Michigan Football Faces Unexpected QB Blow: Who Will Step Up After Peter Bourque’s Shock Exit?

Michigan’s 2027 recruiting class was shaping up to be a steady build, especially since previous staff leaned on the summer visit haul to pad out their signings. But, man, things took a sharp turn Tuesday—not just with the front office shakeup as GM Sean Magee and recruiting chief Sam Popper exited, but right in the heart of the class itself. The buzz dropped when ESPN insider Pete Thamel broke the news: Peter Bourque, long seen as the quarterback cornerstone for the Wolverines’ incoming group, has pulled back his commitment. That’s a big blow, no doubt. Bourque, a top-10 QB prospect and ESPN’s No. 130 overall recruit for 2027, told ESPN he’s re-opening his recruitment to find the best fit, planning some visits this spring and seeking clarity amid what he describes as “uncertainty.” With his departure, new head coach Kyle Whittingham’s fledgling class now holds just three pledges: Recarder Kitchen, a four-star edge rusher, alongside three-star interior linemen Tristan Dare and Louis Esposito—the latter reaffirming his commitment after Whittingham took the helm. Rumblings also hint at a mutual interest between Michigan and Illinois’ four-star QB Kamden Lopati, a Salt Lake City native and a familiar face to Whittingham’s staff from their old stomping grounds. Plenty more to unpack here as the Wolverines recalibrate their 2027 outlook. LEARN MORE.

Michigan football doesn’t exactly have an expansive class in 2027 quite yet, especially considering the old staff tended to prioritize the summer visit cycle as the time when it would build the class out. But on Tuesday, the recruiting department didn’t just take a hit with general manager Sean Magee and director of recruiting Sam Popper moving on, but also in the class itself.

First reported by ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel, longtime Michigan commit Peter Bourque, thought to be the quarterback of the 2027 class, decommitted from his pledge to the Wolverines.

NEWS: Class of 2027 quarterback recruit Peter Bourque has de-committed from Michigan, he told ESPN. Bourque is ESPN’s No. 130 overall recruit in the Class of 2027 and is a Top 10 quarterback recruit. He plans to re-open his recruitment. pic.twitter.com/Pmy7gchfJI

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) February 18, 2026

With Bourque no longer in the fold, Kyle Whittingham’s inherited class features just three commitments — four-star edge rusher Recarder Kitchen, and three-star interior offensive linemen Tristan Dare and Louis Esposito, the latter of whom reaffirmed his pledge after Whittingham’s hire.

“Just uncertainty, I’d say,” Bourque told Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong. (subscription required) “I want to make sure I’m making the best decision. I’m going to take some visits this spring. I’m not sure where. I think it’s the right thing to do to be decommitted for that.”

There is some speculation that there is mutual interest between Michigan and Illinois four-star QB commit Kamden Lopati. Lopati hails from Salt Lake City (Utah) West — Whittingham and staff’s old stomping grounds. He is rated the No. 149 player in the country by the 247Sports Composite, regardless of position.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football: Peter Bourque decommits from 2027 class