There are some recruits who just jump off the tape - and Michigan’s newest EDGE signee, Tariq Boney, is one of them.
For much of the recruiting cycle, Boney flew under the radar. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound pass rusher out of Washington, D.C., was sitting well outside the blue-chip conversation, ranked in the 800s nationally. But that’s the thing about scouting: sometimes it takes a little longer for the rest of the world to catch up to what coaches already know.
Boney’s breakout senior season made it impossible to ignore. He racked up 48 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, and 13 sacks - a stat line that earned him Gatorade Player of the Year honors in his region.
That kind of production, paired with his physical tools, was enough to vault him nearly 500 spots in the rankings. He now sits at No. 308 overall in the 247Sports Composite, firmly in blue-chip territory.
Michigan defensive line coach Lou Esposito saw the potential early. While Tulane and West Virginia also got Boney on campus for official visits, it was the Wolverines who locked him in. Now, he joins a defensive line room that’s quickly becoming one of the most talent-rich in the country.
And Boney isn’t the only one getting a post-season rankings bump.
Michigan’s 2026 class is loaded with risers. Titan Davis now cracks the top 100 at No. 95 overall - a big-time recognition for a player who’s been trending upward all year. Malakai Lee (No. 106) and Travis Johnson (No. 124) are right behind him, both landing comfortably inside the top 125.
Of course, the headliners are still five-star EDGE Carter Meadows - ranked ninth nationally - and five-star running back Savion Hiter. But what makes this class special is the depth. Michigan also brought in a wide receiver, a defensive tackle, and an offensive tackle, all ranked in the top 125.
When the dust settled, the Wolverines had signed 12 blue-chip recruits out of 22 total signees. That’s elite-level recruiting efficiency.
And it’s not just about the stars - it’s about where those stars are stacked. Michigan added five blue-chip players along the defensive line and EDGE spots alone, including Boney, Meadows, Allister Vallejo, and McHale Blade. That’s how you build a dominant front seven.
The offensive line got some love too, with two blue-chip signees anchoring the future in the trenches. Add in a quarterback, a safety, a cornerback, and another wide receiver - plus the versatile Salesi Moa, who’s expected to contribute at both WR and CB - and you’ve got a class that checks every positional box.
Despite the ups and downs that can come with any recruiting cycle, Michigan closed strong. And with the latest rankings update, the 2026 haul looks even more impressive. This is a group built to compete - and win - at the highest level.