The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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40 THE WOLVERINE ❱ MAY 2023 M ichigan played host to On3's No. 1 overall recruit in the country this cycle in five-star edge Dylan Stewart. The Washington (D.C.) Friendship Collegiate Academy product took a trip to Michigan last offseason. This spring, however, Stewart got a more in-depth look at the program and came away ex- tremely impressed. "It was a great visit," Stewart said. "I learned more about the program than I did the first time. I got to see the cam- pus and talk to the coaches. "What stood out to me was they told me I could play as a freshman. They can use my versatility really well. I had a good time up there." Michigan has had plenty of recent success with pass rushers and can easily point to guys like Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo. U-M's defensive system also puts its edge players in a position to succeed. And that's something that really moved the needle for Stewart when he watched the Wolverines practice. "I like the way they use the edges," Stewart said. "They blitz and drop them. They do what they are supposed to do with a versatile edge. They use all their abilities and showcase that. I also like the defense they play in. They play in an NFL defense. "I can see myself there. Coach Herb [director of strength and conditioning Ben Herbert] is a good guy. He can re- ally get me prepared and take my game to the next level." Along with touring the campus and the facilities and taking in a practice, Stewart also had the opportunity to spend extended time with Michigan defensive line coach Mike Elston and staffer Dylan Roney, who works closely with U-M's pass rushers. "Hanging out with Coach Roney was cool," Stewart said. "We were bonding and talking. We played some games and talked football. He's cool. He has the same name as me. He's laid-back. He's also really technical. The stuff he does is different. It's like you are destined to be good with the things he does. "I liked the talks I had with Coach Elston about what I'd be playing. His message was they really need me and that I can play as a freshman for a big program." Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh also made a strong impression. "Coach Harbaugh is a good weird," Stewart said with a laugh. "He's just himself. He's really cool. We just had a regular conversation. He told me they really want me. We talked about foot- ball. His NFL experience impresses me a lot. He knows what it takes." Stewart has scheduled official visits with Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State. Michigan is squarely in the mix for one of his remaining two trips and will con- tinue to be a factor in his recruitment moving forward. "They are high on my list," Stewart said. "I like the way they would use me. I like the coaches. I like the opportuni- ties. Their education is great. The op- portunities you have there are awesome. When you're done there, you can have a great job and make a lot of money. It's perfect." — EJ Holland FIVE BEST MICHIGAN RECRUITS WE SAW ON THE ROAD The Wolverine football recruiting staff traveled across the country to see Michigan targets and commits firsthand at multiple offseason events in March. Here is a closer look at the five best prospects we saw based on their per- formances: 5. LB Kamar Mothudi, Los An- geles (Calif.) Campbell Hall — New Michigan linebackers coach Chris Par- tridge recently put an offer on the table for Mothudi, and it's not hard to see why. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder is ex- tremely comfortable playing in space and is a plus in pass coverage. He has Michigan is trying to land an official visit from Dylan Stewart, a five-star edge from Friendship Collegiate Academy in Washington, D.C., who is rated as the No. 1 overall player in the 2024 class. PHOTO BY CHAD SIMMONS/ON3.COM ❱ MICHIGAN RECRUITING NOTEBOOK Nation's No. 1 Recruit Visits Michigan