Five-Star QB Shocks College Football World by Turning Down $6.4 Million, Decommits from Michigan State, and Flips to Michigan Over Notre Dame and Florida State
In a stunning turn of events that has sent shockwaves through the college football world, five-star quarterback phenom Jalen Mitchell has officially decommitted from Michigan State and announced his commitment to the University of Michigan. Even more jaw-dropping: the 18-year-old turned down an estimated $6.4 million in NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) offers from rival programs, including Florida State and Notre Dame, to follow his heart—and the Wolverines.
Mitchell, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound dual-threat quarterback out of St. Louis, Missouri, had been committed to Michigan State since last September and was considered the crown jewel of their 2025 recruiting class. Over the past year, he became a central figure in the Spartans’ recruiting pitch and a beacon of hope for a program rebuilding under new leadership. But the allure of playing for a true national title contender—and doing so with integrity—ultimately led him to Ann Arbor.
“Money isn’t why I play this game,” Mitchell said during a nationally broadcast announcement on Thursday. “I want to be part of a program that develops me into the best quarterback I can be and puts me in a position to win championships. Michigan is that place.”
Sources close to Mitchell’s recruitment revealed that both Notre Dame and Florida State made aggressive pushes in recent weeks, offering lucrative NIL packages reportedly totaling $6.4 million. Notre Dame’s offer included equity in a media startup, while FSU’s involved a complex deal with multiple Florida-based sponsors. But Mitchell opted instead for a comparatively modest NIL valuation from Michigan, emphasizing the Wolverines’ focus on development and culture.
Recruiting experts have been left stunned.
“This is one of the biggest flips in recent memory,” said 247Sports recruiting analyst Charles Harris. “To decommit from a Big Ten rival, turn down that kind of money, and choose Michigan—it’s the kind of story you just don’t see in the NIL era.”
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore, who took over after Jim Harbaugh’s departure to the NFL, celebrated the decision in a statement released late Thursday. “Jalen Mitchell embodies everything we look for in a Michigan man. He’s a competitor, a leader, and someone who understands that legacy and tradition matter. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the maize and blue.”
Mitchell’s flip is a massive blow to Michigan State, whose fans had pinned much of their future hopes on the elite QB. Spartans message boards and social media exploded with reaction, ranging from stunned disbelief to anger aimed at the coaching staff.
Florida State and Notre Dame, both expected to be in College Football Playoff contention next season, also find themselves scrambling to regroup. Mitchell was expected to visit both programs officially this summer, but those visits have now been canceled.
Mitchell, who passed for over 3,800 yards and 42 touchdowns last season while rushing for another 900 yards and 11 scores, is ranked as the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2025 class. His decision to spurn seven-figure offers for a more traditional college football path is already being hailed as a turning point in the conversation surrounding NIL influence.
“I’m betting on myself,” Mitchell said. “The money will come. I just want to win—and win the right way.”
Michigan fans, take note: the future in Ann Arbor just got a lot brighter.
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