| Special to The Detroit News
Detroit News contributor Allen Trieu, who covers Midwest recruiting for 247Sports, breaks down Michigan’s 2026 signed football recruiting class, as it stands Wednesday.
▶ McHale Blade, defensive lineman, Chicago Simeon: Recruited by Michigan for several years and chose the Wolverines over Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Miami (Florida) and more. Broke out with a very productive sophomore season at Hillcrest High School before transferring to Simeon. Missed his junior year with an injury. Returned as a senior and missed several games with a shoulder injury, but showed his sophomore year form when healthy. 6-foot-4, 245 pounds with explosive get-off and can project inside or outside. Status: SIGNED
▶ Tariq Boney, edge, Washington (DC) St. John’s College: Does not have prototypical size at 6-foot-2, 230 pounds but incredibly disruptive and productive in high school. Finished his senior season with 48 tackles (20 for loss), 12 sacks, two forced fumbles, a blocked field goal, six pass breakups and a defensive touchdown. Has been compared to former Wolverine and current NFL defensive end Josaiah Stewart. Chose Michigan over Tulane, Indiana, Pitt, Cincinnati and more. Three-star and No. 4 recruit in Washington D.C. Status: SIGNED
▶ Mason Bonner, tight end, Denver Mullen: No. 7 recruit in the state of Colorado per 247Sports. Chose Michigan over Minnesota, UCLA, Tennessee, Colorado and others. Combined a 6-foot-6, 200-pound frame with the catch radius and timing to win jump balls. Played like a big wide receiver in high school but is expected to convert to more of a full time tight end in college. Will need to add weight and learn the position but has the tools to develop into a big-time pass catching threat. Status: SIGNED
▶ Jonathan Brown, running back, Columbus (Ohio) St. Francis De Sales: Was an under-the-radar recruit, then gained 30 pounds after his sophomore season and ran 4.5 laser at a spring Under Armour event and began seeing more interest come his way. Impressed Michigan into an offer at their summer camp, which included a 40-inch vertical jump. Two-way high school player who could get a look on defense also. Rushed for 1,295 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior. Three-star per 247Sports and a top 50 running back recruit. Status: SIGNED
▶ Tommy Carr, quarterback, Saline: Flipped from Miami (Ohio) to Michigan late in his senior year. Led Saline to a 10-2 record as a senior. Has a 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame and excellent improvisational ability and mobility. Also has a live arm and can make throws down the field. Grandfathers are former Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr and Michigan defensive back Tom Curtis. Father Jason Carr played quarterback at Michigan and brother C.J. Carr is the current starting quarterback at Notre Dame. Finished as a four-star recruit per 247Sports. Status: SIGNED
▶ Kaden Catchings, linebacker, Flowood (Mississippi) Hartfield Academy: Flipped from South Florida in November. No. 42 senior in the state of Mississippi and a three-star, per 247Sports. Was committed to Liberty prior to his USF commitment. Also plays running back and rushed for 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior. Brings that athleticism and speed from the offensive side of the ball to defense where he is an aggressive player who can play sideline to sideline. Status: SIGNED
▶ Andre Clarke Jr., cornerback, Richmond (Virginia) Hermitage: Long, 6-foot-1, 175-pound corner who finished as a consensus four-star recruit. Also played receiver, catching 25 passes and nine touchdowns as a junior. Ran track and competed as a long-jumper. Took official visits with Kentucky and SMU prior to choosing Michigan. Status: SIGNED
▶ Markel Dabney, linebacker, Richmond (Virginia) Huguenot: Top-40 recruit in Virginia, per 247Sports. Ranked as an athlete, but will be a linebacker who can play on the edge, in the box, blitz, but also has experience in coverage. Six-foot-1, 205 pounds and has the athleticism to play in space. Was committed to SMU, but also considered Pittsburgh as a flip option before choosing Michigan. Status: SIGNED
