Four-star cornerback Shamari Earls, ESPN's No. 71 overall pick in the 2025 class, converted his commitment from Georgia to Michigan on Friday night, giving Sherrone Moore and the Wolverines their third top-100 defensive back in the current cycle.

Earls, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound defensive lineman from Chester, Virginia, is ESPN's ninth-ranked cornerback in the class of 2025. Earls, who initially committed to South Carolina earlier this year, decommitted to Georgia on July 7 and remained in the Bulldogs' new class until Friday evening, when he announced his commitment to Michigan.

Earls, who announced the move via social media, lands with the Wolverines six days after visiting Ann Arbor during the program's 24-17 Week 9 win over Michigan State.

“This decision is based on personal reasons and whether I find the best possible solution for myself both academically and athletically,” Earls wrote in a statement. “I look forward to the future and being a part of Coach Sherrone Moore’s vision for sustained success and…being the most competitive and disciplined secondary in the country!!!”

The second-ranked prospect in the state of Virginia, Earls made trips to Tennessee, Texas A&M, Alabama and South Carolina in early 2024 before joining the Gamecocks on April 20. Official visits to South Carolina, Virginia, Michigan, Duke and Georgia followed in the spring before Earls withdrew his South Carolina pledge in favor of Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs in the summer.

Earls, Michigan, is expected to add a physical, powerful defender who will likely take some time to develop into a true Big Ten starter. A two-way star at Thomas Dale High School in Virginia, Earls totaled 57 tackles with five interceptions in his sophomore and junior seasons while adding 919 yards and 10 touchdowns as a wide receiver.

Earls' commitment marks the Wolverines' eighth-place finish in the ESPN 300, a group led by four-star offensive tackle Andrew Babalola (No. 27 in the ESPN 300). Earls also joins a strong defensive back class headed to Ann Arbor in 2025 after four-star cornerbacks Ivan Taylor (No. 50 in the ESPN 300) and Jayden Sanders (No. 234), as well as the four-star -Safety Kainoa Winston (No. 51).

Michigan's 2025 class is currently ranked No. 14 in the latest ESPN rankings in the final weeks of Moore's first cycle as the Wolverines' coach. Michigan is expected to be actively recruiting over the next month in the final stretch of the 2025 cycle.

Earls' commitment comes days after four-star quarterback Carter Smith (No. 155 in the ESPN 300) decommitted from the Wolverines, while Michigan is looking for No. 1 overall prospect and five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood . The program also retains top-100 defensive backs, including linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng (No. 80 in the ESPN 300) and cornerback Graceson Littleton (100), recently released by Clemson. Four-star safety Jordan Young (No. 106) will choose between Michigan, Clemson and NC State when he announces his commitment Saturday afternoon.

The Wolverines host No. 1 Oregon on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET.