Wolverine TV: Five key recruits Michigan coaches will see during bye week

The Wolverine’s EJ Holland breaks down five key recruits the Michigan coaching staff plans to see during the bye week, including Rivals300 defensive line commit Alister Vallejo.

Watch the full video at the end of this story.

Vallejo Recruitment

Michigan extended an offer to Vallejo during his first-ever visit to Michigan this spring. The Wolverines made him a top priority over the last several months and quickly ascended as major contenders.

allejo named Michigan a finalist along with Notre Dame and Kansas going into the summer.

Notre Dame seemed to have plenty of buzz leading up to his decision. However, Michigan defensive line coach Lou Esposito never stopped working and was able to help U-M beat out the Irish.

Here is what Holland had to say about Vallejo.

“This was another big Michigan recruiting win over the Irish,” Holland said. “Michigan beat out Notre Dame for On300 EDGE McHale Blade and now did the same with Vallejo. You have to give a lot of credit to Michigan defensive line coach Lou Esposito, who did a phenomenal job in this recruitment. Esposito identified Vallejo fairly and built a really strong relationship with him. Esposito never stopped pushing and won him over. In Vallejo, Michigan is getting an undervalued prospect who projects as a three-technique. He’s perfect for that Mason Graham role.”

At 6-foot-3, 310 pounds, Vallejo is ranked as the No. 25 defensive lineman and No. 227 overall prospect nationally, per the Rivals Industry Ranking. He is also ranked as the No. 34 overall recruit in the state of Texas this cycle.

Michigan has 23 commits in its 2026 recruiting class — five-star Mineral (Va.) Louisa County running back Savion Hiter, five-star Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga EDGE Carter Meadows, Top 100 Honolulu (Hawaii) Kamehameha offensive tackle Malakai Lee, Top 100 St. Louis (Mo.) DeSmet defensive lineman Titan Davis, Top 100 Billings (Mont.) West tight end Matt Ludwig, Top 100 Newberry Park (Calif.) High quarterback Brady Smigiel, On300 Needham (Mass.) St. Sebastian’s offensive lineman Marky Walbridge, On300 Chesapeake (Va.) Oscar Smith wide receiver Travis Johnson, On300 Irmo (S.C.) Dutch Fork EDGE Julian Walker, On300 Chicago (Ill.) Simeon EDGE McHale Blade, four-star Carrollton (Ga.) High defensive back Dorian Barney, four-star Richmond (Va.) Hermitage defensive back Andre Clarke, four-star Mansfield (Texas) High wide receiver Zion Robinson, three-star Cartersville (Ga.) Cass offensive lineman Bear McWhorter, three-star Washington (D.C.) St. John’s EDGE Tariq Boney, three-star Denver (Colo.) Mullen tight end Mason Bonner, three-star Liberty Hill (Texas) High defensive lineman Alister Vallejo, three-star Dallas (Texas) Parish Episcopal wide receiver Jaylen Pile, three-star Richmond (Va.) Huguenot linebacker Markel Dabney, three-star Hinsdale (Ill.) Central kicker Micah Drescher, Columbus (Ohio) St. Francis DeSales running back Jonathan Brown and Phoenix (Ariz.) O’Connor long snapper Colton Dermer.

Michigan entered the day with the No. 10 ranked 2026 recruiting class nationally, per the On3 Industry team recruiting rankings. Michigan is also ranked No. 4 in the Big Ten. USC currently has the top class in the conference.