Michigan Lands Game-Changing Edge Rusher in Five-Star Prospect Meadows
The Wolverines just secured a major piece of their future defensive puzzle - and it’s a big one.
Meadows, a five-star edge rusher with the kind of upside that can tilt a gameplan, is officially headed to Ann Arbor. Michigan had him circled from the start, and while they had to fend off a strong push from several top-tier programs - including bitter rival Ohio State - they ultimately sealed the deal at the end of June.
At the time, Meadows was considered a four-star, but that didn’t last long. As more evaluators got a closer look, his stock skyrocketed.
He’s now the crown jewel of Michigan’s 2025 class.
A Rapid Rise to the Top
Meadows’ climb up the recruiting rankings has been nothing short of impressive. Across the board, he's now a consensus top-10 player nationally and the No. 1 recruit in his state. His blend of raw athleticism, length, and upside has college coaches and scouts buzzing - and for good reason.
This is a player who started as a basketball-first athlete, drawing Division I interest on the hardwood. That multi-sport background shows up on tape: he moves with rare fluidity for a player his size, and his footwork and balance are clearly ahead of the curve. As he’s transitioned to focus more fully on football, the leap in technique and consistency from his junior to senior year has been eye-opening.
What Michigan’s Getting
Let’s break it down. Meadows is a long-limbed, high-motor edge rusher who brings serious disruption off the edge.
He’s not just a straight-line speed guy - he can bend, dip, and flatten around the corner. If the offensive tackle oversets, he’ll slide inside and attack the B-gap with burst and violence.
His hands are active, and while he’s still refining his disengagement techniques, he’s already showing flashes of advanced pass-rush nuance.
Run defense? That’s where the developmental curve comes into play.
He’ll need to add mass to hold up consistently against Power Four offensive lines, but the frame is there. Once he packs on the right kind of weight, anchoring against the run and setting a firm edge should follow.
Where he could make an early impact, though, is on passing downs. With his length, twitch, and relentless motor, he’s a natural fit as a situational rusher - whether that’s coming off the edge or sliding inside to exploit mismatches against slower guards.
First-Year Outlook
Given Michigan’s depth and the expected departures at the position, there’s a real opportunity for Meadows to crack the rotation early. He’ll need to bulk up and adjust to the speed of the college game, but his physical gifts and work ethic suggest he won’t be on the sidelines for long.
Even in a limited role, he could be a problem for opposing quarterbacks. Think third-and-long, late in the second quarter - that’s when a guy like Meadows can pin his ears back and go hunt.
Long-Term Potential
If the development continues and he soaks up coaching like he’s expected to, Meadows has a ceiling that stretches all the way to Sundays. His athletic profile and positional value make him a potential future pro, and Michigan fans have every reason to be excited about what he brings to the table.
He’s following in the footsteps of other Gonzaga High School standouts who’ve made the leap to the next level, and if it all clicks, Meadows could be the next big name to come out of that pipeline.
The Bottom Line
Meadows isn’t just another blue-chip recruit - he’s a difference-maker in the making. Michigan’s defensive staff has landed a future cornerstone, and while there’s still plenty of development ahead, the foundation is rock solid. With the right guidance and continued growth, Meadows has all the tools to become a game-wrecker in the Big Ten and beyond.
This is the kind of signing that can shift the trajectory of a class - and a defense.