Michigan Football hiring co-founder of AI scouting platform as assistant GM

Ann Arbor, Mich. – Michigan’s football program has quietly landed one of the most intriguing front-office additions of the offseason, appointing longtime NFL evaluator Chris Pettit as assistant general manager, 247Sports first reported Monday evening.

Pettit arrives in Ann Arbor with more than two decades of professional scouting experience, the bulk of it spent with the New York Giants. During his tenure as the Giants’ director of college scouting, he helped assemble the rosters that captured two Lombardi trophies, establishing a reputation for identifying difference-makers at the highest level of the sport.

Beyond his traditional résumé, Pettit brings a technological edge to the Wolverines. He serves as chief operating officer and co-founder of Scout Smarter AI, a patented, AI-powered talent-evaluation platform engineered by former NFL executives. The system promises to streamline scouting workflows, sharpen decision-making, and deliver predictive analytics on player performance—tools that could immediately amplify Michigan’s recruiting operation.

Pettit will report directly to newly installed general manager Dave Peloquin, who was hired in February after two decades in Notre Dame’s recruiting department and a subsequent stint leading the college division of Athletes First. Peloquin’s first personnel move was the addition of Skylar Phan, previously USC’s director of recruiting strategy and described by industry sources as an “up-and-coming superstar” in the recruiting landscape. Phan is expected to oversee visitor experience and strategic outreach for the Wolverines.

While Michigan has not publicly confirmed adoption of Scout Smarter AI, Pettit’s presence makes its integration all but certain. Pairing his evaluative acumen with Peloquin’s relational expertise and Phan’s event management savvy gives Michigan a three-pronged approach designed to compete for elite prospects on every front.