat Texas because Michigan’s coaching staff came out to Hawaii more and they showed a lot more attention,” Gorney said.

“That’s one part of it, too. A lot of these kids that are going to Michigan, whether it’s Carter Meadows or Malakai Lee, are also going for the academics. And as trite as that sounds, it’s definitely a factor as they look at this, but it’s also because they won the national championship a couple of years ago. They also like what (head coach) Sherrone Moore has done.

“I think just the aggressiveness on the recruiting trail — every school is going to be really aggressive and relentless, but Michigan seems to have taken that to another level in pointed ways over (June). Not just sending 50 pieces of mail or constantly calling and texting, which kids actually don’t like, but actually showing up, making the trips, putting the time in, getting to know them and their families, and then selling everything that Michigan has to offer.”

Esposito, Trieu said, has done some serious heavy lifting landing all the defensive line prospects. Esposito was the primary recruiter and landed Meadows, Titan Davis, McHale Blade, Alister Vallejo, Tariq Boney and Julian Walker. Because of that, Esposito is ranked the No. 3 recruiter by 247Sports.

“This wasn’t an overnight thing,” Trieu said. “He’s been working on Julian Walker (an edge who committed on July 1) for a while, Carter Meadows for a while. Then, obviously, your head coach has to be able to pitch in on that, and the kids speak really highly of Sherrone.”

Esposito told The Detroit News at a camp in June that he is authentic when recruiting players.

“I don’t change,” Esposito said. “I am who I am and literally talk to kids like I talk to my sons. What people don’t understand in this recruiting thing, there’s a lot of things that get said and things people do that isn’t really real. Everything I say to recruits, I always ask myself, would I want that for one of my own three sons?

“I tell people the same thing, like, hey, the biggest assurance I can give you there’s not one drill, not one position, not one situation I would put your child in that I wouldn’t put one of my own three sons in. I think it hits home to a lot of people.”

Trieu praised Newsome’s recruiting as well as tight ends coach Steve Casula, who got a commitment from Montana four-star tight end Matt Ludwig, and defensive backs coach LaMar Morgan, who has been in on some of the bigger defensive back recruits.

It’s no longer just about wooing a recruit to a school for its football development, exposure and academics. Now, NIL and revenue sharing, which kicked in July 1, have played a bigger role in this class and across recruiting nationally.

“These kids are definitely taking their time and evaluating the deals that they’re getting,” Trieu said. “It’s a huge part of the decision. Now, when NIL started, I was of the opinion that it matters for a Bryce Underwood (last year’s top-rated recruit who committed to play quarterback for Michigan), but it doesn’t probably matter for 50-75 percent of the rest of the class. I think that’s changed now, and I’ve come off of that stance. I think it’s a determining factor, or at least a part of the discussion for probably almost every kid that signs to play for a power conference.”

Gorney said the top programs will always recruit well, but the money aspect is making others competitive in the market.

“There is absolutely no doubt that the loyalties of kids change overnight when bigger packages come from different schools,” Gorney said. “In that sense, recruiting has changed. If two schools are in on a kid and then a third school comes in with a really hefty NIL package, that school is immediately involved in a kid’s recruitment.

“There are definitely schools, though, that can kind of stave that off. I think Michigan is one. Notre Dame, Stanford, those level schools where kids are not just coming for the football — some kids are going to Michigan just to play Michigan football, but a lot of the kids are interested in the business school and want to talk to professors before they commit. (They) come from high schools with high academic standards so that if another school in the Big Ten comes in with a little bit more money, Michigan is well heeled enough to either match that or beat it to get the kids that they want. NIL is absolutely a factor across the country.

“It has impacted every aspect of recruiting, but the big dogs are still going to get their recruits.”

The Wolverines landed the big recruit in this year’s freshman class in Underwood, the quarterback from nearby Belleville High who all along look destined for LSU but then, with the promise of big money backing, ultimately signed with Michigan.

Underwood has given Michigan’s offense new hope entering this season with new coordinator Chip Lindsey, but the quarterback also has paid some dividends in recruiting.

“I do think there is a domino effect with Bryce,” Trieu said.

“Does Carter Meadows directly sit down and think, ‘Bryce Underwood is there, I’m going to go to Michigan.’

“Probably not.

“But does the general vibe around Michigan and the way they’re recruiting change because of Bryce Underwood to where Carter Meadows, Julian Walker and those guys look at Michigan? I think there is some effect there.

“Bryce’s recruitment let kids know that Michigan is serious about NIL and about recruiting that way. Before that, there was all this talk, ‘Are they using it or not? Is it a part of Michigan’s recruiting strategies or not part of Michigan’s recruiting strategy?’ Whatever the answer was, I don’t know if we’ll ever really know, but we definitely know what it is now, which is, yes, it is. So that helps. And with this class, I do think there’s momentum that Bryce helps create.”

Underwood’s presence may also have helped Michigan make a few receiver pickups, including the 6-foot-3, 180-pound Robinson.

“I think Zion Robinson is a huge piece of the class, just because receiver is such a need,” Trieu said.

“A bigger receiver was something they wanted to focus on. You go down to Texas and you win a battle for a top-100 kid, that’s pretty significant.”

Trieu also thinks Ludwig is a terrific athlete, has a chance to be special and is one of the top players in this class.

Michigan is still pursuing, among others, five-star running back Savion Hiter and four-star defensive lineman Deuce Geralds.

Michigan’s 2026 class is not quite finished, but it got a lot closer to completion because of such a strong June.

“There’s still room to get even higher (in the class rankings), but they’re doing phenomenally well,” Gorney said.

“They’re right where they should be. The difference between No. 10 and No. 3 is negligible in terms of points and star rankings and all those kinds of things, so they’re right in the mix in terms of one of the better recruiting classes in the country.”