Michigan trending for 4-star EDGE Lugard Edokpayi

Michigan is trending to add another blue-chip prospect to its class with National Signing Day right around the corner, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM).

The Wolverines were not in Bowie (Md.) Bishop McNamara four-star EDGE Lugard Edokpayi‘s top five schools when he announced back on Nov. 7. Michigan offered the 6-foot-6.5, 215-pounder that month and have quickly become the team to beat.

“It’s definitely exciting,” Edokpayi told The Wolverine after UM offered. “Michigan is a great, consistent team that’s been in the Top 5 in recent years. They do a great job. They produce edge rushers, which is my position. They have a great coaching staff and a great culture. They are good at football and have a great education. Those are two big things on my checklist.”

Since then, Edokpayi has taken an official visit to Ann Arbor, while the Wolverines’ staff has also gone in-home for a visit with the four-star. On Saturday, Michigan recruiting insider EJ Holland logged an RPM pick in favor of UM, accompanying it with a 60% confidence level.

Edokpayi’s original top five included Florida State, Texas A&M, Rutgers, Minnesota and Maryland. However, it’s Michigan that now has a 90.9% edge in the RPM.

Edokpayi is the No. 290 overall prospect and No. 29 EDGE in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. On3 ranks Edokpayi higher than other recruiting services, as he checks in as the No. 182 recruit and No. 19 EDGE in the latest On300.

Wolverines pushing for Top-15 recruiting class this cycle

Michigan recruiting has been quiet this fall. Only three prospects in the class have joined the fold since August. Earlier this month, Landisville (Pa.) Manheim Township three-star defensive lineman Deyvid Palepale flipped from USC.

As of Dec. 16, Michigan’s class consists of 26 commits and ranks No. 16 in the nation, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. The class also checks in at No. 4 in the Big Ten.

Edokpayi would become the third EDGE on Jim Harbaugh’s pledge list if he were to commit to the Wolverines, joining Brandywine (Md.) Gwynn Park four-star Devon Baxter and Ijamsville (Md.) Oakdale three-star Dominic Nichols. The class also includes four DL commits, including Cincinnati St. Xavier three-star Ted Hammond and Palepale.

The class is headlined by three top-100 pledges: Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller four-star running back Jordan Marshall, Charlotte Providence Day four-star quarterback Jadyn Davis and Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst four-star offensive tackle Andrew Sprague.

Four additional top-250 recruits are committed to Harbaugh and the Wolverines: Rochester (Mich.) Adams four-star tight end Brady Prieskorn, Austin (Texas) Vandegrift four-star OT Blake Frazier, Nappanee (Ind.) Northwood four-star cornerback Jo’Ziah Edmond and Bellevue (Wash.) four-star TE Hogan Hansen.