Michigan football received a commitment earlier this month from 2025 quarterback recruit Chase Herbstreit, the son of former Ohio State quarterback and ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit.
Kirk Herbstreit, who had two kids attend Clemson as walk-ons and one subsequently as an Ohio State walk-on, has his youngest son joining the Wolverines, his alma mater’s archrivals. Chase Herbstreit is a three-star recruit, according to 247Sports, and has one reported offer from Michigan.
Kirk Herbstreit discussed the decision on Wednesday’s episode of the “Pardon My Take” podcast.
“Yeah, I’ve kind of stayed out of that world a little bit,” Kirk Herbstreit said on the show. “I haven’t seen a whole lot of reaction intentionally, just because I know people are thrilled, 20% are going to be jackasses. So I just decided, it’s one thing to take shots at me, but if you take a shot at my kid and you want to get in a fight, it’s not hard for me to want to do that. So, I just, I just try to ignore that stuff the best that I can, and just kind of stay focused on the positive.”
According to Kirk Herbstreit, Ohio State never offered Chase Herbstreit a scholarship, paving the way for Michigan.
“What an opportunity for him,” Kirk Herbstreit remarked. “You know that this is a kid who grew up as a lifetime Ohio State supporter, like the person who grieved when they lost games, like the Ohio State junkie. Ohio State did not pursue him enough to offer him a scholarship, and… they’re like, ‘Listen, buddy, we’re in this new world.’ ”
According to 247Sports, the 2025 recruit is listed as the No. 148 quarterback and No. 117 player in Ohio, but Michigan and coach Sherrone Moore clearly saw something in Chase Herbstreit that others did not. He is Michigan’s second quarterback signee in 2025, after five-star Bryce Underwood, the class’s top-ranked athlete.
“Sherrone Moore and his staff believe, and I think they saw his competitive spirit and his fire and what he did on the field this year to give him an opportunity,” said Kirk Herbstreit, the head coach. “It’s very different for our family because behind the scenes it’s scarlet and grey our entire lives.”
