Wolverine Digest

Michigan football to battle Ohio State, Penn State for a top-3 prospect from New Jersey

The Wolverines will have to battle some familiar foes to land the coveted prospect.
Trent Knoop|
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Michigan football recently became a finalist for four-star defensive lineman Damari Simeon. The 6-foot-3, 275-pound lineman put the Wolverines in his final four, along with Ohio State, Penn State, and Texas. Simeon hails from Richland (NJ) St. Augustine Prep.

According to 247Sports' Composite, Simeon is the 202nd-ranked player in the 2026 class, the 26th-best defensive lineman, and the No. 3 player from New Jersey.

Simeon will take an official visit to Michigan on May 30. He will follow up his visit to Ann Arbor with a visit to Penn State (June 6), Texas (June 13), and Ohio State (June 20). According to On3's Recruiting Prediction Machine, the Nittany Lions are leading for Simeon with a 23.7% chance of landing him.

Here is a scouting report on Simeon via On3:

“Damari Simeon is truly one of the freakier movers along the defensive line we have seen this season. At 6-foot-2, 275 pounds, Simeon’s burst and lateral ability are off the charts. He is able to destroy blockers as soon as the ball is snapped but also has the balance and body control in order to work down the line of scrimmage if the play is away from him. His ability to play with such low pad level and get underneath blockers pads allows him to manhandle offensive linemen with ease and it allows him to basically live in opposing backfields on every down. He has one of the highest floors in the entire country due to his ability to displace blockers consistently.”

- Enjoy more Michigan Wolverines coverage on Michigan Wolverines On SI -

More Michigan News:

Michigan Football: CBS Sports drops Sherrone Moore in head coach rankings for 2025 season

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Michigan football: Bryce Underwood labeled a top-25 QB before taking a college football snap

For additional coverage of University of Michigan athletics:

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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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