The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1545685
D E F E N S I V E L I N E M E N THE WOLVERINE 2026 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 93 No. 46 EDGE and No. 13 player in the state of Illinois, according to Rivals Industry Ranking. TARIQ BONEY • DE Fr. • Washington, D.C. Ht.: 6-2 • 245 • Attended St. John's College and was a team captain in 2024-25. • Played on the edge and at running back. • Posted 48 tackles, 20 tackles for loss with 12 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 6 passes defended with a blocked kick and a touchdown scored in 2025. • Recorded 56 tackles with 7 sacks in 2024 and carried the ball 156 times for 1,897 yards with 29 touchdowns at running back • 2026 Under Armour All-American Game in- vitee. • Gatorade Player of the Year in Washington, D.C., in 2025. • Named Washington Catholic Athletic Confer- ence Defensive Player of the Year in 2025. • Washington Post All-Met co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2025. • No. 345 overall recruit and No. 37 EDGE in the country, a four-star prospect and the No. 2 player in D.C. according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. JOHN HENRY DALEY • DE Sr. • Alpine, Utah Ht.: 6-4 • Wt.: 255 • Transferred from Utah in Jan- uary 2026. • Appeared in 21 games with 11 starts in his career. • Credited with 58 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and a pass de- fended in three seasons. • Started all 11 games he played in 2025 with 48 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks with 3 forced fumbles and a pass breakup. • Named a first-team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and was a second- team AP and AFCA selection. • Chuck Bednarik Award semifinalist (2025). • Injured Achilles in November, ending his season. • Appeared in seven games in 2024 with 4 tack- les and a sack. • Spent freshman season at BYU in 2023, ap- pearing in three games with 3 tackles. • Father, Neal, played linebacker at BYU, along with uncles David Nixon, Craig Bills and Tay- som Hill. • Brother, Michael, played linebacker at BYU and Rice. • Attended Lone Peak High in American Fork, Utah. • John Henry and Michael run the Daley Foun- dation, a nonprofit providing extracurricular opportunities for children with special needs. • No. 643 overall recruit, No. 32 athlete and No. 8 player in Utah, per Rivals Industry Ranking. Year GP/GS Tkls. TFL Sacks 2023* 3/0 3 0 0 2024^ 7/0 4 1.0 1.0 2025^ 11/11 48 17.5 11.5 Total 21/11 55 18.5 12.5 * at BYU, ^ at Utah TITAN DAVIS • DT Fr. • Overland, Mo. Ht.: 6-4 • Wt.: 275 • Helped De Smet Jesuit High to the Class 6 state champi- onship in 2024 with a 13-2 record. • Posted 30 total tackles, 15 solo tackles and 2.0 sacks in 2025. • Recorded 48 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 9 sacks and an interception in 2024. • Had 34 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and 5 sacks as a sophomore in 2023. • Also lettered in baseball. • Began his prep career at quarterback. • Invited to 2026 Navy All-American Bowl. • Named a Missouri Class 6A first-team All-State honoree in 2024, along with Defensive Player of the Year honors. • Four-star recruit, No. 86 overall prospect and No. 8 defensive lineman nationally and No. 2 player in Missouri, according to Rivals Industry Ranking. NDI ETTA • DE Fr. • Keller, Texas Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 215 • Attended Liberty Christian High, coached by former Dal- las Cowboys TE Jason Witten. • First team all-state honoree on the defensive line in 2025. • All-district first-team selection as a senior and junior. • Racked up 68 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks as a senior in 2025. • Gathered 81 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in 2024, along with an interception, forced fumble and a recovery. • Began prep career at Covenant Christian. • Brother of senior defensive lineman Enow Etta. JONAH LEA'EA • DT Sr. • San Mateo, Calif. Ht.: 6-5 • Wt.: 285 • Transferred from Utah in Jan- uary 2026. • Spent three seasons with the Utes, appearing in 20 games with 12 starts, 42 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack, along with a pass defended and a forced fumble. • Started all 12 game appearances in 2025, post- ing 38 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack. • Appeared in six games and credited with 2 tackles during 2024 season. • Made two game appearances in 2023, assist- ing on 2 tackles. • Attended Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas. • Totaled 48 tackles, 19.0 tackles for loss with 8 sacks as a senior. • High school teammate of U-M junior running back Micah Ka'apana. • Three-star prospect, No. 1,047 overall player, No. 90 EDGE and No. 9 player in Nevada, per the Rivals Industry Ranking. Year GP/GS Tkls. TFL Sacks 2023* 2/0 2 0 0 2024* 6/0 2 0 0 2025* 12/12 38 2.5 1 Total 20/12 42 2.5 1 * at Utah CARTER MEADOWS • DE Fr. • Bethesda, Md. Ht.: 6-6 • Wt.: 235 • Attended Gonzaga College High School. • Recorded 62 tackles, 7 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and a fum- ble recovery as a senior. • First-team Washington Catholic Athletic Con- ference All-Conference selection. • 2025 Washington Post All-Met pick. • Recorded 33 tackles, 5 tackles for loss with 2 sacks and a forced fumble in 2024. • High school teammates with U-M sophomore defensive back Kainoa Winston. • Five-star-plus prospect, No. 11 overall player and No. 3 EDGE in the country and the No. 1 player in D.C. according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. • Michigan's top-ranked signee in 2026 class. ALISTER VALLEJO • DT Fr. • Liberty Hill, Texas Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 310 • Three-year letterwinner at Liberty Hill High. • Also lettered in track and field (throws). • Played on the offensive and defensive lines. • Recorded 62 tackles, 5 sacks and a fumble recovery for a touchdown in 2025, along with a blocked field goal. • Accumulated 53 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 8 sacks with 3 forced fumbles, a fumble recov- ered and 4 blocked kicks in 2024 as a junior. • Named Class 5A Division 2 second-team All- State in 2024. • Voted District 11-5A Division 2 Defensive Line MVP in 2024. • Rated a four-star prospect, the No. 194 overall recruit and No. 21 defensive lineman in the country and the No. 28 player in Texas by the Rivals Industry Ranking.