Wolverine TV: Breaking down five priority recruits for new Michigan DL coach Lou Esposito

Michigan has a new defensive line coach in Lou Esposito, who joined the staff late last month. The Wolverine’s EJ Holland breaks down five defensive line recruits that will be priorities for Eposito moving forward, including four-star Palatine (Ill.) High EDGE Jaylen Williams.

Watch the full video above.

Williams Recruitment

Williams notched an offer from Michigan in late April and made an unofficial visit to Ann Arbor for the BBQ at The Big House last summer before returning for the game against Ohio State in November.

Michigan was supposed to get him back on campus this spring, but that has yet to happen due to the multiple changes on staff.

So where do the Wolverines stand in this recruitment? Here is what Holland had to say.

“He visited on multiple occasions last year, but obviously a lot of changes have been going on,” Holland said. “He was close to Mike Elston and was disappointed when he left. He was excited when Greg Scruggs was hired, then he left. Now, you have Esposito, who doesn’t have a preexisting relationship. But he is well tied into Chicagoland. Jaylen said he had a great conversation with Esposito a few days ago. He told me he plans to get back to Michigan. It is imperative for the Wolverines to keep up momentum as other schools have been creeping in and taking advantage of the situation.”

Along with Michigan, Williams holds offers from Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, Wisconsin and others.

Michigan has the lead for Williams on the On3 Recruiting Prediction with a 95.4 percent chance of landing him.

At 6-foot-6, 280 pounds, Williams is ranked as the No. 20 defensive lineman and No. 262 overall prospect nationally, per the On3 Industry Ranking. He is also ranked as the No. 6 overall recruit in the state of Illinois for next cycle.

While On3 lists Williams as a defensive lineman, Michigan is recruiting him as a bigger EDGE in the same mold as Aidan Hutchinson and Mike Morris. Williams plays with his hand in the dirt and also stands up for his high school team.

Michigan has three verbal commitments in its 2025 recruiting class in On300 Fort Myers (Fla.) Bishop Verot quarterback Carter Smith, On300 Howell (Mich.) High defensive lineman Bobby Kanka and three-star Alcoa (Tenn.) High tight end Eli Owens. The class is currently ranked No. 22 nationally and No. 5 in the Big Ten, per the On3 Industry team recruiting rankings.