Wolverine Digest

BREAKING: Michigan football gains athletic 4-star edge rusher to 2026 class

The Wolverines landed the 6-foot-6 edge rusher over South Carolina and others.
Trent Knoop|
Julian Walker X accoun

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Michigan football continues to land defensive linemen at an elite pace. The Wolverines had five linemen committed in the 2026 class -- including five-star Carter Meadows. But that number just rose to six after four-star edge rusher Julian Walker committed to Michigan over South Carolina, North Carolina, NC State and USC, among others.

Walker, the Irmo (SC) Dutch Fork prospect, chose to come to Ann Arbor for South Carolina, where his father is the Assistant Strength and Conditioning coach. Teaming up with Meadows and playing with defensive line coach Lou Esposito was too much to pass up.

Walker is an athletic freak standing at 6-foot-6, 252-pounds and the Wolverines could line him up wherever they wanted. Edge rusher is his primary position, but Michigan could choose to move him inside if it needed to on certain downs. According to the Composite, the four-star prospect is the nation's 197th-ranked player in the country, and the 20th-best edge rusher.

Here is 247Sports' scouting report on Walker:

Walker possesses great overall size and length that correlates well to the next level as a 3-4 defensive lineman. He has fluid movements to get past the offensive tackle from both inside and outside rushes. Chases the ball with a great motor and can turn and flatten down the line of scrimmage. Plays with reactive quickness and has a counter move. Walker has the strength and toughness to be disruptive against the run and make plays as a true 3-down player. Depending on body type and how he develops, Walker could potentially move inside on passing downs.

With Walker in the fold, here is a look at the Wolverines' 2026 class: (Composite ranking)

Edge Carter Meadows (72nd)
QB Brady Smigiel (83rd)
DL Titan Davis (101st)
WR Zion Robinson (132nd)
OT Malakai Lee (137th)
TE Matt Ludwig (160th)
DL McHale Blade (168th)
CB Andre Clarke (177th)
Edge Julian Walker (197th)
CB Brody Jennings (277th)
OL Bear McWhorter (401st)
DL Alister Vallejo (413th)
OT Marky Walbridge (447th)
RB Jonathan Brown (566th)
TE Mason Bonner (617th)
WR Jaylen Pile (735th)
LB Markel Dabney (807th)
Edge Tariq Boney (828th)
K Micah Drescher (N/A)
LS Colton Colton Dermer (N/A)

Enjoy more Michigan Wolverines coverage on Michigan Wolverines On SI -

More Michigan News:

Michigan DL coach Lou Esposito soars up rankings, a top recruiter in college football

Top Michigan football WR target Travis Johnson dominates at OT7 Playoff event

Social media can't contain excitement after 5-star Carter Meadows commits to Michigan football

The best of the best: Michigan football All Quarter Century Team

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Trent Knoop
TRENT KNOOP

Trent began writing and covering Michigan athletics back in 2020. He became a credentialed member of the media in 2021. Trent began writing with Sports Illustrated in 2023 and became the Managing Editor for Michigan Wolverines On SI during the 2025 football season. Trent also serves as the Publisher of Baylor Bears on SI. His other bylines have appeared on Maryland on SI, Wisconsin on SI, and across the USA TODAY Sports network. Trent’s love of sports and being able to tell stories to fans is what made him get into writing.

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