Michigan Lands 4-Star Defensive Lineman Alister Vallejo

4-Star DL recruit Alister Vallejo committed to Michigan on Tuesday night. He announced his commitment one day after 4-star Edge McHale Blade, adding to a star-studded recruiting class of 2026. Vallejo was heavily recruited by Kansas, Notre Dame, and SMU, but ultimately chose Michigan.

Related: Michigan football moves up in national recruiting rankings with latest commitment

Defensive line coach Lou Esposito took an interest in Vallejo and offered him a spot in the 2026 class just two months prior to his commitment. Out of Liberty Hill, Texas, Vallejo’s size should help make him a huge asset to Michigan’s D-line. He is 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds, and competed in track and field while in high school as well, maintaining his strength in the shot put and discus in the offseason.

Vallejo’s Highlights Make Him a Promising Addition to Esposito’s D-Line

 

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During the football season, Vallejo has excelled in both his sophomore and junior years, with steady production from year to year, and it’s likely he’ll continue to put out some hefty numbers for his senior season. His breakout sophomore season saw 65 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 10 hurries, and one kick block. By his junior year, Vallejo put up 51 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 16 hurries, and 4 kick blocks.

More: The Legacy of a Legend: Michigan offers 2027 DB Charles Woodson Jr

Analysts have compared Vallejo to Michigan legend and Cleveland Brown, Mason Graham. For the 2025 season, Michigan’s D-Line looks fairly strong, but many of the biggest assets on the line won’t be returning in 2026. As a result, and if Vallejo continues developing his skillset which has drawn comparisons to Mason Graham, he’ll have a pretty great shot at jump-starting his collegiate career right when he arrives in Ann Arbor.

Vallejo is the ninth commit in Sherrone Moore’s 2026 recruiting class, which has only continued to grow stronger over time, and the campaign isn’t over yet.

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