McHale Blade is one of the most intriguing commits in Michigan’s 2026 class, and he could be in for a massive rankings bump if all goes well his senior year. Here is what makes him a high-upside cornerstone for the Wolverines:
Brick by brick, the Michigan Wolverines are filling out their 2026 recruiting class. The last few weeks have seen key specialists join the fold, as well as a few cornerstone pieces in the trenches. One such piece is four-star defensive lineman McHale Blade.
As Michigan takes another step at filling out its potential dodgeball roster (“Blade, laser, blazer.” ), let’s take a closer look at what the high-upside pass rusher brings to Michigan.
Background
Blade is listed as a defensive lineman, but has the versatility to play on the interior or edge. The Illinois native began his prep career at Hillcrest High School outside of Chicago, but transferred to national powerhouse Simeon before his junior season.
However, Blade has yet to play for his new school. He battled through injuries as a sophomore, and then missed his entire junior season due to a torn ACL. It is rare for a player to maintain a unanimous four-star rating with so little proof of concept, but the minimal tape we have speaks so loudly it drowns out the whispers of doubt. Not to mention, Blade appears to be well on his way back for a big season that could state his case as a five-star.
Michigan EDGE commit McHale Blade is ready for his return to the field this fall.
He’s 6-5, 245 pounds, and I think he’s going to have a huge senior season.
Shoutout to @CoachJForney for letting me stop by today!
His On3 profile: https://t.co/20WIJ1wLeK pic.twitter.com/uEWxnYdlzB
— Ethan McDowell (@ethanmmcdowell) June 19, 2025
Measurables
Blade is listed at 6-foot-4, 245 pounds, and appears every bit of it, if not bigger. From all indications, despite his relatively average length, Blade projects as a versatile piece who could move inside — with heightened focus toward gaining weight — or remain on the edge and play at a rock solid 250 pounds.
Speed-wise, there are no 40 times listed. However, Blade appears more explosive than fast, but does demonstrate good closing speed when pursuing evasive quarterbacks or chasing down ball carriers.
High School Scouting
TL;DR: Blade is a high-upside prospect with elite physical gifts who projects as a versatile anchor on an uber athletic defensive line.
Comparison: Charmander Chris Wormley
With only limited 2023 tape, it’s hard to grasp what kind of player Blade will be as a high school senior in 2025. At the prep level, it is common for players to rapidly evolve year-to-year as they mature on and off the field. With that in mind, this analysis is based on the player Blade was two years ago, as we try to understand why his star ranking has remained unchanged despite a lengthy absence.
As a sophomore, Blade immediately jumps off the screen and already looks like an upperclassman toying around with the JV team. He plays with good eyes and great hands, and is damn near impossible to sustain a block against because of his motor. Winning with more power than speed, it’s hard to understand how strong he really is until he slings some poor kid fresh out of geometry class five yards for making him take the long way to get to the quarterback.
Making his physical attributes all the more impressive is he is dominating with limited technique and leverage. Frequently, Blade stands straight up out of his three-point stance, almost like he has to make rushing the passer more difficult because good leverage would remove the sport of it from the equation.
Naturally, he will have to refine his technique and pass-rushing arsenal, but those fixes could already be implemented into his game — we just haven’t seen them yet. Against the run, Blade is stout and really difficult to move off his spot. Despite having limited length, he does a great job maximizing what he does have and allowing his power to do the rest.
Despite being a 3-D printed football player, Blade’s best attribute has nothing to do with his frame or even his game — it’s what’s above the shoulders. His mental makeup is why injuries have not derailed his recruitment and why his ceiling is hard to cap.
Already a high-profile four-star at Hillcrest, Blade could have stayed and dominated lesser competition. Instead, he is moving to 6A ball to challenge himself and further prepare for the college level. Moreover, Blade is already listed as a team captain for Simeon, so not only does he possess this drive for self-improvement and greatness, but it is infectious to those around him.
There have been several comparisons to Derrick Moore if he were to stay on the edge, but I don’t see the same ferocity or level of athleticism in his game. However, factoring in his size, power and proven leadership, he actually resembles a more accomplished former Wolverine, Chris Wormley. Albeit, a few evolutions away from the former team captain and All-American.
Expectations at Michigan
While the ceiling of a Wormley is evident, as is the potential floor of a Luiji Vilain. Depending on his senior year, Blade could come to Ann Arbor and compete for snaps as a true freshman, or be a tweener project as the staff decides if his future is on the interior or along the edge. However, given his quest for competition and natural inclination for self-improvement, expect Blade to trend toward the former as he closes out his high school career.