While there was a lot of consternation from Michigan football fans about the 2026 recruiting class just a week (or less) ago, that has to be dissipating at this point.
The Wolverines managed to secure a big commitment on Monday with Chicago (Ill.) Simeon four-star edge rusher McHale Blade spurning Notre Dame for the maize and blue. Just 24 hours later, the question was: could Michigan upset the Irish yet again with a commitment that was supposed to end up in South Bend?
On Tuesday morning, Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore put out the proverbial bat signal, indicating a commitment was nigh. And one target set to decide on Tuesday evening who appeared Notre Dame-bound might just end up in a winged helmet instead.
Alister Vallejo commits to Michigan football
Somewhat of a Mason Graham clone, Michigan actually offered 2026 Liberty Hill (Tx.) four-star defensive tackle Alister Vallejo one day before Notre Dame, on April 13. However, he appeared to be a strong Irish lean throughout much of the process. And, given that he has not yet visited Ann Arbor (his official visit is set for June 13), would he pledge to the amzie and blue sight unseen?
It appears the answer is yes, as he made the announcement for Michigan over Notre Dame and Kansas on Tuesday night.
247Sports is the sole service that has Vallejo as a four-star, while ESPN is the one recruiting site that has yet to give him a rating altogether. He is the first interior defensive line commit for Michigan this cycle. Michigan has two edge rushers pledged in Tariq Boney and the aforementioned McHale Blade.
Scouting report
The scouting report via 247Sports’ Gabe Brooks:
Verifiably big with requisite frame to survive and potentially thrive in the trenches at the high-major level. Checks multi-sport box with encouraging shot put data. Excellent production for an interior D-line projection with 18 sacks, 26 hurries, 5 kick blocks across past two seasons (sophomore-junior). Serious forward juice with impressive linear closing speed relative to mass. Shows promising redirecting ability. Moves around with some role flexibility in a primarily odd front. Big/strong enough to back up traffic, athletic enough to penetrate and make plays on the ball. Can get caught flat-footed. Still room to improve balance and body control i.e. eliminating wasted motion upon disengagement and pursuit initiation. Potentially scheme-versatile iDL with dominant high school tape against solid comp. Projects as a quality high-major D-line piece who could develop into an NFL Draft candidate down the road.
Vallejo checks in at 6-foot-3, 310 pounds going into his senior year.
Junior film
The 2026 class
Vallejo is the ninth commitment of the 2026 class. He’s the 443rd-rated prospect according to the 247Sports Composite and the second pledge from the state of Texas in the class. Using these metrics, here is the class thus far:
- Newbury Park (Calif.) four-star QB Brady Smigiel (No. 82 overall, 7th QB, 11th in California)
- Chicago (Ill.) Simeon four-star EDGE McHale Blade (No. 169 overall, 21st EDGE, 5th in Illinois)
- Billings (Mont.) West four-star TE Matt Ludwig (No. 220 overall, 11th TE, 1st in Montana )
- Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin four-star CB Brody Jennings (No. 275 overall, 23rd CB, 42nd in Florida)
- Cartersville (Ga.) Cass four-star IOL Bear McWhorter (No. 399 overall, 33rd IOL, 48th in Georgia)
- Liberty Hill (Tx.) three-star DL Alister Vallejo (No. 443 overall, 48th DL, 61st in Texas)
- Denver (Colo.) Mullen three-star TE Mason Bonner (No. 593 by 247Sports Composite; 30th TE, 5th in Colorado)
- Dallas (Tx.) Parish Episcopal three-star WR Jaylen Pile (No. 702 overall, 103rd WR, 113th in Texas)
- Washington (D.C.) St. John’s three-star EDGE Tariq Boney (No. 783 overall, 71st EDGE, 4th in D.C.)
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