Michigan’s pursuit of 2026 five-star defensive back Davon Benjamin is not finished, even though he announced his commitment to Oregon earlier this summer. The elite cornerback admitted that the Wolverines came closer than many realized.
“People don’t really know that, but Michigan was very, very close,” Benjamin told On3’s Ethan McDowell. “If I didn’t choose Oregon, I was going to choose Michigan.”
Benjamin, rated the nation’s No. 22 overall prospect in the 2026 class, is working back from an injury while preparing to contribute at Corona (Calif.) Oaks Christian High this fall. He said pledging to Oregon allowed him to focus on his senior season.
The Ducks ultimately separated themselves from Michigan, Texas, Washington and other top programs.
“I’ll just say the culture part and just how the coaches were,” Benjamin said. “They never changed who they were from the beginning.”
Still, Michigan refuses to back away. Secondary coach LaMar Morgan continues to check in with Benjamin every other week. The two developed a strong relationship as the Wolverines surged in the final months of his recruitment.
“He’s a straightforward guy,” Benjamin said of Morgan. “He’s willing to help everybody. Just seeing how he attacks his day, he wants to make everybody in the building better and better every single day, and he’s going to take on the challenges that he’s going to face.”
Benjamin’s spring visit to Ann Arbor and official visit on May 30 left a strong impression.
“Michigan has always been a thought for me,” he said. “Just being in The Big House and just seeing how they operate on and off the field, how they take care of the kids and how they’re always going to be there to support.”
Oregon may have landed his commitment, but Benjamin’s own words confirm that Michigan remains firmly in the picture.