The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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46 THE WOLVERINE ❱ JANUARY 2026 ❱ FOOTBALL RECRUITING should be a bit higher for Deck, who has some of the same attributes but is a bet- ter athlete. 9. OL Marky Walbridge NEEDHAM (MASS.) ST. SEBASTIAN'S Industry Ranking: No. 241 EJ's Ranking: Top 250-300 The Skinny: Has an impressive frame at 6-foot-5.5, 285 pounds. Flew under the radar af- ter not participat- ing in any major camps or events but put together high- quality junior and senior film in the best league in New England. Projects as a right tackle prospect who can also slide inside and play guard. Plays with a mean streak and finishes blocks with authority in the run game. Comes from a hockey and basketball background. Light on his feet, which allows him to win in pass pro. Can still improve and develop as a true tackle protector. May actually start inside be- fore moving out. Not as much upside as Lee but may be the safer take of the two. Reminds Me Of: Former NFL of- fensive lineman Connor Williams. Like Walbridge, Williams was a two- way lineman with an impressive frame, plenty of upside and a mean streak. While he finished as a four-star recruit, the services seemed mixed on him. The same could be said about Walbridge. Williams developed into a second round NFL Draft pick in 2018 after a stellar career at Texas. Williams is Walbridge's ceiling. 10. CB Jamarion Vincent WACO (TEXAS) CONNALLY Industry Ranking: No. 161 EJ's Ranking: Top 225-275 The Skinny: A tall, lean, springy corner at 6-foot-2, 165 pounds. Athleti- cism pops out on tape. A versatile pros- pect who is more of an athlete than a cornerback at this point in his develop- ment. Played a lot of quarterback at the high school level and shows the ability to make plays with the ball in his hands. Has fantastic length and upside. Still learning the intricacies of play- ing the cornerback position and will have to adjust to being in the sec- ondary full-time. Very slender and needs to add weight to his lanky frame. May need time to develop before making an impact. Reminds Me Of: Michigan corner- back Jyaire Hill, who was a tall, long corner with a thin frame and plenty of upside coming out of high school. Hill also played quarterback for his high school team and was more of a do-it-all athlete than a polished corner. Vincent isn't as explosive as Hill and doesn't quite have the track times, but the simi- larities are obvious. 11. EDGE Tariq Boney WASHINGTON (D.C.) ST. JOHN'S Industry Ranking: No. 671 EJ's Ranking: Low four-star The Skinny: One of the most pro- ductive pass rushers in the country as a senior. Was the Ga- torade Player of the Year in D.C. Has a re l e n t l e s s m o to r with an elite arse- nal of pass rushing moves. Plays with ter- rific power and has outstanding numbers in the weight room. Strong as an ox with a thick build in both halves. Uses that to his advan- tage on the field, easily overpowering bigger, taller offensive tackles. Has good athleticism with experience play- ing tight end and fullback. Very short for the EDGE position at 6-foot-1. Lacks length. Less than ideal measur- ables mean he has to be an anomaly, but it's hard to find a better pure football player. Reminds Me Of: Los Angeles Rams EDGE Josaiah Stewart. Like Boney, Stewart was an underrated recruit who blossomed at the college level after transferring to Michigan from Coastal Carolina. Stewart checked in at 6-foot-1, 249 pounds at the combine, which is where I expect Boney to be. Stewart was an exception to the rule, and Boney could certainly follow a simi- lar path in Ann Arbor. Stewart was a third round NFL Draft pick this year. 12. LB Markel Dabney RICHMOND (VA.) HUGUENOT Industry Ranking: No. 741 EJ's Ranking: Low four-star The Skinny: A positionless defen- sive athlete with experience playing e ve r y t h i n g f ro m linebacker to nickel to safety to wide receiver to running back. No verified t i m e s b u t s h ows excellent speed on the field. Athleticism is off the charts and can run sideline to sideline. Extremely com- fortable in coverage from his time play- ing in the secondary. Added around 10 pounds to his frame and is now closer to 6-foot-1, 220 pounds. Showed the ability to fill gaps and strike but is at his best when playing in space, making him best suited for the Will position at Michigan. Lacks technique and does not take proper angles. Still more of an athlete than a true linebacker but ceiling is sky high. Reminds Me Of: Dallas Cowboys linebacker Kenneth Murray. It may be hard to believe since he's listed at 240, but Murray was once a 200-pound po- sitionless defensive athlete who was undervalued by the recruiting ser- vices. Like Dabney, Murray played both linebacker and safety and had superb athleticism but was very raw. Murray surprised by making an immediate im- pact at Oklahoma and becoming a first- round NFL Draft pick in 2020. Murray is Dabney's ceiling. 13. CB Andre Clarke RICHMOND (VA.) HERMITAGE Industry Ranking: No. 229 EJ's Ranking: Low four-star The Skinny: Listed as a safety but was recruited as a cornerback. Only played cornerback as a senior. Showed the ability to be on an island and shut down his side of the field.