What’s next? An early look at 2025 Michigan EDGE targets

Michigan is done at the EDGE position this cycle — at least for now.

The Wolverines landed three four-star prospects at the position in Elias Rudolph, Jacob Smith and Devon Baxter as well as three-star recruit Dominic Nichols. Michigan will focus on keeping all four in the boat until the early signing period in December.

It’s no secret the Wolverines will get negative recruited based on numbers over the next few months. In fact, the process has already started with Nichols as both Clemson and Wisconsin are continuing to show interest. However, Michigan was always going to take a big EDGE class and was upfront with its targets during June official visits.

Having four verbal pledges will also allow the Wolverines to get a jump-start on 2025 recruits at the position.

At the top of the board is Norfolk (Va.) Maury prospect Ari Watford. Ranked as the No. 2 EDGE and No. 10 overall prospect next cycle, per On3, Watford notched a Michigan offer last year and is looking to make his first-ever visit in the near future. The 6-foot-5, 230-pounder is one of the country’s premier pass rushers and would be a massive pull out of the Tidewater region of Virginia.

Philadelphia (Pa.) Imhotep’s Zahir Mathis is another pass rusher the Wolverines are high on. Mathis is a former teammate of 2023 Michigan linebacker signee Semaj Bridgeman and is expressing interest early on. Mathis, who is ranked as the No. 9 EDGE and No. 56 overall recruit nationally, was looking to visit Michigan last month before things fell through, but he should be making his way to campus soon.

The Wolverines are also involved with a couple of other Top 100 pass rushers in Troy (Ala.) Henderson’s Zion Grady, the No. 15 overall recruit nationally, and Greensboro (N.C.) Grimsley’s Bryce Davis, the No. 54 overall recruit nationally. U-M is working to get both to Ann Arbor in the near future as well.

Michigan is, of course, known for identifying pass rushers early on, and it appears the Wolverines are very high on a trio of three-star EDGE recruits in Oakdale (Conn.) St. Thomas More’s Adam Shovlin, Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian’s Hayden Lowe and Jefferson (Ga.) High’s Kelan Butler.

All three are early priorities and have made their way to campus.

Other EDGE prospects that have also visited Michigan this offseason include On300 Cincinnati (Ohio) Winton Woods recruit Justin Hill, On300 Chicago (Ill.) Simeon recruit Christopher Burgess, three-star Pittsboro (N.C.) Northwood recruit Gus Ritchey and unranked Detroit (Mich.) King recruit Willie Fletcher.

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