Tag: Lugard Edokpayi

Two Michigan football signees make huge jumps in final On3 2024 rankings

It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. #GoBlue

It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish. And in recruiting, though stars do matter to some extent, we’ve seen a lot of players outperform their ranking throughout the years.

In Ann Arbor, Kwity Paye, Ronnie Bell, Rod Moore, Zak Zinter, Mike Barrett and plenty others were three-star recruits, yet they ended up playing like five-stars for the Wolverines. Thus, when people look at the recruiting rankings, it may sometimes seem underwhelming for Michigan football, but identification and development and key.

The maize and blue apparently did a good job of identifying talent in the not-so-heralded 2024 class as two players have made meteoric rises in the final On3 rankings indicating that the Wolverines did an excellent job of scouting.

The now-highest-rated player in 2024 for Michigan is an edge rusher who committed on early signing day in December. Lugard Edokpayi from Bowie (Md.) Bishop McNamara was rated a four-star, but moved up 142 spots from 182 to No. 40 overall — just eight spots below five-star range, in the final On3 rankings. He’s considered the biggest riser in the latest release.

Lugard Edokpayi has an argument for having one of the highest upsides among the pass-rushers and EDGE prospects. He’s a guy who was one of the biggest late-bloomers in the cycle, didn’t receive his first Power Five offer until early in his senior season. He looks to be a big-time talent at the position. He’s over 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, has elite length and a big frame, I think he’s going to have no problem adding a bunch of weight once he gets in Michigan’s strength program and has time to fill out. He has a basketball background and it’s easy to see, he’s a twitchy athlete, a guy who can fly off the edge. Has surprising play-strength as well, I think he’s going to be a player who looks quite different after a year or two at Michigan. He fits the mold of the type of EDGE prospect Michigan has signed in the past — high upside, developmental types who might take a couple of years to add size, strength and experience, but his upside is a high draft pick if he develops like he has the potential to. — On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power

He’s not alone there.

When cornerback Jo’Ziah Edmond flipped from Purdue to Michigan in July, there was little fanfare given that the Wolverines were accepting a three-star over the ballyhooed duo Aaron Scott and Bryce West — both of whom spurned the Wolverines for rival Ohio State. However, Edmond is now at No. 101 overall after being No. 252 with the last rankings update (which made him a four-star). While he’s still below the OSU duo, he’s not too far behind West, ranked just 13 spots beneath him.

Jo’Ziah Edmond is such a physical player at the line of scrimmage. His length and hand usage in press man coverage is extremely advanced for a senior coming out of high school. Combine that with his instincts and ability to play the football in the air and you have a player who has a chance to develop long term and still make an instant impact early on in his college career.” — On3 Rankings and Scouting Assistant Cody Bellaire

If new head coach Sherrone Moore can continue the trajectory of the program, it will be in large part due to the heavy lifting that came with the classes he inherited. But Moore is also a part of that as one of the Wolverines’ most avid recruiters in recent years. And some hits earlier in the cycle that turn out to be blue-chip players could pay later dividends, to be sure.

Top five edge defenders signed to the Big Ten during the early signing period

Top five edge defenders signed to the Big Ten during the early signing period #GoBucks

The initial hype of the early signing period has died down, but there was a ton of talent to explore and so much so we are breaking it down by position. We have already dove into the top five quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive tackles, and interior offensive linemen to sign with Big Ten teams and now we want to break down a position that Ohio State has struggled in with edge defenders.

The Big Ten can recruit pass rushers and edge defenders as evidenced by the conference snagging four of the top 20 edge rushers in the class. It is a shame that the Buckeyes are not present on this list, but it is also more depressing that the Michigan Wolverines make an appearance twice, but  let’s now dive into the top five edge defenders to sign with Big Ten teams during the early signing period according to 247Sports.

Also, other sites may have some of the players assigned to different positions, but we’re just going by how 247Sports has them classified.

Michigan football signee makes On3 ‘best program fits’ short-list

He’s going to be a BEAST! #GoBlue

Michigan football had a solid, but not spectacular early signing day on Wednesday, with all 26 pre-committed prospects inking their pledges to the Wolverines. Not every team was so fortunate.

