Meet the commits: 5-star EDGE, 4-star DB propel Michigan into elite territory

Michigan added an elite talent to its loaded defensive line class with five-star edge rusher Carter Meadows— the No. 6 recruit in the country. Four-star defensive back Andre Clarke joined the class fewer than 24 hours later to bolster the secondary.

The Wolverines leapt past Oregon in the On3 Industry Recruiting Rankings and now sits at No. 10 nationally and No. 3 in the Big Ten. Here’s a full breakdown of Michigan’s 19 commits.

Five-star edge rusher Carter Meadows

Commitment Date: June 29, 2025
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
School: Gonzaga Prep
Height: 6-6.5
Weight: 225 pounds
Industry Ranking: No. 36 nationally, No. 6 edge rusher, No. 1 in Washington, D.C.
Other Notable Offers: Ohio State, South Carolina, Penn State, Ohio State, Georgia, Texas A&M, LSU, Miami, Florida State

How We Got here: Michigan identified Meadows early on as one of its top overall targets in the 2026 class. He made several trips to Ann Arbor, most recently traveling to campus June 20 for a Victors Weekend official visit. The elite recruit and his family both put a lot of value on academics, and Michigan offered them the chance to play for a school with a history of defensive line development while attending a prestigious university. Turns out, U-M was the ideal fit.

Top 100 quarterback Brady Smigiel

Commitment Date: April 26, 2025
Hometown: Newbury Park, California
School: Newbury Park High
Height: 6-4.5
Weight: 215 pounds
Industry Ranking: No. 92 overall, No. 10 quarterback, No. 13 in California
Other Notable Offers: Oregon, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Florida, Ole Miss, Miami, Georgia

How We Got here: Smigiel strongly considered Michigan last year before Michigan took another 2026 quarterback, and he picked Florida State. Things came full circle for the signal-caller and the Wolverines when Chip Lindsey joined the staff. They already had an existing connection that built quickly after Smigiel reopened his recruitment. Michigan made him the program’s top target and sealed a commitment shortly after a multi-day spring visit. 

On300 defensive lineman Titan Davis

Commitment Date: June 23, 2025
Hometown: Saint Louis, Missouri
School: DeSmet High
Height: 6-4
Weight: 262 pounds
Industry Ranking: No. 105 overall, No. 9 defensive lineman, No. 2 in Missouri
Other Notable Offers: Alabama, USC, Penn State, Oklahoma, LSU, Texas A&M, Miami, Oregon, Texas, Florida

How We Got here: Davis held a long list of Power 4 offers but narrowed his focus to Michigan and Alabama after a May 30 official visit with the Crimson Tide. At that point, he canceled all other visits except his Victors Weekend trip to U-M. He visited Ann Arbor three times over the past year and, on that most recent trip, Michigan surged ahead of Alabama and secured his commitment.

Top 100 offensive tackle Malakai Lee

Commitment Date: June 27, 2025
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii
School: Kamehameha Secondary
Height: 6-7
Weight: 310 pounds
Industry Ranking: No. 119 overall, No. 11 offensive tackle, No. 2 in Hawaii
Other Notable Offers: USC, Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Oregon, Nebraska, Missouri, BYU

How We Got here: Michigan offensive line coach Grant Newsome made Lee a top priority very early on in this recruiting cycle and, even as teams like USC or Texas made a push for the elite offensive lineman, the Wolverines remained a super consistent contender. The U-M staff made several trips out to Hawaii to meet with him this year, and Lee spent Victors Weekend in Ann Arbor. That trip helped seal a commitment from the Top 100 prospect.

Top 100 tight end Matt Ludwig 

Commitment Date: May 20, 2025
Hometown: Billings, Montana 
School: Billings West High
Height: 6-4.5
Weight: 240 pounds
Industry Ranking: No. 129 overall, No. 7 tight end, No. 1 in Montana
Other Notable Offers: Georgia, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, Texas, LSU, Oregon

How We Got here: Ludwig shut down his recruitment before a packed official visit schedule could kick off. Michigan has been the longtime favorite for the talented tight end, and he took a few trips to Ann Arbor leading into this decision. Tight ends coach Steve Casula visited him Sunday, and Ludwig made his commitment public Tuesday. 

