4-star OT Malakai Lee narrows to four, visits Ann Arbor June 20
4-star OT Malakai Lee narrows to four, visits Ann Arbor June 20
While some schools prioritize skill position players or quarterbacks or edge rushers, there's one position in Ann Arbor that comes at a premium: offensive line.
Michigan football has built its identity over the past five years along the offensive line, which makes sense given that the current head coach and former offensive line coach and offensive coordinator, Sherrone Moore, played the position in college while at Oklahoma. Thus, the Wolverines tend to have a certain appeal at the position.
As of current, the maize and blue have one commitment up front in 2026 in three-star interior player Bear McWhorter. But they're in good shape with some of their top remaining prospects at the position, as recruiting is starting to heat up with the official visit slate set to begin next week.
A top prospect puts Michigan football in his top group
If time on task is proof of anything, the Wolverines have proven just how much they covet 2026 Honolulu (Hawaii) Kamehameha four-star offensive tackle Malakai Lee. Given that it requires 10 hours of flight time to get from Detroit to Hawaii, the fact that offensive line coach Grant Newsome has made multiple in-school visits to Lee shows just how much Michigan wants him to be a part of this class.
Those feelings are apparently reciprocated, as Lee included Michigan in his top four, along with Texas, Georgia, and Alabama.
The Wolverines will get the final opportunity to impress, as Lee will close out his official visits with a trip to Ann Arbor on June 20. He's been on campus multiple times, having visited for the USC game last year as well as coming to town this spring.
He'll also visit Alabama and Texas before making his way to Michigan for 'Victors Weekend.'
Scouting report
Here's the scouting report via 247Sports:
From a traits standpoint, offensive linemen don't come much better looking than Lee. He's all of 6-6, 325 pounds with verified 36' arms and an 85'+ wingspan. He's a fluid mover as well and has the feet, balance and frame to project as a tackle and could line up on either side, right or left in college. He plays a little hoops as well and checks off the multi-sport box for us. He uses his length well and has the ability to slide and mirror opposing edge rushers. He has added some physicality in the run game over the last year. He's putting guys on their backs more but playing with a more aggressive edge to him is an area we think Lee can still improve on. Saying that, he's an easy high Power 4 prospect and if he hits his ceiling, he will be playing football for a very long time.
On3 is the highest on Lee in the recruiting rankings, having him as the No. 85 player in the country, regardless of position.
Lee has been to Ann Arbor more than any other primary interest, having visited Michigan four times thus far. Other than Lee, the Wolverines are in good shape for other offensive linemen, such as Leo Delaney, John Turntine III, Felix Ojo, Darius Gray, Kelvin Obot, Carter Scruggs, Zaden Krempin, and Jax Tanner, among others. Michigan currently has the only prediction for Lee via the 247Sports Crystal Ball.
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