2025 Season Countdown: #91-95

 

Manuel Beigel

95. DT Manuel Beigel (RS Fr.): Beigel is a 6'5", 300 lb. German native who spent one season playing football in America as a senior in the fall of 2023 and then took a redshirt in 2024 after playing in just one game. We haven't heard much about him since he arrived at Michigan, but scouts raved about his athleticism when he was a recruit. If we're judging from other international prospects like Luiji Vilain (Canada), Julius Welschof (Germany), and Aymeric Koumba (France), it will take some time before Beigel is ready to contribute. With the depth on Michigan's defensive line, I don't expect Beigel to play much of a role in 2025. Last year's rank: #128.

94. RB Donovan Johnson (Fr.): Johnson (3-star, #39 RB, #477 overall) has had some injury issues in the past, which deflated his recruitment. He ran just 48 times for 257 yards and 3 touchdowns in seven games as a senior after missing his junior season due to injury. Now up to a listed 6'0", 213 lbs. on MGoBlue.com, he's going to be swimming upstream against a pretty deep backfield. Aside from surefire contributors Jordan Marshall and Justice Haynes, the Wolverines brought in C.J. Hester from UMass and John Volker from Princeton. It always seems like a freshman sneaks in for a pretty sizable backup role, but that will be a tall task in 2025.

93. OT Daniel Taraboi (RS Jr.): The 6'7", 328 lb. mammoth former walk-on played in one game last year, making an appearance on special teams against Northwestern. That's probably his best opportunity for playing time, where being a big body can help on a field goal protection unit without being super mobile. Last year's rank: #101.

92. DE Devon Baxter (RS Fr.): Baxter is listed at 6'6" and 240 pounds on the roster, which is still rather lean for an edge rusher. He has probably added some weight to that frame this off-season, but he has not been mentioned much in the discussion for playing time. The top four edges are expected to be Derrick Moore, T.J. Guy, Cam Brandt, and Dominic Nichols. I really like his athletic potential, but he's probably at least a year away from significant playing time. Last year's rank: #109.

91. S Elijah Dotson (Fr.): Dotson (4-star, #11 S, #131 overall) was a late flip from Pitt to Michigan, having committed to the Wolverines toward the end of November. He was followed shortly by #1 overall player Bryce Underwood, also from Belleville High. Dotson could potentially play wide receiver, where he also starred in high school, but he's starting out at safety in college. He seems to have flown under the radar a little bit, especially for a player who ranked #131 overall in the 247 Composite. That being said, Michigan has a pretty deep defensive backfield, so Dotson will probably have to bide his time on the sideline this fall.

2025 Season Countdown: #96-100

 

Davis Warren

100. OL Brooks Bahr (RS So.): Bahr is now listed at a respectable 6'5" and 319 pounds, but over two seasons at Michigan, he has yet to see the field. He came in as an oversized defensive end and switched to offensive line last year, so he's bound to take some time to adjust to that side of the ball. With some highly touted freshmen coming in, a couple transfers, and the other returning players, it's unlikely that Bahr will play a role in 2025 unless he's part of the field goal protection unit. Last year's rank: #81.

99. DT Ted Hammond (RS Fr.): Hammond, much like Bahr, came in as a jumbo defensive end who looked like a tweener on the defensive line. That's still the case now that he's listed at 6'5" and 282 pounds, because he's not athletic enough to play an edge role but he's probably still too light to play on the interior. He probably needs another year or two of development, along with some of the older defensive tackles to depart. Last year's rank: #106.

98. S Jordan Young (Fr.): Young (4-star, #4 ATH, #120 overall) was a late recruiting win for Michigan as the Wolverines flipped him from Clemson. He could potentially play nickel even though he was ranked as a safety, but it's tough for a freshman defensive back to come in and play early with the complicated defense that Wink Martindale runs. He's probably a few spots down on the depth chart going into the season.

97. LS Evan Boutorwick (RS Jr.): Boutorwick has spent three seasons in Ann Arbor and has yet to see the field. The obvious mitigating factor is that he has had William Wagner and Greg Tarr ahead of him, both of whom have been good players. Boutorwick threw his name in the transfer portal this off-season, perhaps in anticipation of potential roster limits, which did not come to pass. I have not seen news that he is actually transferring, but Michigan brought in transfer Dan Rosenberg, who has starting experience at Holy Cross, and Tarr also returns as the likely starter. Last year's rank: #63.

