Michigan football add five-star with 2026 EDGE Carter Meadows commitment to the Wolverines
In the past few years, the Wolverines have had a simple strategy: dominate up front. That strategy led to three straight Big Ten titles, three straight College Football Playoff appearances, a national championship, and four straight wins over Ohio State. And with the 2026 recruiting class starting to come together, it's clear that the strategy is showing no signs of slowing down.
Michigan football has continued to add to both lines -- offensive and defensive -- in 2026, with players such as four-star offensive tackle Malakai Lee and four-star edge rusher McHale Blade choosing the Wolverines over a litany of top schools across the country. But the latest addition for the maize and blue is about as big as it gets.
After battling multiple schools, namely Ohio State, for Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga edge rusher Carter Meadows, Michigan ended winning out, with Meadows having announced his commitment to the Wolverines.
Meadows had offers from Ohio State, Penn State, South Carolina, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and others.
Scouting report
Here's the scouting report on Meadows from 247Sports:
Spider-like pass rusher with exceptional physical specs, but one where the sack total has yet to match the big-league potential. Can give opposing offensive tackles fits just with his stride length as he can run the arc and right into the quarterback. Has spent much of prep career attacking from a 5-technique in a four-man front. Wins more times than not with his top-flight athleticism as he pairs adequate get-off with slippery inside-outside agility, but further technical development will dictate pressure rate on Saturdays and beyond as he's got the levers to chop and swipe his way around the corner like few others. Makes his fair share of stops in backside pursuit with his closing speed, but has to get better at crushing blocks and holding his turf if he's going to make a living as an every-down defender. Should be viewed as a high-upside edge player that has a chance to develop into an absolute game-wrecker at the Power Four level and then an early-round NFL Draft pick if he can soak up coaching and embrace the weight room. Might be worth a look in a hybrid off-the-ball role as spatial awareness fostered on the basketball court allows him to drop into zones and affect passing lanes.
Junior highlights
The state of the 2026 class
Meadows joins Blade and three-star Tariq Boney as fellow edge rushers in the 2026 class. The Wolverines also have defensive tackles Alister Vallejo and Titan Davis committed, as well.
Coming in at 6-foot-6.5 and 225 pounds, Meadows is rated highest by On3, which has him as the No. 6 player in the country, regardless of position, and the second-best edge rusher in the nation. 247Sports has Meadows on the cusp of five-star status while Rivals is the outlier, with a ranking of No. 241 overall.
Here is the full class as it stands:
All rankings by the 247Sports Composite
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tarik Skubal put American League on notice in Sunday Night Baseball debut
Tarik Skubal put American League on notice in Sunday Night Baseball debut originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Tarik Skubal met the moment. On a night when the Detroit Tigers hosted their first Sunday Night Baseball game since 2017, the 2024 Cy Young winner fed off the standing-room only crowd at Comerica Park and abused the Twins hitters he faced. Advertisement As ESPN's Buster Olney noted, Skubal went into Sunday night's game against Minnesota with 32% of the pitches he has thrown this season resulting in called or swinging strikes. That's the best in Major League Baseball. But with the baseball world watching Sunday night, Skubal took it to another level. Under the lights and with no other game in the league to watch, Skubal was nasty. An unbelievable 45% of his pitches against the Twins were either called or swinging strikes, a staggering number that highlights his dominance. Skubal was nearly flawless on the mound. He threw seven innings of one-hit baseball, walking one and completely shutting down Minnesota's lineup for most of the game. Skubal also tied his career high with 13 strikeouts, further underscoring his status as one of the premier strikeout pitchers in the game. Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal faces the Minnesota Twins on June 29, 2025, at Comerica Park. © Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images His final pitch of the night was clocked at 100 miles per hour. Advertisement His performance was nothing short of spectacular and proved why he's considered the best pitcher in the game right now. While some can feel the Sunday Night game is an inconvenience, Skubal was clearly excited about it. It was his first appearance on Sunday Night Baseball, and the Tigers' first time hosting the national broadcast since 2017. Skubal's ability to generate strikes with both precision and power is what sets him apart. For Skubal, Sunday's game wasn't just about racking up the strikeouts; it sent a message to the rest of baseball. He and the Tigers are the team to beat in the American League. Advertisement Related: Tigers Fans Have Waited Eight Years for a Night Like This at Comerica Related: Is This Power Hitter the Missing Piece for Detroit's Postseason Push? This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Skubal's dominant start earns MLB recognition for historic accomplishment
Skubal's dominant start earns MLB recognition for historic accomplishment originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Tarik Skubal is in some elite company. As MLB pointed out after his brilliant performance on Sunday Night Baseball, he became the third pitcher in the past 40 years to win 10 consecutive decisions in a season for the Detroit Tigers, joining legends like Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. Advertisement In the Motor City, that's like the Mount Rushmore of Tigers pitching. Skubal, who has been on an incredible run, is putting together a career-defining season _ even after winning the 2024 Cy Young. In 2025, Skubal has dominated, holding a 2.49 ERA and a 1.97 FIP over 68⅔ innings, with an impressive 13 strikeouts in his latest start. His ability to generate swings-and-misses and induce weak contact has been a hallmark of his rise as one of the league's top pitchers. Skubal's strike rate, currently at 32%, is the highest in the majors and reflects his dominance over hitters this season. Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 17, Breen / Arizona Republic / USA TODAY Network On Sunday night, in his first appearance on Sunday Night Baseball, Skubal went seven innings, allowing just one hit while tying his career high with 13 strikeouts. Advertisement It was the kind of performance that has quickly made him one of the most feared pitchers in baseball. With the Tigers in the playoff hunt, Skubal's ability to rise to the challenge of being an ace start after start will be crucial to their chances down the stretch. He's already shown he can rise to the occasion, and with this milestone, it's clear the Tigers have a star who can carry them in big moments. Related: Tigers Ace Tarik Skubal Sends a Message in his Night Debut Related: Is This Power Hitter the Missing Piece for Detroit's Postseason Push? This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tigers slugger's injury forces early exit, leaving status in doubt
Tigers slugger's injury forces early exit, leaving status in doubt originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Tigers right fielder Kerry Carpenter is heading for the MRI tube on Monday morning. He was forced to exit Sunday's game due to a hamstring injury. After hitting an RBI triple in the bottom of the fifth inning, Carpenter grimaced in pain while rounding the bases and quickly left the game. Advertisement 'I'll get an MRI tomorrow,' Carpenter told reporters after the Tigers' Sunday night win over the Twins. 'The staff here has done a great job of getting me back pretty quickly, so we'll see how it goes. But I think we're all pretty optimistic about it.' While the injury is concerning, Carpenter's optimistic outlook offers some hope for a quick recovery. Before the injury, Carpenter had been on a tear, continuing his strong recent performance. He gave the Tigers an early lead with a solo home run to right-center field, his second consecutive game with a homer and his third in the past five games. Kerry Carpenter smiles after a win over the White Sox.© Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images In addition to his home run, Carpenter had gone 2-for-4 in Saturday's 10-4 win and was 2-for-3 before leaving Sunday's game. Advertisement As of June 29, he holds a .252 batting average with 16 home runs and 32 RBIs. His .515 slugging percentage and .341 expected weighted on-base average (xwOBA) highlight his ability to drive the ball effectively. Statcast data further underscores his offensive prowess, with an average exit velocity of 91 mph, a hard-hit rate of 45.3%, and a barrel percentage of 13.3%. If Carpenter has to miss time, the Tigers are likely to turn to Wenceel Perez in right field. For now, the team remains hopeful that the MRI results will show no serious damage, and Carpenter can return to the lineup sooner rather than later. Related: MLB Honors Tarik Skubal's Historic Accomplishment Following Dominant Start Related: Is This Power Hitter the Missing Piece for Detroit's Postseason Push? This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