What’s more, the maize and blue managed to get another commitment in four-star edge rusher Lugard Edokpayi, who came on late and visited Ann Arbor earlier in December. Edokpayi has a lot of upside and many across the industry are taking notice.

You can count On3’s Charles Power among them. The director of scouting at On3 put together a list of the 13 ‘best program fits’ coming out of early signing day and the instant Wolverine made the cut.

4-star EDGE Lugard Edokpayi – Michigan

Power’s Take: “Michigan has made a living in signing and developing high upside prospects along the defensive front and Lugard Edokpayi looks to be the next in line. At over 6-foot-6 and around 220 pounds with plus length, the Maryland native has a big frame that should really fill out after time in Michigan’s strength program. He’s a twitchy athlete off the edge, drawing on his basketball background. Edokpayi burst on the scene as a senior after entering the fall as a relative unknown. Given his rapid ascent and strong play this fall, it appears as though he’s just scratching the surface of immense potential. With Michigan’s track record of developing these types of prospects, I’m willing to bet Edokpayi becomes a difference-maker for the Wolverines.”

What will be interesting to see is the role strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert plays in developing the body of the young pass rusher. At 220 pounds, he has a lot of room to add to his frame while also maintaining his explosiveness.

While it may be a slight project to get Edokpayi into the rotation given his need for added bulk, there’s always a good chance he could show up in year one as a SAM linebacker and still find playing time.

Scouting report on new Michigan football commitment Lugard Edokpayi

Michigan football has landed its 26th commitment of the 2024 class with a pledge from four star pass rusher Lugard Edokpayi.

Michigan landed a commitment from four-star edge defender Lugard Edokpayi out of Bishop McNamara High School in District Heights, Maryland. 247Sports has Edokpayi listed at 6-foot-6, 230 pounds with a consensus grade of .9099. Edokpayi is the sixth-highest-rated commit in the 2024 class.

Edokpayi is a very high-ceiling prospect. He is incredibly long with a rumored 84-inch wingspan and has the frame to carry a ton of healthy weight once in college. Michigan happens to boast one of the best strength coaches in the country in Ben Herbert, so Edokpayi’s physical ceiling will likely be realized.

As a player, Edokpayi is still a blank sheet. There are flashes of excellence where he shows the ability to use his length to out-athlete offensive tackles, but those will need to be rounded into consistent and technically sound gameplay. Michigan’s staff has the opportunity to mold him into essentially whatever they would like. He will probably grow to occupy the same role as Braiden McGregor assuming he can add the weight to do so.

Edokpayi’s highlights show that he is not afraid to try out pass-rush moves. He had success with swim moves, spin moves, and swipes. A lot of pass rushers with his stature would rely solely on bull rushes and leverage, but Edokpay is willing to try stuff out. Is it the most fluid? No. But that’s secondary to a raw prospect like him getting at least a taste of implementing pass-rush moves in a game situation.

So how can Edokpayi turn his potential into talent? The first step is ironically his first step. There’s a lot of wasted movement in Edokpayi’s arc to the quarterback, and it starts at the line of scrimmage. He needs to focus on shooting off the line of scrimmage and getting upfield before he stands up and exposes his chest to the offensive line. Players with his rare length that can develop an elite get-off are often highly sought-after prospects and taken in the first round of the NFL draft.

Next, he will need to fix his anchor in the run game. Even his highlights show that his base is pretty moveable and he mostly relies on his athleticism to recover and get back in the play. Learning how to get violent with his hands to set the edge and collapse against the run is crucial for success in the Big Ten.

Edokpayi is a huge land. Though he may not contribute instantly like Derrick Moore, he and fellow 2024 commit Devon Baxter have the potential to be game wreckers in Ann Arbor. Michigan has a proven history of edge development, and these two should be no different.

Michigan football adds a four-star EDGE on early signing day

HUGE pickup on early signing day! #GoBlue

Michigan football wasn’t expecting many fireworks on early signing day, but it got just the one it was hoping to see.

