Wolverine Digest

Report: SEC school will push to flip Michigan offensive line commit

The Wolverines will attempt to fight off an SEC school that may try to flip an elite offensive lineman
Seth Berry|
Michigan tight ends coach Grant Newsome talks to players at a timeout during the second half of U-M's 30-3 win on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, at Michigan Stadium.
Michigan tight ends coach Grant Newsome talks to players at a timeout during the second half of U-M's 30-3 win on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, at Michigan Stadium. | Junfu Han/Detroit Free Press / USA TODAY NETWORK

During its sensational month of recruiting in June, one of the prospects Michigan football was able to reel in to commit to its class of 2026 was four-star offensive tackle Malaki Lee out of Hawaii. Offensive line coach Grant Newsome and the Wolverines staff were able to win the recruiting battle over other college football blue bloods such as Georgia, Texas, Alabama, USC and others.

While it was a great victory for Michigan on the recruiting trail, nothing is official until prospects begin signing their National Letters of Intent several months down the road, meaning there is still plenty of time for movement to be had with big time recruits such as Lee, even if they are committed to a program right now.

According to a report from Justin Wells from Inside Texas at On3 Sports, the Longhorns are expected to continue to pursue Lee as Steve Sarkisian's program is still looking for another elite tackle in their 2026 class.

"The Horns have to get another offensive tackle in this cycle, and they know it," Wells said. "They already have two—four-star John Turntine and under-the-radar, big-time prospect Max Wright —this kid's got a ton of potential. But they want another one. They only took one tackle in 2025, they've got to get another one. Malaki Lee and Zaden Krempin (Texas A&M) are at the top of that flip list. They would love to have either of those guys join the mix."

Wells added he believes the Longhorns were in a "great position with both" players back in the spring, but Texas being so zeroed in on Turntine and five-star Felix Ojo that it may have turned off a couple of the other big named tackles in the class of 2026.

The Wolverines currently have 21 verbal commitments in their class of 2026 and three offensive linemen, including Lee, Marky Walbridge and Bear McWhorter. Michigan's class currently ranks as the 9th-best in the nation, according to the Rivals Industry Rankings.

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

More Michigan News:

Michigan Football: Sherrone Moore says incoming transfer could be Big Ten's best

'Tipped Off': Connor Stalions issues forceful response to Sonny Dykes' 2022 CFP claim

Aaron Rodgers links up with Michigan's 2026 QB commit for workout session

Michigan's 7-footer looks like a problem in newly released video

ESPN: Michigan running back has one of the most unbreakable college football records

Michigan Football announces 'Maize Out' game for 2025 season

Published
Seth Berry
SETH BERRY

Seth began writing on Michigan athletics in 2015 and has remained in the U-M media space ever since, which includes stops at Maize N Brew and Rivals before coming onto Michigan On SI in June of 2025. Seth has covered various angles of Michigan football and basketball, including recruiting, overall team coverage and feature/analysis stories relating to the Wolverines. His passion for Michigan sports and desire to tell stories led him to the sports journalism world. He is a 2020 graduate of Western Michigan University and is the former sports editor of the Western Herald, WMU's student newspaper.

Share on XFollow berry_seth14
Home/Recruiting