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Social media explodes after Michigan football beats Notre Dame for No. 8 commit in 2026 class

Originally posted on Michigan Wolverines on SI
By Trent Knoop | Last updated Jun 10, 2025 8:52 AM ET

Michigan football landed its newest commitment on Monday when four-star defensive lineman McHale Blade committed to the Wolverines over Notre Dame, USC, Wisconsin, Illinois, and others. The Chicago (IL) Simeon prospect has great size at 6-foot-4, 245 pounds and he is ranked as a top-200 recruit.

According to the Composite, Blade is the 169th-ranked recruit in the 2026 cycle and the No. 21 defensive lineman. With Blade's commitment, Michigan now has eight commits in the cycle and he is the second-highest ranked recruit in the class. QB Brady Smigiel is ranked at No. 1, per the Composite. Blade is now the second defensive lineman to join the Wolverines class, he joins three-star Tariq Boney.

Following Blade's commitments, social media exploded. Here are some of the best reactions.

BREAKING: Four-Star EDGE McHale Blade has Committed to Michigan, he tells me for @on3recruits

The 6’5 245 EDGE from Chicago, IL chose the Wolverines over USC & Notre Dame

“Thank you God, I’m home
GO BLUE!”https://t.co/ad7M5s69rW pic.twitter.com/GGALd0Lre5
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 9, 2025

#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/IMkl7iZ6XN
— McHale Blade (@McHaleBlade) June 9, 2025

NEWS: 4-star EDGE McHale Blade has committed to the Michigan Wolverines. #GoBlue 〽️

Blade said, “Michigan stands for excellence.”

Full story: https://t.co/7F0uvfDAcy pic.twitter.com/oLE4GjRFyJ
— ChadSimmons (@ChadSimmons_) June 9, 2025

COMMITTED.〽️

Another one is headed to Ann Arbor. McHale Blade has officially committed to the University of Michigan! The defensive lineman out of [Simeon HS, Illinois] is bringing elite talent to the maize and blue. pic.twitter.com/s0GW1X2MX0
— BluePrintJay (@BluePrintJay) June 9, 2025

HAIL YEAH 〽️
— Jaylen Pile (@jaylenpile2026) June 9, 2025

BREAKING

Natl Top 175 4 Star DE McHale Blade has committed to Michigan!!! #GoBlue〽️ https://t.co/xxmRkx7jiV pic.twitter.com/An3eHVBhn7
— TJ Ronin (@Tj_Ronin) June 9, 2025

Didn’t expect McHale Blade to end up in Notre Dame’s class for a while now.

Wasn’t sure he was going to have a spot in the Irish’s class with other top DL targets getting on campus in the coming weeks. https://t.co/fRIFqUf8oU
— Notre Dame Recruiting (@NDrecruiting01) June 9, 2025