There weren’t a lot of prospects that the maize and blue were targeting that were uncommitted 2024 recruits. But after the Big Ten Championship Game and before early signing day, the Wolverines hosted Bowie (Md.) Bishop McNamara edge rusher Lugard Edokpayi and soon after, Michigan started receiving 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions that it would land the 6-foot-6.5, 215-pound pass rush specialist.

Amid the flurry of national letter of intent faxes coming in, Edokpayi made his decision, officially committing to the Wolverines on Wednesday afternoon.

Maryland and Rutgers appeared to be the primary competition, but Edokpayi also had offers from Florida State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Minnesota, Michigan State, and others.

He’s rated the No. 169 player in the country per 247Sports.

Predictions coming in for 2024 Michigan football EDGE target

Would be a great addition to the class! #GoBlue

Edge rusher has been an odd position for Michigan football in the 2024 recruiting cycle. The Wolverines have seen a lot of players come and go, while others who remain in the class have flirted with other schools in the process.

Of current, the Wolverines have four-stars Devon Baxter and Jaden Smith, as well as three-stars Owen Wafle and Dominic Nichols pledged. Four-stars Jacob Smith and Elias Rudolph were previously committed, but flipped to Kentucky and Miami, respectively.

Now the maize and blue have their sights set on another four-star edge rusher in 2024 District Heights (Md.) Bishop McNamara’s Lugard Edokpayi. Boasting offers from Maryland and Rutgers (his other top choices) as well as Florida State, Michigan State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Wisconsin and others, the Wolverines are apparently in the pole position for his services.

Three predictions have come in recently, one from 247Sports’ Brice Marich and two more from On3’s EJ Holland and Zach Libby.

On3 is the highest on Edokpayi, listing him as the No. 182 player in the 2024 recruiting cycle and the 19th-best edge rusher in the class. He visited Ann Arbor just this past week, thus building the buzz that he’ll end up a Wolverine.

Early signing day is fast approaching with Wednesday being the first day that 2024 prospects can solidify their pledges by sending in their national letter of intent.

Recruiting insider: What 4-star recruit is visiting Rutgers football this weekend?

Rutgers football is hosting an impressive recruit for an official visit this weekend.

Lugard Edokpayi is taking an official visit to Rutgers football this weekend. This fall, Edokpayi emerged as one of the top recruits in the region, and Rutgers is squarely in the mix for the talented edge rusher.

In mid-November, Edokpayi announced a final five of  Florida State, Maryland, Michigan State and Texas A&M as well as Rutgers. An hour after his list dropped Michigan offered and they appear to be in the mix for the talented prospect from Maryland.

He could potentially join a strong Rutgers football class that includes several four-star recruits in K.J. Duff, Kaj Sanders, Antonio White and Gabriel Winowich.

A class of 2024 defensive end, Edokpayi has great measurables and checks in at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds. He plays for Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Maryland) and is a four-star according to ESPN as well as On3, where is the No. 28 edge rusher in the nation.

Edokpayi was on the Rutgers campus in early November, where he took an unofficial visit for a 35-16 loss to No. 1 Ohio State. In the loss, Edokpayi said he saw a lot of potential in Rutgers.

“The Rutgers visit was great,” Edokpayi told Rutgers Wire after his visit. “Got to watch the game and talk to some of the coaches.

“Got to talk to (the) head coach and it was a great trip.”

Edokpayi plans to commit some time in December and enroll in January.

Will 4-star Lugard Edokpayi visit Michigan for an official visit?

Lugard Edokpayi talks offer from Michigan, official visit plans.

Lugard Edokpayi has very quietly become one of the top uncommitted players in the nation. The Maryland standout defensive lineman has an impressive offer list with an equally impressive list of official visits lined up. But will Michigan football, the most recent school to offer, get an official visit.

Last week, Edokpayi announced a top five of Florida State, Maryland, Michigan State, Rutgers and Texas A&M. One hour after his announcement, Michigan offered.

Incredibly athletic and long, Edokpayi is 6-foot-5 and 225-pound defensive end at Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Maryland). He is a four-star recruit according to ESPN.

