Tag: Owen Wafle

Owen Wafle, Ex-Wolverine

Rising second-year player Owen Wafle has entered the transfer portal.

Wafle was listed as a 6’2″, 298 lb. defensive lineman on this year’s roster. He did not play in any games. He was a 4-star, the #50 defensive lineman, and #445 overall in the 247 Composite for the class of 2024. Michigan flipped him from Notre Dame.

I gave Wafle a TTB Rating of 73 when he committed (LINK) and said this:

Wafle is not as athletic as [Maurice] Hurst, more talented than [Brady] Pallante, and perhaps as versatile as [Dan] Klecko. I could see Jim Harbaugh wanting to line Wafle up in the backfield on goal line situations and letting him make a linebacker or two explode.

Linebacker Jeremiah Beasley (Missouri) was the first player to transfer out of Michigan’s 2024 class, and Wafle is now the second.

Wafle’s brother Luke is a 2026 prospect with a Michigan offer, so this development may hurt Michigan’s chances there. The younger Wafle is a 6’5″, 240-pounder and he’s a 4-star, the #28 defensive lineman, and #221 overall.

2024 Season Countdown: #89 Owen Wafle

Name: Owen Wafle
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 280 lbs.
High school: Princeton (NJ) The Hun School
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Wafle was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 16 tackles and 10 tackles for loss.
TTB Rating: 73

Wafle was a flip from Notre Dame and is known for his quickness and versatility. He could play defensive tackle or perhaps defensive end, and I even threw out the idea that he could end up as a fullback. He has a younger brother, Luke, who is a top-200 player being recruited by Michigan as an edge player and a tight end end by various schools for 2026. Versatility is the name of the game in the Wafle household.

Owen Wafle is one of those guys who I could see working his way into playing time as a freshman. If Greg Mattison were still the defensive line coach, I would think Wafle would play early. I’m largely unfamiliar with how new defensive line coach Lou Esposito will rotate and reward his guys, so that’s a question mark. It would be a huge surprise for Wafle to make a big impact in 2024, but he could get a little bit of playing time to prepare him for 2025, when there’s a good chance that both Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant will be in the NFL.

Prediction: Redshirt

Visitors: Michigan vs. Ohio State

2024 PROSPECTS

Gatlin Bair – WR – Burley (ID) Burley: Bair is a 6’2″, 195-pounder who is committed to Boise State, who just fired head coach Andy Avalos. Bair is headed on a two-year Mormon mission after high school, so he will basically end up being a 2026 prospect. Bair is also considering Michigan and Oregon, along with BSU. He’s a 4-star, the #10 WR, and #40 overall. This visit is a possibility, but not set in stone at this point.

Zaquan Patterson – S – Hollywood (FL) Chaminade-Madonna: Patterson is a 6’0″, 185 lb. prospect who is committed to Miami. He’s a teammate of 2025 Michigan commit Chris Ewald. Patterson is a 4-star, the #5 safety, and #70 overall.

2024 COMMITS

QB Jadyn Davis
RB Micah Ka’apana
RB Jordan Marshall
WR Channing Goodwin
WR I’Marion Stewart
TE Hogan Hansen
TE Brady Prieskorn
OL Blake Frazier
OL Jake Guarnera
OL Luke Hamilton
OL Ben Roebuck
OL Andrew Sprague
DE Ted Hammond
DT Owen Wafle
LB Jeremiah Beasley
LB Mason Curtis
LB Zach Ludwig
LB Cole Sullivan
CB Jeremiah Lowe

Hit the jump for more.

Owen Wafle, Wolverine

Princeton (NJ) The Hun School defensive tackle Owen Wafle committed to Michigan on Sunday. The former Notre Dame commitment picked the Wolverines over offers from Boston College, Iowa, Minnesota, Rutgers, and West Virginia, among others.

Wafle is listed at 6’2″ and 290 lbs. As a junior in 2022, he made 64 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 80 grade, #32 DE
On3: 3-star, 88 grade, #71 DL
Rivals: 4-star, 5.8 grade, #15 DT
247 Sports: 3-star, 89 grade, #30 DL

Hit the jump for more.

2024 Recruiting Update: June 12, 2023

COMMITMENT

Princeton (NJ) The Hun School defensive tackle Owen Wafle committed to Michigan. I will have a commitment post coming up soon.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2024

Chillicothe (OH) Chillicothe tight end Tayvion Galloway (4-star, #11 TE, #247 overall) decommitted from LSU. With Michigan already having two tight end commitments, I doubt the Wolverines will get back involved here.

OFF THE BOARD

Olney (MD) Good Counsel center Kyle Altuner (3-star, #61 IOL, #867 overall) committed to West Virginia. I thought he was perhaps leaning toward Michigan before the Wolverines got a commitment from fellow center prospect Jake Guarnera.

Hit the jump for more.