On300 edge rusher McHale Blade

Commitment Date: June 9, 2025
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
School: Simeon Academy
Height: 6-5
Weight: 255
Industry Ranking: No. 155 overall, No. 21 edge rusher, No. 4 in Illinois
Other Notable Offers: Notre Dame, USC, Oregon, Georgia, Ole Miss, Florida, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Miami

How We Got here: Notre Dame looked like the heavy favorite in Blade’s recruitment for a long time, but Michigan always loomed as a very real challenger for the Fighting Irish. The Wolverines the edge rusher to campus last weekend for his official visit, and that trip showed Blade that Ann Arbor was home for him. He committed to U-M Monday morning after returning home from the visit.

Four-star wide receiver Zion Robinson

Commitment Date: June 25, 2025
Hometown: Mansfield, Texas
School: Mansfield
Height: 6-2.5
Weight: 175
Industry Ranking: No. 160 overall, No. 22 wide receiver, No. 24 in Texas
Other Notable Offers: Texas, Notre Dame, LSU, Oklahoma, Oregon, Florida, Texas A&M, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Miami

How We Got here: Robinson grew up in Ohio before moving to Texas and actually picked up an offer from Michigan in eighth grade. The Wolverines really ramped up their interest in the explosive receiver early this year and hosted him in the spring before welcoming him back to campus for a May 30 official visits. He took trips to Texas Tech, Miami, Nebraska and Stanford after that, but the Michigan momentum around his recruitment persisted and led to a commitment.

Four-star safety Andre Clarke

Commitment Date: June 30, 2025
Hometown: Richmond, Va.
School: Hermitage High
Height: 6-0
Weight: 165
Industry Ranking: No. 185 overall, No. 16 safety, No. 6 in Virginia
Other Notable Offers: Tennessee, Miami, Florida State, South Carolina, Washington, Ole Miss, Kentucky

How We Got here: Michigan sat in a solid spot with Clarke for most of this year before surging into first-place during his June 13 official visit. The Wolverines like him at cornerback and prioritized the versatile defensive back. He also took official visits to SMU, Syracuse and Kentucky before ending his travel schedule in Ann Arbor.

On300 cornerback Brody Jennings

Commitment Date: July 28, 2024
Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
School: Mandarin High
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185
Industry Ranking: No. 294 overall, No. 29 cornerback, No. 41 in Florida
Other Notable Offers: Texas, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Miami, Florida

How We Got here: Jennings was one of Michigan’s earliest commits and is now the longest-standing pledge in the class. The Wolverines identified and prioritized him early. Now, his recruitment has blown up to include a ton of SEC programs that have his interest. He recently took an OV to Auburn and has trips planned to Miami, Florida and Georgia before spending Victors Weekend in Ann Arbor. 

Four-star defensive lineman Alister Vallejo

Commitment Date: June 10, 2025
Hometown: Liberty Hill, Texas
School: Liberty Hill High
Height: 6-3
Weight: 310 pounds
Industry Ranking: No. 349 overall, No. 35 defensive lineman, No. 44 in Texas
Other Notable Offers: Notre Dame, SMU, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Wisconsin, Baylor, Arizona

How We Got here: Michigan offered Vallejo April 15 and prioritized him from there. He’s an underrated interior defensive line prospect, and the Wolverines really pushed for him. Defensive line coach Lou Esposito visited him in Texas during May’s evaluation period. Then, Vallejo made trips to Notre Dame and Kansas. He did not officially visit Michigan before his decision. Turns out, he did not need to.

On300 offensive lineman Marky Walbridge

Commitment Date: June 25, 2025
Hometown: Needham, Mass.
School: St. Sebastian’s
Height: 6-5.5
Weight: 285 pounds
Industry Ranking: No. 396 overall, No. 32 offensive lineman, No. 2 in Massachusetts
Other Notable Offers: Ohio State, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Penn State, Boston College, Wisconsin

How We Got here: Walbridge kept his recruitment very low-key, but Michigan always stood out as a real contender. Boston College was the Wolverines’ main challenger in the end as the Eagles battled to keep him home, but U-M won out after a Victors Weekend official visit.

Three-star tight end Mason Bonner

Commitment Date: May 22, 2025
Hometown: Denver, Colorado
School: Mullen High
Height: 6-6
Weight: 200 pounds
Industry Ranking: No. 445 overall, No. 22 tight end, No. 4 in Colorado
Other Notable Offers: Miami, Penn State, Nebraska, Texas Tech, Arizona, Missouri, Kansas State

How We Got here: Michigan offered Bonner late last year and made him a clear priority from that point on. The Wolverines visited him in January and hosted him on his first visit in March. Going into official visits, he narrowed things down to just Michigan and Minnesota, setting official visits with both programs. Then, Steve Casula visited him this spring and helped lock up a commitment.