▶ Titan Davis, defensive lineman, St. Louis (Missouri) DeSmet Jesuit: Top-150 national recruit and four-star prospect. Gives Michigan an inside-outside option at 6-foot-4.5, 270 pounds. Began his high school career as a quarterback. Helped his team win a state title as a junior, recording 18 tackles for loss and nine sacks. Alabama, USC and Penn State were his other finalists prior to choosing Michigan. Status: SIGNED
▶ Jordan Deck, safety, Frisco (Texas) Lone Star: Four-star is a big, physical 6-foot-3, 195-pound prospect. Ran some track and competed in the long jump. Was committed to Baylor, then flipped to Michigan. Also considered Colorado and Penn State among others. Got on the radar after a sophomore season where he earned District 6-5A D-1 Defensive Newcomer of the Year after registering 75 tackles and intercepting five passes. Status: SIGNED
▶ Micah Drescher, kicker, Hinsdale (Illinois) Central: Navy All-American and selected as his conference’s special teams player of the year as a senior. Made 36 of 38 extra-point attempts as a junior. Has experience as a punter as well. Chose Michigan over Northwestern and Air Force. Older brother was a specialist at Dartmouth. Three-star recruit per 247Sports. Status: SIGNED
▶ Tommy Fraumann, offensive tackle, Wilmette (Illinois) Loyola Academy: Flipped from Miami (Ohio) to Michigan during his senior season. Has a 6-foot-7, 250-pound frame with plenty of room to fill in. Left tackle in high school but can play either side in college. Both parents were Michigan athletes, as father played linebacker for the Wolverines and mother played volleyball. Comes from a great high school program and played against good competition. Finished as a four-star recruit, per 247Sports. Status: SIGNED
▶ Adrian Hamilton, offensive lineman, Washington (D.C.) St. John’s College: Flipped from Virginia Tech to Michigan after a late official visit and is slated to play center for the Wolverines. Powerful, technically sound 6-foot-3, 290-pound three-star with a 7-foot wingspan. Top-five recruit in D.C. and the No. 71 interior offensive lineman. Also had offers from Virginia, Michigan State, Stanford, West Virginia and more. Status: SIGNED
▶ Savion Hiter, running back, Mineral (Virginia) Louisa County: Five-star and 247Sports’ No. 1 running back recruit. Physical back at 5-foot-11, 200 pounds who has good balance and ability to run through arm tackles, but also has home-run hitting speed. Rushed for 1,698 yards and 26 touchdowns as a junior and had several huge outings, including a six-touchdown game as a senior. Also played defense. Took officials with Tennessee, Ohio State and Georgia before committing to Michigan. Status: SIGNED
▶ Travis Johnson, wide receiver, Chesapeake (Virginia) Oscar Smith: Top 150 national recruit, top-20 wide receiver and four-star prospect. Big outside receiver at 6-foot-4, 185 pounds with ball skills and contested catch ability. Had 839 yards and 11 touchdowns in seven regular-season games as a senior. Was also an excellent high school basketball player. Chose Michigan over North Carolina, Penn State, South Carolina and others. Status: SIGNED
▶ Malakai Lee, offensive tackle, Honolulu Kamehameha: Major recruiting win as Lee, a four-star recruit, chose Michigan over Texas, Alabama and Georgia among others and the Longhorns continued their pursuit of him well after he had committed to Michigan. Stands 6-foot-6, 325 pounds with an 85-inch wing-span. Could play either right or left tackle in college but has the combination of size and movement that will help him compete early in his career. Status: SIGNED
▶ Matt “Moose” Ludwig, tight end, Billings (Montana) West: Very good athlete at 6-foot-4, 240 pounds. Was 247Sports’ No. 1 recruit in Montana and a top ten tight end nationally. Had 29 scholarship offers which came after he caught 89 passes between his sophomore and junior seasons. Also played defense, punted and played some quarterback. Ran track and also threw the shot and discus. Could contribute early as a pass-catching threat. Status: SIGNED
▶ Bear McWhorter, offensive lineman, White (Georgia) Cass: Chose Michigan over 40 total offers including Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Florida State and others. Strong, technically sound interior lineman who was excellent on the camp circuit especially in one on ones. Selected as an Under Armour All-American and figures to line up at guard at Michigan. Status: SIGNED
