Michigan Football picks up commitment from 4-star edge rusher

McHale Blade is a Michigan Wolverine, according to On3.

A 6-foot-4, 245-pounder from Chicago, Illinois, and Simeon High School, Blade is a consensus four-star edge rusher and top-25 nationally ranked at his position. Here is what he told On3 about his decision:

“From day one, Michigan has been a top school. They have the best of both worlds with the academic piece and the NFL development. The Chicago to Michigan pipeline is real. I know guys there and I want to keep that pipeline going. Michigan is where I want to be.”

Blade joins three-star edge Tariq Boney as the only defensive line members in Michigan’s 2026 class, so far.

His film is impressive as he looks like a man against boys out there. Blade does a great job of using his low center of gravity to leverage blockers and attack ball carriers. He is not quite big enough to line up inside, but he has excellent instincts and is a relentless tackler on the edge.

Blade is a huge get for head coach Sherrone Moore and defensive line coach Lou Esposito, not only because of his tremendous upside, but because of an aging 2025 core in need of youth reinforcements.

The Wolverines will boast a scary front seven this fall, led by seniors Derrick Moore and Jaishawn Barham and graduate TJ Guy on the outside, and graduates Rayshaun Benny, Tré Williams, and Damon Payone on the interior.

But they are not going to be around forever.

Michigan has excelled at developing defensive linemen over the last decade or so, and there is no reason why Blade cannot continue that lineage.

The Wolverines also beat out rival schools such as Notre Dame, Southern California, Wisconsin, and Purdue for Blade’s services. This program prides itself on trench play (on both sides of the ball), and Blade has all the tools to become a marquee player for years to come.