Bio Blast: Meet 4-star Michigan edge rusher signee McHale Blade

Four-star Chicago (Ill.) Simeon Academy edge rusher McHale Blade made his commitment official and signed with Michigan Wednesday. 

Here’s a full breakdown of his recruitment and everything you need to know about the high-ceiling pass rusher on signing day. 

The Skinny 

Height:
6-5
Weight:
255 pounds
Industry Ranking:
No. 342 overall, No. 33 edge rusher, No. 9 in Illinois

Recruitment

Notre Dame looked like the leader for the Simeon standout for a long time as he emerged as one of the nation’s elite pass rushers early in his high school career. After starting out his recruitment as a Top 100 recruit, he missed his junior season with an ACL injury. That did not stop a strong group of elite programs from pursuing him. He received multiple predictions to the Fighting Irish during his recruitment, but Michigan always loomed in the background. A couple of game day visits as a junior set up a surge for the Wolverines. Michigan leapt in front of Notre Dame and other schools like USC and Wisconsin during official visit season to secure his commitment June 9. 

He Said It

“It’s what they stand for,” Blade said. “Michigan stands for excellence. Notre Dame and Michigan were pretty close, but it came down to the relationships. I knew for a little while. But when I took the OV, it confirmed the thoughts I was having. I just decided to jump in and be all in. Why not? This has been a long recruiting process, and I’m ready to get back to football.”

They Said It

“His leadership skills, his knowledge of the game, it’s unmatched,” Turner said. “He’s almost like a coach on the field. And that big frame, he’s a nightmare to offensive linemen. I know that Michigan is definitely getting them a good guy in McHale.” — Simeon Academy head coach Sinque Turner.

Scouting Report

“I thought, as a sophomore, there was certainly a lot of promise. He’s playing primarily defensive end and showed athleticism on film, good size, and I think we just like the movement skills, his ability to make plays in the backfield and the projectable nature of his game.”

“Regardless of the incomplete evaluation, I think there’s certainly a lot of reason for optimism based on what he showed as an underclassman,” Power said. “Obviously, a big pickup for Michigan with him being a top prospect in Chicago and hotly recruited among regional recruiting rivals.” — Rivals director of scouting and rankings Charles Power.