Michigan lands commitment from On300 EDGE Julius Holly

Michigan has scored another big win on the recruiting trail.

On300 Alpharetta (Ga.) High EDGE Julius Holly committed to Michigan over fellow finalists Georgia, Ole Miss and Texas A&M on Saturday afternoon.

Holly made an official visit to Michigan earlier this month and felt at home in Ann Arbor.

“I had a great time,” Holly said. “I got to sit down with the coaches a lot. I got to spend time with the players and see how Michigan works and how I could fit there. It’s everything I thought it was going to be and more. The coaches really get down on a personal level and talk development. Obviously, academics are really big at Michigan. Overall, it was a great experience.”

Holly was a bit of a late riser for major programs, but he actually developed a strong relationship with new U-M defensive line coach Lou Esposito. The two are also both originally from New Jersey.

That connection also played a key role in the Wolverines closing.

“He’s known me since he was at Memphis, so he already knew a little bit about me,” Holly said. “He recently started recruiting me a lot. He’s really cool. I grew up in Jersey, and he’s from there, so we have some common ground there. As a coach, he seems grounded and leveled. He knows what he’s doing.”

At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Holly is ranked as the No. 25 EDGE and No. 236 overall prospect nationally, per On3. He is also ranked as the No. 29 overall recruit in the state of Georgia this cycle.

Michigan now has 13 commits in its 2025 recruiting class — Holly, Top 100 Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga defensive back Kainoa Winston, Top 100 Oak Park (Ill.) Fenwick defensive lineman Nate Marshall, On300 Fort Myers (Fla.) Bishop Verot quarterback Carter Smith, On300 Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy running back Donovan Johnson, four-star New Orleans (La.) Archbishop Shaw wide receiver Jacob Washington, four-star Palatine (Ill.) High EDGE Jaylen Williams, four-star Birmingham (Mich.) Groves offensive lineman Avery Gach, four-star Howell (Mich.) High defensive lineman Bobby Kanka, three-star New Orleans (La.) Archbishop Shaw running back Jasper Parker, three-star Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy offensive lineman Kaden Strayhorn, three-star Stockbridge (Ga.) High linebacker Chase Taylor and three-star Alcoa (Tenn.) High tight end Eli Owens.

The class entered the day ranked No. 14 nationally and No. 5 in the Big Ten, per the On3 Industry national team recruiting rankings. The Wolverines currently sit behind Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State and USC.