Top 100 OT Malakai Lee commits to Michigan

Michigan wrapped up arguably its most impressive recruiting win of the 2026 cycle Friday evening. Top 100 offensive tackle Malakai Lee announced his commitment to the Wolverines during a ceremony at his high school. 

Lee is the No. 85 recruit in the country as a 6-7, 310-pound lineman. The top-ranked recruit in Hawaii out of Kamehameha Secondary is the No. 9 tackle nationally, and he picked Michigan over Georgia, Texas and Alabama. 

The Wolverines fought off strong pushes from three SEC teams to land his commitment. Lee was a top priority for all four of his finalists, but a Victors Weekend official visit helped the blue-chip lineman wrap up his decision-making process. 

“I think they’re special because they have recruited me the longest,” Lee told On3’s Steve Wiltfong after the OV. “I’ve built a great relationship with the coaches and staff.”

He took several official visits this month, making stops at Alabama and Texas before spending a weekend with Georgia unofficially. The Bulldogs also hosted him for an OV in April. All three schools felt optimistic at some point in Lee’s recruitment, but the buzz around his recruitment shifted after a pivotal weekend in Ann Arbor. He announced his decision less than a week after leaving campus. 

Offensive line coach Grant Newsome was his primary recruiter. The Wolverine assistant built a strong connection with Lee after taking several trips out to Hawaii to see him in person. 

“Coach Newsome is awesome, a great o-line coach,” Lee said after a multi-day spring practice visit with Michigan. “He really knows the game down to the core. For me, that’s kind of what’s important.”

Head coach Sherrone Moore has obvious expertise on the offensive line, so he played a key role in the tackle’s recruitment as well. He accompanied Newsome on one of his trips to Hawaii. Moore was the only head coach out of the finalists to meet with Lee in his home town. Michigan’s consistent all-out effort in his recruitment helped the program lock in the Victors Weekend official visit that ultimately helped him pick the Wolverines. 

Lee is the No. 17 commit in U-M’s 2026 class and the cycle’s third offensive line pledge. Three-star interior recruit Bear McWhorter projects as a guard or a center, and the Wolverines like On300 lineman Marky Walbridge at tackle. All three of them officially visited for Victors Weekend. Michigan will likely take one more offensive lineman this year. 

Michigan’s recruiting class now sits firmly in the Top 15 once again. Lee is the program’s highest-ranked commit to date.