Michigan Loses Top-10 QB Recruit in Class of 2027 — and more

Michigan football has suffered a significant recruiting setback.

Class of 2027 quarterback Peter Bourque has officially de-committed from the Wolverines, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Bourque told ESPN that he plans to reopen his recruitment, ending what had been a strong early commitment to Michigan.

Bourque is regarded as one of the top quarterback prospects in the country. ESPN ranks him as the No. 130 overall recruit nationally in the 2027 class and a Top-10 quarterback in the cycle. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound signal-caller out of Tabor Academy (Marion, Massachusetts) has long been viewed as a high-ceiling prospect with prototypical size and arm strength.

According to 247Sports, Bourque carries a four-star rating, a 0.9623 composite score, and ranks among the top quarterbacks nationally for the 2027 class. His profile made him a foundational piece of Michigan’s long-term quarterback planning.

At this point, Bourque has not announced any new favorites, but his decision to re-open recruitment immediately puts several national programs back into the mix. Quarterbacks of his caliber rarely stay uncommitted for long.

For Michigan, the de-commitment leaves a notable hole in its future recruiting board at the game’s most important position. While the 2027 class remains early in the process, losing a Top-10 quarterback recruit is a reminder of how fluid and competitive modern college football recruiting has become.

More updates are expected as Bourque begins taking new visits and evaluating his options.

The post Michigan Loses Top-10 QB Recruit in Class of 2027 appeared first on Detroit Sports Nation.

Feb. 17—GRAND FORKS — The North Dakota High School Activities Association added girls wrestling as a sport four years ago and Grand Forks coach Matt Berglund has seen the sport grow to the point where the young wrestlers joining his program have a seasoned background of club wrestling.

For the older wrestlers of the KnightRiders, though, the sport was picked up at an older age and the learning curve was steep.

That was the case for East Grand Forks Sacred Heart's Sky Kopp and East Grand Forks Senior High's Kyah Wiley. The two, now training partners and among Grand Forks' top wrestlers, compete with the KnightRiders as part of Grand Forks' co-op with nearby schools.

Kopp and Wiley will take No. 2 seeds into this weekend's North Dakota state tournament in Fargo.

"I was doing well in school and a little bored," Wiley said. "I was thinking about the next step in my high school life. I thought about a sport. Maybe volleyball ... then I saw a message from (Berglund) about a sport you didn't need to have a bunch of background in to do, so I decided to check it out."

Kopp transitioned from a basketball background after seeing other Sacred Heart girls compete with the KnightRiders.

"I wasn't used to it at first and was kind of skeptical, but I don't like quitting on things that easy so I stuck with it and I actually started to really like it," Kopp said. "I constantly try to get in extra practices to get better."

Enter a key piece of the development of Wiley and Kopp. The Kopp family placed a wrestling mat in their basement. Sky said it was an easy sell of an idea.

"I did mention getting a mat in my basement to them so I could have Kyah over and get some practice in when there were no open mats," Kopp said. "It didn't take much convincing. (My family) really supports me wrestling and try to help me as much as they can to make me better."

Last weekend, Wiley won the East Region championship at 170 pounds and Kopp won the East Region title at 190 pounds.

"It actually helps a lot (to have Wiley as a training partner)," Kopp said. "We have the same goals and both have a constant drive to get better. We have a different set of skills but still improve each other and push each other like iron sharpening iron. We do as much as we can with extra training in the early morning and after practice."

Wiley is 38-3 this season with a 1-2 record against the No. 1-ranked wrestler (Alexis Storsved of Mandan) in the state in her weight class. Her only other loss is to three-time Minnesota state champion Sarah Pulk of Badger-Greenbush-Middle River.

"She's a really good listener and learner as far as technique," Berglund said. "She has a wonderful spirit and always in a good mood. She gives us such positive energy."

Kopp is 33-6 this year.

Grand Forks has two others with major tournament experience. Junior Kaylee Kurz is 37-7 this season and has placed at state three times, including a runner-up finish last season at 136 pounds.

Shayla DeBlaere is 25-7 as a junior this year and has missed time with an injury but has finished as a state placer four times in her career, including a third-place finish at 130 pounds last season. She also has two runner-up state finishes.

"Past state champion Alyssa Johnson made another past state champion Emily Novak better," Berglund said. "Shayla and Kaylee make each other better, and it's the same with Kyah and Sky."

The KnightRiders will compete in the dual tournament, as well, with a 10 a.m. Saturday quarterfinal against Minot United. The KnightRiders, 12-1 in duals, are the East Region No. 3 seed.

"Minot United is traditionally strong, but I think we can compete with them if our lower weights hold down the fort and we can win some toss up matches in the middle," Berglund said. "We've made the state dual tournament three out of the four years of its existence, but we've never finished higher than 6th, so we're hoping this will be the year."