The Wolverines have the potential to be a game-changer in his recruitment. While Edokpayi hasn’t updated his top five – or expanded it officially into a top six – it definitely appears that the Michigan is trending well with him.

“I’m definitely excited about Michigan,” Edokpayi told USA TODAY High School Sports this week.

“They’re a great football program so I’m definitely open to them.”

The message from the Wolverines, he said, was simple.

“(That) I’m a great player and they can see me doing big things with the right guidance and help,” Edokpayi said.

“Get me to the next level and talked to me about a little bit of their culture.”

This weekend, Edokpayi will be visiting Minnesota. After that, he will be at Rutgers in the first weekend of December followed by Texas A&M. He plans on visiting Michigan and Florida State after that.

Two weeks ago, he visited Rutgers for their 35-16 loss to No. 1 Ohio State. Edokpayi was impressed with the direction of the program under Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano.

“They made the cut because they were straightforward from the get-go,” Edokpayi said.

“Coach Schiano is a great coach and the way he talks, I respect him.”

Lugard Edokpayi, a 4-star defensive end, breaks down his top five, why Rutgers football made the cut

Lugard Edokpayi talks about why Rutgers football made his final cutdown.

Lugard Edokpayi announced his final five last week, with Rutgers football making the cut.

A class of 2024 defensive end, Edokpayi is physically impressive at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds. He plays for Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Maryland) and is a four-star according to ESPN.

On3 also ranks him as a four-star and the No. 28 edge rusher in the nation.

Last week, Edokpayi was at SHI Stadium to see Rutgers football battle No. 1 Ohio State. Rutgers held a halftime lead before ultimately losing 35-16.

The visit made an impression on Edokpayi, and he plans on taking an official visit to Rutgers. No date is set up for Rutgers yet.

“The Rutgers visit was great,” Edokpayi told Rutgers Wire. “Got to watch the game and talk to some of the coaches.

“Got to talk to (the) head coach and it was a great trip.”

His final five countdown includes Florida State, Maryland, Michigan State and Texas A&M as well as Rutgers. Michigan, who offered shortly after he announced his final five, appear to very much be in the mix as well.

[lawrence-related id=31972,31950]

As for Rutgers, Edokpayi said that the Scarlet Knights made a move last week following his visit to the program.

“They made the cut because they were straightforward from the get-go,” Edokpayi said.

“Coach Schiano is a great coach and the way he talks, I respect him.”

He plans on taking official visits that will also include Texas A&M, Michigan and Ohio State.

2024 4-Star Edge out of Maryland places Texas A&M in his Top 5

2024 4-Star Edge Lugard Edokpayi has included Texas A&M in his Top 5 program list ahead of his commitment.

Texas A&M’s 2023 season may not be going as planned. Still, no one can deny that the Aggies’ 15th-ranked defense, aided by their ferocious pass rush (34 sacks), has kept the team in nearly every game this season, solely responsible for several victories.

While the topic of head coach Jimbo Fisher’s future likely leaves some Aggie fans feeling uninspired, his steadfast recruiting prowess is still impressive. With this year’s pass rush living up to its potential under second-year defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin, one of the more underrated 2024 defensive ends has included A&M in his Top 5 program list.

Earlier this week, 2024 four-star edge Lugard Edokpayi narrowed his collegiate destinations to single digits, as Rutgers, Minnesota, Marland, Florida State, and Texas A&M have made the cut,

Listed at 6-6 and 215 pounds, Edokpayi, amid his senior season at Bishop McNamara (MD), is a highly athletic prospect, playing at both defensive end and wide receiver while also playing basketball as a forward in the football offseason.

According to On3, Edokpayi is the 28th-ranked Edge in the 2024 class and the 9th-ranked player in Maryland.

Under Jimbo Fisher, fans remember current Las Vegas Raider Tyree Wilson, who became one of the best pass rushers in the county after transferring to Texas Tech. Without making a direct comparison, Edokpayi’s length, explosiveness, and enhanced footwork due to his time as a wide receiver have been missing on the edge for several years.

After visiting Rutgers during the matchup with Ohio State last weekend, Fisher and his staff have been communicating with the young star. In contrast, a visit to College Station is likely in the planning stages.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.