In a 48-hour span, Michigan landed two defensive line commitments — both previously trending toward or committed to Notre Dame. McHale Blade, a four-star EDGE from Chicago, and Alister Vallejo, a three-star DT out of Texas, are now both headed to Ann Arbor.
It’s a brutal stretch for Notre Dame’s staff, which had been gaining steam this summer with a strong June visit slate. Michigan’s quick strike flipped that narrative and dealt a direct blow to Marcus Freeman’s defensive recruiting efforts.
🧱 Who Did Michigan Land?
- McHale Blade: 6′4″, 245 lbs EDGE from Mt. Carmel (IL). On300 prospect, top 20 at his position nationally. Originally seen as a heavy Notre Dame lean.
- Alister Vallejo: 6′3″, 310 lbs DT from Red Oak (TX). Not as highly ranked, but offers versatility and interior strength. ND had hosted him for an official visit just two weeks ago.
Blade announced his commitment Monday. Vallejo followed on Tuesday. Michigan had been quietly pushing behind the scenes for both, capitalizing on recent visits and strong staff relationships. DL coach Mike Elston was heavily involved in both recruitments.
📉 Notre Dame’s Defensive Class Takes a Hit
Notre Dame thought it had McHale Blade. It thought it had Alister Vallejo. Until it didn’t…
Michigan is whipping on the Irish this week and is well positioned to continue doing so in the future #GoBlue. https://t.co/h6BFiNaOPj pic.twitter.com/MDygn4RzXT
— “EJ Holland” (@EJHollandOn3) June 10, 2025
The back-to-back losses put Notre Dame in a tough spot. Blade was a longtime top target. Vallejo filled a need in the interior, especially with the Irish still needing some bulk up front in the 2026 class.
This now leaves Notre Dame scrambling for:
- Replacement EDGE prospects — including Dre Quinn.
- Interior DL help — possible new names could emerge following Irish Invasion and June camp evals.
- Maintaining momentum during June visits, with several more high-profile recruits on campus this month.
📈 What It Means for Michigan
This run solidifies Michigan as a top-15 recruiting class and shows real traction under Sherrone Moore’s full-cycle recruiting regime.
- It sends a signal to other Midwest and Southern DL targets — Michigan’s pitch is landing.
- Adds early trench depth to a class still expected to take multiple more defensive linemen.
😬 Will This Hurt Notre Dame Long-Term?
It could. Momentum matters in June. Notre Dame was expected to lock in several defensive commits early in the month. Losing two of the more publicly ND-leaning targets raises questions.
More importantly, it offers rivals a new pitch: Notre Dame can’t hold onto commits. That type of narrative sticks — especially in high-stakes battles for national prospects.
The Irish’s attention will now likely turn to Dre Quinn, a four-star edge out of Georgia. While Michigan may not be in the hunt for Quinn, Notre Dame will be battling against the likes of Georgia and Clemson for his commitment.
✅ Final Take
Michigan is making up ground fast and doing it by flipping prospects directly from major rivals. Blade and Vallejo may not be five-stars, but the optics are loud.
In a sport where momentum snowballs, Notre Dame has to stop the slide — fast.