Three-star offensive lineman Bear McWhorter

Commitment Date: February 28, 2025
Hometown: Cartersville, Georgia
School: Cass High
Height: 6-3
Weight: 308 pounds
Industry Ranking: No. 576 overall, No. 52 interior offensive lineman, No. 64 in Georgia
Other Notable Offers: Miami, Texas, Auburn, Georgia, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Florida, South Carolina

How We Got here: McWhorter shocked many when he picked Michigan over Alabama early this year. He’s named after Bear Bryant and grew up a fan of the Crimson Tide, but no one recruited the offensive lineman harder than Michigan offensive line coach Grant Newsome. After taking a January trip to U-M, the Wolverines established themselves as the favorite for the coveted three-star prospect. 

Three-star edge rusher Tariq Boney

Commitment Date: April 26, 2025
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
School: St. John’s 
Height: 6-1
Weight: 230
Industry Ranking: No. 651 overall, No. 65 edge rusher, No. 4 in D.C.
Other Notable Offers: Tennessee, Texas A&M, Washington, Penn State, Wisconsin, Georgia, Marlyland

How We Got here: Boney picked Michigan over Cincinnati, Tulane and West Virginia. Defensive line coach Lou Esposito prioritized him this spring, and the explosive edge rusher visited in April before pledging to the program. 

Three-star linebacker Markel Dabney

Commitment Date: June 27, 2025
Hometown: Chester, Va.
School: Huguenot High
Height: 6-1
Weight: 210 pounds
Industry Ranking: No. 808 overall, No. 68 linebacker, No. 16 in Virginia
Other Notable Offers: South Carolina, Notre Dame, Penn State, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Florida State, Indiana, Miami

How We Got here: Michigan was the favorite in Dabney’s recruitment for a significant chunk of the spring, but he made a fairly surprising commitment to SMU in May. The Wolverines kept pushing for the priority linebacker and hosted him for a June 13 official visit and welcomed him back to campus later that same week for a 7-on-7 camp. Dabney flipped to Michigan soon after those trips.

Three-star wide receiver Jaylen Pile

Commitment Date: October 17, 2024
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
School: Parish Episcopal School
Height: 6-0
Weight: 178
Industry Ranking: No. 891 overall, No. 134 wide receiver, No. 133 in Texas
Other Notable Offers: Oklahoma, Penn State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Tennessee, Florida State, Auburn

How We Got here: Pile is one of the foundational members of this class. He committed last fall and remains locked in with the program. The receiver stopped by Ann Arbor for the Texas Game before making his commitment later in the fall. Pile is probably the most vocal recruiter in the class. 

Three-star running back Jonathan Brown

Commitment Date: June 21, 2025
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
School: St. Francis DeSales
Height: 6-1
Weight: 200 pounds
Industry Ranking: No. 995 overall, No. 62 running back, No. 40 in Ohio
Other Notable Offers: Rutgers, Toledo, Kent State

How We Got here: Michigan running backs coach Tony Alford watched Brown work out twice this summer, once in Ann Arbor and again at the Sound Mind Sound Body showcase at Wayne State. The three-star rising senior impressed the staff enough to earn an offer, and he did not wait long to commit.

Three-star kicker Micah Drescher

Commitment Date: June 18, 2025
Hometown: Hinsdale, Illinois
School: Hinsdale Central
Height: 6-3
Weight: 190 pounds
On3 Ranking: No. 9 kicker overall, No. 50 recruit in Illinois
Other Notable Offers: Northwestern, UConn

How We Got here: Drescher committed to Michigan over a recent scholarship offer from Northwestern. He visited this spring and decided to shut down his recruitment in June with a full ride on the table from the Wolverines.

Three-star long snapper Colton Dermer

Commitment Date: June 14, 2025
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
School: Sandra Day O’Connor High
Height: 6-1
Weight: 235 pounds
On3 Ranking: No. 5 long snapper overall, No. 31 in Arizona
Other Notable Offers: Alabama, Northern Arizona

How we got here: Dermer visited Michigan this spring and picked up an offer from the Wolverines June 13. Fewer than 24 hours later, he locked in his commitment to U-M.