Michigan Football: Latest on defensive tackle recruiting in 2023

Michigan football still has some work to do on the defensive line in the 2023 recruiting class and we analyze some of the latest information. 

Recruiting has been an adventure for the Michigan football program in the 2023 recruiting class and it’s been more challenging at some positions than others.

One area that has seen its share of fluctuations has been the defensive line. The Wolverines have had three-star D-lineman Brooks Bahr committed for quite a while, but all three edge rushers pledged this month and the focus has now turned to the interior.

For what it’s worth, Michigan football got an incredible haul of edge rushers (they still need to sign them) but Enow Etta, Collins Acheampong, and Aymeric Koumba all have incredible upside. Koumba also recently got a rankings update.

So you have to feel good about the commitments at EDGE. However, the Wolverines need to add some bigger bodies to the interior.

They did well with that in the 2022 recruiting class, and just this week, Kenneth Grant and Mason Graham, two DT signees from the last cycle have gotten praise as guys who could play early — not something that’s easy to do at Michigan.

Michigan doesn’t have a true 300-pounder committed in this class on the defensive side of the ball and the Wolverines have missed (or will miss) out on some D-line targets, such as My’Keil Gardner who was trending to U-M, but now looks headed to Oregon.

Another top target won’t make BBQ

Another name though is Kayden McDonald, a four-star defensive tackle out of Georgia. The Wolverines are the slight leader over in-state Georgia right now according to the On3 prediction machine. McDonald was supposed to be at the recruiting BBQ this weekend, but EJ Holland of The Wolverine (subscription required) has reported he won’t make it.

Yet, it sounds like a scheduling conflict and nothing more. The 6-foot-2, 325-pounder has visited Michigan football three times, including an official visit.

The Bulldogs have hosted him once and it’s not clear how hard Georgia is pushing for him. Michigan State also received an official visit as did Florida.

Xzavier McLeod, another four-star who is 6-foot-4, 325 out of Camden, South Carolina, has said he will announce a top three and a decision in a few weeks according to his Twitter account.

Michigan is in the mix here, but South Carolina feels like the favorite. The Wolverines could crack the top three but McDonald still feels like the most realistic of all three options and depending on how many Michigan wants to take, the board could be expanded.