
LOOK: Michigan football WR commit Jaylen Pile makes impressive grab in 7-on-7
LOOK: Michigan football WR commit Jaylen Pile makes impressive grab in 7-on-7
Michigan football has just three commitments in the 2026 class at this juncture with a cornerback, an offensive lineman, and a wide receiver pledged. Recruiting is heating up with spring visits on the horizon as the Wolverines begin spring ball in a matter of days (March 18) but one current maize and blue commitment is making a name for himself off campus as he goes through the 7-on-7 circuit.
2026 Dallas (Tx.) Parish Episcopal School three-star wide receiver Jaylen Pile has been pledged to the Wolverines since Oct. 16. 2024 but on Saturday, he's participating in the Overtime 7-on-7. On3 recruiting and scouting guru Steve Wiltfong happens to be on-hand and captured a moment where Pile managed to high point a throw in the end zone, showing off his impressive ability.
Pile is rated by the On3 Industry Ranking as the No. 615 player in the country, regardless of position. He's rated highest by Rivals which has him as a four-star at No. 217 overall and the ninth-best wide receiver in the country. He's listed at 6-feet, 178 pounds.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Fox News
2 hours ago
- Fox News
Za'Darius Smith: 'Hopefully,' I'm back with the Detroit Lions
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith remains a free agent, but, in the end, he wants to be back with the team that he went to the playoffs with last season, that being the Detroit Lions — who cut him in March. "Hopefully, I can get back to Detroit because the coaching staff and everybody in the front office are great," Smith told USA TODAY Sports. "When I'm there, I feel like a leader and like I can influence the young guys and do great things. Hopefully, I can get back to where I want to be in Detroit." Smith split the 2024 season with the Cleveland Browns and Lions, who acquired him at the NFL trade deadline after suffering a myriad of defensive injuries, including to star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson, a 2023 Pro Bowler. In all, Smith finished the 2024 regular season with a combined nine sacks and 35 combined tackles. Smith ranked 21st among edge defenders in pass-rush grade (76.5), 33rd in overall grade (74.7) and 85th in run-defense grade (62.8) according to Pro Football Focus. Now, should Smith return to Detroit, there are some changes on the coaching side, as the Lions lost defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn — who became the new head coach of the New York Jets — and promoted former linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard to the position. They also have a new defensive line coach in Kacy Rodgers, among many other coaching changes. The 32-year-old Smith, who expressed that he's focused on "getting a ring now and winning a championship," thinks he and Hutchinson could be a special duo off the edge. "I'm still a veteran. He's [Hutchinson] still a young guy. I can help him with a lot of things. He's already great, but as a player, there are some tools that I know that I can help him with," Smith said. "And there are some things as a young guy that he can help me with." Smith, a three-time Pro Bowler, spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens (2015-18), followed by a three-year stint with the Green Bay Packers (2019-21), one season with the Minnesota Vikings (2022) and a season-plus with the Browns before being acquired by the Lions during the 2024 season. Elsewhere, Detroit re-signed defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike, defensive end Marcus Davenport and linebacker Ezekiel Turner to one-year deals apiece, while adding defensive tackle Roy Lopez and selecting Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams with the No. 28 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Last season, the Lions went 15-2 and claimed the No. 1 seed in the NFC before losing to the Washington Commanders in the NFC divisional round. Detroit's defense surrendered 244.0 passing yards (30th in the NFL), 98.4 rushing yards (fifth), 342.4 total yards (20th) and 20.1 points (seventh) per game. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Michael Vick's Rebirth at Norfolk State is Starting to Turn Heads
Michael Vick's Rebirth at Norfolk State is Starting to Turn Heads originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The sun was high, the beats were loud, and Black & Green No. 7 jerseys were everywhere. Not for a Deacon Jones Award Candidate, but for a coach. The name across the back said everything: Vick. Advertisement The spring game at Norfolk State didn't feel like your typical preseason scrimmage. It was a movement similar to how Deion Sanders arrived at Jackson State. Bounce houses and food trucks surrounded William "Dick" Price Stadium, it was like a mini Essence Fest. Basketball Hall of Famer Allen Iverson hugged old friends like it was a family reunion. NFL QB Tyrod Taylor flashed his signature grin while talking ball with undefeated lightweight phenom Keyshawn Davis, a hometown kid turned rising star in the boxing ring. This all felt like a cultural reset. The V7 Era Begins Michael Vick was one of the most electric quarterbacks to ever touch a football field. Now, as the head coach of Norfolk State University, he'll look to make waves. If that sentence felt jarring, it's only because we haven't seen something like this before. A former NFL star dropping anchor at an HBCU, not for a quick PR splash but to build something lasting. Advertisement Vick wasted no time imprinting his signature touches on the program. His V7Sports media platform is an all-access pass to Spartan football, highlighting a behind-the-scenes look. It's part documentary and part recruiting tool with Vick's authentic, bold, and unfiltered outlook. 