▶ Carter Meadows, edge, Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga: Five-star and No. 1 edge, per 247Sports. Also considered a top-10 recruit in the country. Chose Michigan over Ohio State, Penn State and others. Long 6-foot-6, 230-pound frame with the athleticism to also have been a very good high school basketball player. Carries a 3.9 grade-point average. Status: SIGNED
▶ Jaylen Pile, wide receiver, Dallas Parish Episcopal School: One of the earliest commits in the class, choosing Michigan in October of his junior season. Chose Michigan over Pittsburgh, Oklahoma, Mississippi State, Arizona and others, including Virginia Tech, where his father was an all-conference safety. Had 2,390 yards and 26 touchdowns his junior and senior years combined. Also returned a kickoff return for a score. 6-foot-1, 185-pound three-star can play inside or outside but figures first in the slot for Michigan. Status: SIGNED
▶ Aden Reeder, linebacker, Cincinnati St. Xavier: Flipped from Wisconsin after being offered by Michigan in the fall. Six-foot-3, 215 pounds with closing speed that makes him effective as a blitzer and in pursuit. Has played SAM and on the edge, but Michigan sees him as a MIKE first. Initially chose Wisconsin over Minnesota, Michigan State, Indiana and more. Combines his physical gifts with very good intangibles and instincts. Finished as a top-40 recruit in Ohio, per 247Sports and a high three-star. Status: SIGNED
▶ Zion Robinson, wide receiver, Mansfield (Texas): Four-star, top-150 national recruit and top 20 wide receiver. Combines prototypical 6-foot-3, 180-pound size with a track background that includes running a 10.91 in the 100-meter dash. Father was an Olympic qualifier in the 800-meter dash and is the Director of Track and Field at TCU. Carries a 4.0 GPA in the classroom. Miami (Florida), Nebraska and Stanford were among his top choices. Status: COMMITTED
▶ Brady Smigiel, quarterback, Newbury Park (California): Suffered a season ending injury as a senior, but still posted prolific high school statistics that included 147 touchdowns through his first three seasons. Only threw three interceptions as a junior and also rushed for 11 touchdowns. Also a former basketball player who has athleticism in a 6-foot-5, 210-pound frame. Son of a coach who will come in well-schooled and ready to compete from a mental standpoint. Status: SIGNED
▶ Alister Vallejo, defensive lineman, Liberty Hill (Texas): True interior prospect at 6-foot-4, 300 pounds. Mobile, high-motor player who had 62 tackles, five sacks, a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown and a blocked field goal as a senior. Chose Michigan over Notre Dame and Kansas. Miami and Colorado offered following his Michigan commitment. Also threw the shot and discus on the track and field team. Finished his high school career with 23 sacks. Status: SIGNED
▶ Jamarion Vincent, cornerback, Waco (Texas) Connally: Flipped from Baylor late in November after an official visit with Michigan. Top-200 national recruit and four-star. No 18 cornerback and top025 recruit in Texas, per 247Sports. Long at 6-foot-2, 165 pounds. Has played offense as a quarterback and ran track. Status: SIGNED
▶ Marky Walbridge, offensive tackle, Needham (Massachusetts) St. Sebastian’s: Brings a 6-foot-6, 280-pound frame and multiple years of high school starting experience to Ann Arbor. Had offers from Alabama, Florida, Ohio State and more. Likely to play tackle but offers the versatility to play inside also. Physical and finishes his blocks, but also has the athleticism to get be effective as a pass protector. Status: SIGNED
▶ Julian Walker, edge, Irmo (SC) Dutch Fork: Finished as 247Sports’ No. 85 overall recruit. Has a college-ready frame at nearly 6-foot-6, 252 pounds and is a complete lineman who can play the run and rush the passer. Father is on the strength and conditioning staff at South Carolina. Chose Michigan over the Gamecocks, North Carolina, NC State and more. Helped his team win a state title with 11 sacks and 19 tackles for loss as a junior. Had 13.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks as a senior. Status: COMMITTED
Allen Trieu covers Midwest football recruiting for 247Sports. He has been featured on the Big Ten Network on its annual Signing Day Show. His Michigan and Michigan State recruiting columns appear weekly at detroitnews.com.
