Michigan wrapped up its 2026 recruiting class on National Signing Day with two final additions - a defensive playmaker and a specialist - as Kyle Whittingham continues to round out a group that’s shaping up to be one of the most balanced in the country.
Let’s break down the newest Wolverines and take a closer look at the full class.
DE Ndi Etta - A Disruptive Edge Presence
Hailing from Keller, Texas, Ndi Etta brings a high-motor, high-production résumé to Ann Arbor. At 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, Etta may be a bit undersized by Big Ten standards right now, but his senior tape tells the story of a player who knows how to find the football.
He racked up 68 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks in his final season at Liberty Christian. Add in four pass breakups and two forced fumbles, and you’re looking at a versatile edge defender who can get after the quarterback and disrupt passing lanes. He’s listed as a three-star by Rivals and slotted as the No. 181 linebacker nationally, but this is the kind of player who could carve out a role with the right development - especially in a Whittingham-coached defense that thrives on aggression and gap discipline.
K Jacob Baggett - A Weapon on Special Teams
Special teams often get overlooked on signing day, but Michigan may have landed a game-changer in kicker Jacob Baggett. The Charlotte native comes from Providence Day - the same program that produced current Wolverine receiver Channing Goodwin - and arrives with a big leg and elite accuracy.
Baggett was nearly automatic as a senior, going 6-for-7 on field goals with a long of 48 yards. His only miss?
A 51-yarder. More impressively, he drilled 95 touchbacks on 102 kickoffs - a staggering 93.1% rate - and holds the North Carolina high school record for touchbacks in a single season.
Ranked as a five-star by Chris Sailer Kicking and the No. 8 kicker in the class, Baggett isn’t just a depth piece - he’s a legitimate candidate to handle kickoff duties from day one, with field goal potential down the road.
The 2026 Class: Balanced, Deep, and Loaded with Upside
With these two final additions, Michigan’s 2026 class is officially complete - 24 signees strong and ranked No. 12 nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite. It’s a group that checks nearly every box: elite talent at the top, positional depth across the board, and a few under-the-radar names with breakout potential.
Here’s a breakdown of the full class:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Five-Stars
- Carter Meadows: No. 9 overall, No.
4 Edge - A cornerstone pass rusher with elite bend and burst.
- Savion Hiter: No. 12 overall, No.
1 RB - The crown jewel of the class. A do-it-all back with power, vision, and top-end speed.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Four-Stars
- Titan Davis: No. 95 overall, No.
11 DL - A physical interior lineman with heavy hands and a relentless motor.
- Malakai Lee: No. 106 overall, No.
13 OT - A long, athletic tackle with the tools to anchor the blindside in the future.
- Travis Johnson: No. 124 overall, No.
18 WR - A smooth route-runner with big-play ability.
- Jamarion Vincent: No. 148 overall, No.
20 CB - A fluid corner with strong ball skills.
- Alister Vallejo: No. 212 overall, No.
23 DL - A powerful presence in the trenches.
- Marky Walbridge: No. 239 overall, No.
25 OT - A developmental tackle with upside.
- Tariq Boney: No. 308 overall, No.
31 Edge - A pass-rushing specialist with twitch and length.
- Brady Smigiel: No. 358 overall, No.
25 QB - A smart, poised signal-caller with a quick release.
- Jordan Deck: No. 372 overall, No.
30 S - A rangy safety who thrives in coverage.
- McHale Blade: No. 391 overall, No.
44 DL - A high-upside lineman with room to grow.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Three-Stars
- Mason Bonner: No. 523 overall, No.
27 TE - A reliable target with soft hands and blocking chops.
- Aden Reeder: No. 630 overall, No.
53 LB - Brings physicality and instincts to the second level.
- Adrian Hamilton: No. 689 overall, No.
57 IOL - A gritty interior lineman with a mean streak.
- Tommy Fraumann: No. 710 overall, No.
64 OT - A developmental tackle with solid fundamentals.
- Markel Dabney: No. 781 overall, No.
43 LB - Plays downhill and delivers a pop.
- Jonathan Brown: No. 781 overall, No.
47 RB - A change-of-pace back with quick feet.
- Tommy Carr: No. 781 overall, No.
43 QB - A dual-threat option with leadership traits.
- Ernest Nunley: No. 995 overall, No.
85 CB - A project corner with athletic upside.
- Jaylen Pile: No. 1,250 overall, No.
185 WR - A vertical threat with raw speed.
- Kaden Catchings: No. 1,448 overall, No.
120 LB - A developmental linebacker with special teams value.
Unranked Additions
- Ndi Etta: A high-energy defender with production to back it up.
- Jacob Baggett: A special teams weapon who could make an early impact.
Final Takeaway:
This class gives Michigan a strong foundation on both sides of the ball.
The top-end talent is there, especially with Hiter and Meadows leading the charge, but what really stands out is the depth. From the trenches to the secondary, from quarterback to kicker, Whittingham has built a group that fits his physical, disciplined brand of football.
And with a few hidden gems like Etta and Baggett in the mix, don’t be surprised if some of these names become key contributors sooner than expected.