Breaking down Jaylen Pile's commitment to Michigan football

Michigan football got the 2026 recruiting class off to a really strong start with the commitment of elite quarterback Brady Hart.

On Thursday, the Wolverines kept building on that with the commitment of Jaylen Pile, a three-star wideout from Texas. Pile is the second wide receiver pledge for Michigan football in as many classes as Andrew Marsh, a top-100 recruit is expected to sign in 2025.

Pile is 6-foot, 175 pounds. He's also ranked No. 492 overall according to the 247 Sports composite rankings. There were some expert projections ahead of the commitment on Thursday, but this came together quickly.

Breaking down Jaylen Pile commitment to Michigan football

Notre Dame, Oregon, Oklahoma, Penn State, Auburn, Arkansas, Tennessee, Utah, Florida State, and of course, Michigan were some of the most prominent offers for Pile.

The top-500 prospect in the 2026 class explained that the cominbation of a stellar educaiton and the chance to win a national championship was too much to pass up.

"It's a top-tier education and Michigan is the defending national Champions," Pile told The Michigan Insider. "I just really felt at home with the coaching staff and how they have produced NFL players. It checks all the boxes for what I'm looking for at the next level. Now we can get to work!"

The Wolverines class was ranked 22nd in 2026 before the commitment of Pile and that ranking could improve. Pile is an exciting player who caught 16 passes for 427 yards and five touchdowns last season. His 247 Sports profile says he ran the 100-meter dash in 11.9 as a sophomore, which isn't great. U-M will surely have its own times verified and they must be comfortable with it.

Pile doesn't play slow and that's a reminder that track times don't always translate to the football field. He does show a knack for big plays and averaged over 20 yards per reception as a sophomore.

The three-star receiver also gives Michigan football a weapon to pair with Brady Hart, who feels like a future centerpiece for the Wolverines. Pile told 247 Sports he got to catch with Hart who he called "legit."

It feels like Hart maybe got this thing over the top and over the next year or so, I'll be looking at the speed of Pile and if he can bump himself up the rankings before 2026 Signing Day.