Signee Spotlight: Michigan DL signee Owen Wafle talks officially becoming a Wolverine, more

Three-star Princeton (N.J.) Hun School defensive lineman Owen Wafle officially signed with Michigan on Wednesday.

The Wolverine’s EJ Holland caught up with Wafle about putting pen to paper and what it means to be a Wolverine. Watch the full Q&A in the video above.

The Skinny

Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 267
Senior Stats: Recorded 16 total tackles and 10 for loss (stats are incomplete)
Industry Ranking: No. 45 defensive lineman, No. 444 overall
Interesting Facts: Father, David Wafle, played along the defensive line at Duke. Younger brother, Luke, is a 2026 recruit with multiple Power Five offers. Also saw time at fullback throughout his senior season. Wants to go into real estate after football.

Recruitment

Wafle gave Notre Dame an early commitment. However, Michigan continued to push and was eventually able to flip him from the Irish in June. Michigan defensive line coach Mike Elston served as his primary recruiter. Michigan tight ends coach Grant Newsome served as his secondary recruiter.

He Said It

“Right off the bat, Michigan told me they really liked my game and apologized for coming in a little late,” Wafle said. “They told me how great of a fit I would be. Coach Elston is one of my favorite people to talk to. He has the track record to back up what he’s talking about. He’s not an in your face recruiter. He’s laid back. He sees where your head at but doesn’t gun after you. He really likes talking with you. The main part was defensive fit, and I feel like I can fit in really well at Michigan.”

They Said It

“He is a shorter defensive tackle in that 6-foot-2 range, but he has elite arm length. He can out-leverage anybody and has long enough arms to play with anybody. He’s so fast and powerful. He’s a mismatch every time he steps on the field. You have to know where he is. He allows us to do a lot of different things. He’s the motor that makes our defense go. He makes amazing plays for us week after week.” — Hun School head coach Todd Smith

Scouting Report

“Owen Wafle is a bulldog, a guy who can take on blocks and be physical at the point of attack. He’s at his best as a run defender and plays at a high effort level. He probably projects best inside but we’ll see where gets from a weight perspective. But he understands leverage and plays with a high level physicality.” — On3 Rankings Director Charles Power