'Are we the most talented team in the country right now? Probably not,' Vick told the team. 'Can we be the toughest? (expletive) right.' From Prime Time to Purpose There's a gravity around Norfolk State football right now, and it's not just Vick's name that's pulling the program forward. It's the staff behind the former QB putting in work. Advertisement This is a coaching Avengers squad, built from NFL and elite collegiate DNA. Tory Woodbury (Special Teams) played eight years in the league. Darryl Bullock (Assistant Head Coach) won a national title at Penn State and interned with four NFL franchises. Izaan Cross (DL Coach) trained under Pro Bowl linemen in Buffalo. Terence Garvin (Defensive Coordinator) won an Orange Bowl and played six NFL seasons. Laroy Reynolds (LB Coach), a Norfolk native, lasted nine seasons in the league and won the Ed Block Courage Award. Dre Kendricks (RB Coach) scored twice in the 2000 National Championship game at Virginia Tech. Advertisement Tim Smith (WR Coach) and Ellton Brown (OL Coach) bring more ACC and NFL firepower. 'I'm confident I got the right staff to guide the ship,' Vick said. 'That makes it comfortable.' And that belief trickles down to the players on the NSU roster. Air It Out, Lock It Down Norfolk State's identity will be defined by tempo. Sheppard takes over as OC and brings a no-huddle, Air Raid attack with pedigree across multiple FCS programs. He's known for turning quarterbacks into playmakers. And with dynamic talents like Izzy Carter, the only thing standing between NSU and offensive fireworks is reps. 'Going into Coach Sheppard's offense takes some thinking,' Kendricks noted. 'It's up-tempo. It takes knowing what you're doing.' Advertisement But don't let the spread offense fool you. This team wants to punch you in the mouth. The defense, led by Garvin and Reynolds, is anchored in discipline and aggression. Preparation and minimizing errors are central to the culture. 'We preach that football is important,' Vick said. 'But the most valuable asset is getting that degree. Hopefully, they appreciate that.' Related: Fans in Disbelief over EA Sports' decision on HBCU's in College Football 26 HBCU Excellence Across Campus Vick's arrival made headlines, but it's part of a broader wave of success at Norfolk State. The women's basketball team has become the crown jewel of the athletic department, recently earning a No. 4 ranking in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25, and capturing their third straight MEAC Tournament title. They're also the only HBCU to go undefeated in conference play. Advertisement It's a renaissance at NSU and Vick wants to make sure football rises with the tide. Related: FAMU Athletic Director Angela Suggs Arrested on Felony Charges Over Alleged Fraud Legacy in the Making What Vick is building isn't just about wins and losses. It's about legacy and Culture. 'I'm trying to establish a program where ten years from now, the culture remains the same,' Vick said. 'The standard remains the same. It's a winning atmosphere.' Because this isn't just about resurrecting a football program. It's about redefining what's possible, if you put roots down. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.


USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
ESPN's future power rankings spotlight Michigan football potential with QB Bryce Underwood
ESPN's future power rankings spotlight Michigan football potential with QB Bryce Underwood Every year, ESPN attempts to look into its college football crystal ball to predict what the top teams in the sport will look like, not only this upcoming season, but in the future beyond that. With its future power rankings, ESPN predicts what teams will dominate the sport years down the road. Though the Wolverines were No. 5 last year, they've fallen -- albeit not too far -- in Adam Rittenberg's latest. In the current 12-team College Football Playoff era, Michigan comes in at No. 13, though Rittenberg notes that the future looks bright in Ann Arbor. 13. Michigan Wolverines Previous future power ranking: 5 Returning quarterback: No (thankfully?). Michigan needed a reset at quarterback after a dreadful passing season, and will turn to No. 1 overall recruit Bryce Underwood or Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene this season. (...) Roster management: Coach Sherrone Moore is starting to flex some recruiting muscle, as Michigan finished with ESPN's No. 7 class for 2025, boosted by Underwood. Michigan has been smart and selective in the portal, and its additions along both lines and at running back with Alabama transfer Justice Haynes will impact the upcoming season. Star power: There are massive expectations around Underwood, and his development the next two seasons will shape Michigan's overall outlook. The Wolverines return one of the nation's best kickers in Dominic Zvada, and defenders like end Derrick Moore and cornerback Zeke Berry should contend for All-Big Ten honors. Coaching staff: Moore has settled in after much of the staff followed predecessor Jim Harbaugh to the Los Angeles Chargers. He will be judged largely on the success of offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, who had no previous ties to Moore or Michigan. The team retained defensive coordinator Wink Martindale for a second season. There's more at ESPN about the roster, particularly along the offensive and defensive lines. Of course, Michigan is behind several Big Ten teams that outperfomed the Wolverines last season -- Ohio State is No. 2, Oregon is No. 4, and Penn State is No. 6. Will the rankings swing back in Michigan's favor should the Wolverines round back into form? Given the wild swing year-over-year, it sure seems like it.