The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MARCH 2026 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 43 2026 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY ANTHONY BROOME Four-star edge rusher Tariq Boney has a 6-foot-2, 245-pound frame that com- pares favorably to Josaiah Stewart, whom U-M turned into a third-round NFL Dra pick aer his transfer from Coastal Carolina. Could his career follow a simi- lar trajectory? A childhood friend of five-star signee Carter Meadows, Boney could be the lat- est in a long line of Michigan pass rushers who outplay their recruit ranking and put up big numbers. U-M's ability to develop pros at the position and its winning pedi- gree played the largest role in landing the nation's No. 345 overall player and No. 37 edge, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. Boney committed under the previous regime and cited his relationship with as- sistant coach Lou Esposito. With the de- fensive line coach staying at U-M under Kyle Whittingham, that bond will be able to continue. "It was just the perfect fit," Boney said. "They are all about culture and winning. They want to get better every day, 1 per- cent day-by-day. The fit was just perfect for me. I just locked it in and went ahead and committed. … Coach Lou is a teach- er. He's going to coach you through things and help you get better as a player and as a man." Boney posted 48 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and 12 sacks during his senior season at St. John's, along with forcing 2 fum- bles, breaking up 6 passes and blocking a kick. The two-way contributor made a habit of stuffing the stat sheet at the high school level despite a frame that is smaller than most pass rushers. The hope and expec- tation is that the production and intan- gibles far outweigh the measurables. "He's not 6-foot-5. We can't do any- thing about that," his high school coach, Pat Ward, told The Wolverine. "I think people look at size and those things, but there are guys who aren't 6-foot-5. Elvis Dumervil was 5-foot-11. People also try to project him and ask what he's going to be. I say he's just a football player. He went up against the best out here [at Under Ar- mour Baltimore], and he dominated. "It's a testament to who he is as a per- son. He has a chip on his shoulder. Per- sonally, I think he should be a five-star. There are guys who look prettier, but there aren't guys who are better football players." Rivals analyst Cody Bellaire named Boney one of the standouts of the Under- Armour All-America Game in Orlando, praising his ability to show flashes of his skill set during the week of practices and turn it on in the game when the lights were the brightest. "Throughout the week of practice, Boney flashed that same disruptive abil- ity during team periods, but quick whis- tles oen limited his ability to fully show- case his motor and play style," Bellaire wrote on Jan. 3. "Fortunately, the game environment provided the perfect stage for him to cut loose. With the freedom to play at full speed from the opening snap to the final whistle, Boney made it clear just how impactful and relentless he can be when allowed to hunt. At around 6-foot, 240 pounds, Boney is an under- sized pass rusher, but his polish and effort level make him a high-floor prospect." ❑ Tariq Boney's Size And Production Could Match Recent U-M Star Boney was highly productive at St. John's College (Washington, D.C.) with 20 tackles for loss and 12 sacks during his senior season at St. John's, along with forcing 2 fumbles, breaking up 6 passes and blocking a kick. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND TARIQ BONEY EDGE 6-2 • 245 ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE WASHINGTON, D.C. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE Industry ✪✪✪✪ 345 37 2 ✪✪✪ — 44 3 ✪✪✪ — 58 3 ✪✪✪✪ 196 24 2 STATISTICS Year Tackles TFL Sacks FF 2025 48 20 12 2 2024 56 — 7 — HONORS • Team captain as a junior and senior. • Earned PrepStar All-Atlantic Region honors as a senior. • Played in the 2026 Under Armor All-America Game. • Gatorade 2025 Player of the Year in Washington, D.C. • Named Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. • Two-time first-team All-Washington Catholic Ath- letic Conference honoree (2024 and '25). • Washington Post first-team All-Met selection (2024 and '25). • Defensive MVP of St John's High School in 2024. RECRUITMENT • Pledged to Michigan April 26, 2025. • Picked the Wolverines over notable offers from Penn State, West Virginia, Georgia and Texas A&M. • Recruited by former U-M defensive line coach Lou Esposito, now with the Baltimore Ravens. DID YOU KNOW? • A two-way contributor who was a running back in addition to playing on the edge. • As a junior, rushed 156 times for 1,897 yards and 29 touchdowns. • Also lettered in basketball for the Cadets; part of a state semifinal team in 2024-25. • Son of Douglas Boney (father) and Jaquita He- bron (mother), Kunta Bedney (stepfather). • Born Jan. 20, 2007. THEY SAID IT The Wolverine's EJ Holland: "Boney checks all the boxes except … he's very, very undersized for his position. … But Boney has ridiculous weight room numbers, is as strong as an ox and has filled out his compact frame. But again, the lack of height and length is concerning — hence why he doesn't get love from a rankings perspective. Can Boney be an anomaly like former Michigan pass rusher Josaiah Stewart? It's very possible." 2026 PROJECTION Boney is an outlier in terms of his size being on the smaller side, but his production in one of the top prep football leagues in America is impossible to ignore. He's polished, extremely athletic and could contribute early in his career after likely redshirting this fall.