The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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48 THE WOLVERINE ❱ AUGUST 2025 ❱ COMMIT PROFILE BY EJ HOLLAND V ictors Weekend resulted in Michi- gan's biggest win of the recruiting cycle. The Wolverines wowed five-star Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga edge rusher Carter Meadows and his father, Mi- chael, on the late-June trip and earned a verbal pledge soon after. "The weekend went great," Michael said. "The highlight was a very exten- sive presentation on player develop- ment and a program they have called M Power. It was very comprehensive. It spoke to Michigan's approach with the boys as athletes and just as men. "It was nice to hear that it's not a four-year, it's a 40-year plan. Other schools have spoken about that, but Michigan had a very well-thought-out, articulate presentation on that." While Meadows, rated by Rivals as the No. 2 edge rusher and No. 5 overall recruit nationally, is one of the best pass rushers in the country, he also happens to be a top student at one of the nation's best high schools. The Meadows family has always stood firm about the value they are putting on education, and Michigan is obviously an elite academic institution. The U-M staff made sure the Meadows family had a chance to spend plenty of time with representatives of the Ross School of Business. "It was great to be able to ask ques- tions about acceptance, the curricu- lum and how football players with busy schedules deal with a very highly ranked, competitive school," Michael said. "It was great to hear that athletes had done it very successfully and that they are supportive and can help you set up your schedule. We also took a tour of the Ross Academic Center. They clearly have the resources, and they focus on it. "We know when you pick a school like Michigan, it's challenging. You want to make sure that everything is there for your son to succeed in aca- demics as well as on the field. Both are equally as important." The visit also allowed the Meadows family to bond with Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore and defensive line coach Lou Esposito. Both played big roles in earning Meadows' commit- ment. "We spent a ton of time with Coach Moore and Coach Espo in meeting rooms as well as socially," Michael said. "I thought Coach Espo did a great job of talking about how he sees Carter fitting into their scheme and what their expec- tations would be. He talked about how Carter has some of those key traits that made past players successful. It was a lot of detail. I'm learning football, and he broke down a lot of things that are interesting. "Coach Moore had to talk to a ton of different kids, but he made us feel like a priority. We got to know him personally. He's kind of a fun, casual guy. You are used to seeing him in coach mode, and it's nice to get to know him. He talked about his family a little bit, so it was cool." Overall, Michael sees his son as a fan- tastic fit at Michigan both on and off the field. "He enjoys being challenged academ- ically," Michael said. "He takes pride in being a good student. He wanted a strong program. He likes the tradition there. Do I think he will fit and flourish there? Absolutely. It was almost always a matter of fit as well as getting the best of both worlds — a highly competitive Big Ten program coupled with very high academics and a focus on the long-term success of the kid." ❑ Wolverines Land Five-Star Edge Carter Meadows PLAYER EVALUATION STRENGTHS: Carter Meadows is a tall, athletic pass rusher with freaky length. At 6‑foot‑6, 225 pounds, Meadows has a fantastic frame with the ability to carry more weight. Mead‑ ows is a high‑end basketball player who bends well when rushing the passer. He has elite speed, especially for a prospect with his height. Meadows is just scratching the surface of his potential and has one of the highest ceilings in the country. AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT: Meadows has never fully focused on football and is still a bit raw from a technical standpoint. He only recorded 2 sacks as a junior and didn't show consistency off the edge. Meadows hasn't quite grasped how to use his length to his ad‑ vantage, and he still needs to add more power to his game. A year in the U‑M strength and conditioning program will do wonders for him. MICHIGAN PLAYER COMPARISON: Michigan sophomore edge Lugard Edokpayi immedi‑ ately comes to mind when thinking of Meadows. Like Meadows, Edokpayi was a tall, athletic pass rusher with insane potential. However, Edokpayi didn't have elite technique and lacked strength and power. Edokpayi is still developing in Michigan's strength and conditioning program, and Meadows will need some time there as well. — EJ Holland Rivals rates Meadows as a five-star recruit — the No. 2 edge and No. 5 overall player nationally in the class of 2026. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND