3 thoughts on the commitment of Jaylen Williams to Michigan football
Michigan football has a way of recruiting of offensive and defensive linemen. Those have been some of the top commitments so far under head coach Sherrone Moore and the Wolverines landed another on Monday in four-star defensive line recruit Jaylen Williams out of Palatine, Illinois.
At 6-foot-6, 265 pounds, Williams is an EDGE/DL. You see him play with his hand in the dirt and also standing up as an EDGE. There's plenty to like about his ability and he committed to Michigan football over Nebraska, Tennessee, and Texas A&M.
Williams was on campus for an official visit this past weekend. Sherrone Moore teased some good news with a post on X. It made sense that it was Williams and it was. Here are three thoughts on his commitment to the 2025 class for the Wolverines.
The Blue-chip ratio is still 100 percent
Michigan football might not have a top-10 recruiting class right now, but in terms of the blue-chip ratio which means the percentage of your class that are four and five-star recruits, the Wolverines are sitting at 100 percent.
I'm sure there will be some three-star prospects committed at some point. But anytime you can have a class with a blue-chip ratio over 50 percent, you are doing well on the recruiting trail.
Michigan football is currently at 100 percent in the 2025 class according to the 247 Sports composite rankings. Dating back to 2024, Michigan is 23/32 which is 72 percent. That's definitely good enough to win big if the Wolverines can maintain it.
Especially when so many of those blue-chippers come on the offensive and defensive lines, plus at quarterback.
Williams could be the next Mike Morris
When I look at the height and weight, then watch the highlights, I get definite Mike Morris vibes from Jaylen Williams. He's probably going end up being closer to 300 pounds than 250-260.
But you can have a bigger EDGE like Morris who was an elite run defender. He was also a very effective interior pass rusher. People seem to underestimate that skill set. Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant are so good at it, but most interior defenders aren't.
So if Williams can be effective rushing the passer from the inside and the outside like Morris, it will make him even more valuable for Michigan football.
Lou Esposito is doing work
You always wonder how a coaching change is going to impact recruiting. Mike Elston was one of the best recruiters on the previous staff under Jim Harbaugh. Outside of Jesse Minter and Ben Herbert, he was the biggest blow when he left.
Not only could Elston develop talent. The man could recruit. He was a really good evaluator but so far, Michigan football fans have to be ecstatic with Lou Esposito. Not only did Michigan land Nate Marshall, who is pondering a flip to Auburn, but now Williams.
feed
The Wolverines are in a good spot with some other defensive line targets as well. Esposito will have to prove he can do just as well on the development side of things, but he's done well in the past and it looks like Sherrone Moore landed another stellar D-line coach for the Michigan football program, just like it landed another solid D-line prospect in Williams on Monday.