96. QB Davis Warren (RS Sr.): It might be surprising to see Warren ranked all the way down here at #96, since he was the starter for most of the 2024 season. However, he tore his ACL in the bowl game against Alabama, and Michigan probably has at least two quarterbacks this season who are better than him in freshman Bryce Underwood and incoming transfer Mikey Keene. Warren's season was underwhelming from a statistical standpoint (134/209, 64.1% completions, 1199 yards, 7 TD, 9 INT), but he did beat Michigan State, Ohio State, and Alabama as a starting quarterback. I would expect him to drop to at least #3 on the depth chart even if he returns to some semblance of playable health. Last year's rank: #29.

2025 Season Countdown: #101-104

 

Chase Herbstreit (#7) and family

Okay, so as I mentioned before, this summer has been an odd one because of some personal stuff going on. Because of that, I basically ignored the 2025 Season Countdown for several weeks and I've mainly just been trying to keep up with commitment posts and visitor lists during a busy June/July. As an attempt to catch back up, I'm going to do the countdown in batches instead of individually until I can catch up.

104. QB Chase Herbstreit (Fr.): The son of former Ohio State quarterback and current ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit, Chase (3-star, #149 QB, #2222 overall) was a late addition to the class of 2025. With Bryce Underwood and Mikey Keene vying for the starting job, the real race is for the #3 spot, which could go to incoming transfer Jake Garcia or redshirt freshman Jadyn Davis (or fifth year senior Davis Warren if he gets healthy). But Herbstreit will almost certainly be on the outside looking in.

103. C Kaden Strayhorn (Fr.): Strayhorn (3-star, #35 IOL, #518 overall), the son of former Michigan State defensive tackle Jason Strayhorn, came from IMG Academy and enrolled early. He struggled a little bit in the spring game, which is to be expected, especially since he spent a lot of time playing tackle in high school. With Greg Crippen returning as a starter and a couple other guys, including redshirt freshman Jake Guarnera, also getting snaps in practice, Strayhorn will probably be no higher than #3 or #4 on the depth chart at center.

102. TE Eli Owens (Fr.): Owens, the son of former NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens (just kidding), wants to be the next Max Bredeson. The problem is that former walk-on Jalen Hoffman also wants to be the next Max Bredeson, and Hoffman was the star of the spring game. Owens (3-star, #29 TE, #562 overall) is probably going to be a thumping fullback/H-back at some point in his career, but we'll likely have to wait for 2026 after Max Bredeson graduates.

101. DT Travis Moten (Fr.): Moten (4-star, #35 DL, #328 overall) is listed at 6'5" and 250 pounds, and he's headed for the defensive tackle position in college. Even if he has added significant weight since his senior season, it's tough to play on the interior defensive line in college because the musculature and technique just haven't caught up yet to where they need to be. Michigan rotates a ton on the defensive line and also needs to keep an eye on developing for 2026, because a bunch of seniors will leave the squad after this season. So maybe Moten can sneak in some garbage time snaps, but he probably won't play a significant role.

Jordan Deck, Wolverine

 

Jordan Deck

Frisco (TX) Lone Star safety Jordan Deck flipped from Baylor to Michigan on Wednesday night, less than a month after committing to the Golden Bears. Other schools who threw their hat in the ring were Auburn, LSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas A&M, and more.

Deck is listed at 6'1" and 190 pounds. As a junior in 2024, he made 42 tackles, 1 sack, and 12 pass breakups. He had 5 interceptions as a sophomore in 2023.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 3-star, 79 grade, #35 safety
Rivals: 4-star, 90 grade, #26 safety
247 Sports: 4-star, 90 grade, #25 safety

Hit the jump for more.

Marky Walbridge, Wolverine

 

Marky Walbridge with head coach Sherrone Moore

Needham (MA) St. Sebastian's offensive tackle Marky Walbridge committed to Michigan on June 25th. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Alabama, Boston College, Florida, Ohio State, and Penn State, among others.

Walbridge is listed at 6'6" and 280 pounds.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 3-star, 78 grade, #66 IOL
Rivals: 4-star, 90 grade, #14 IOL, #235 overall
247 Sports: 3-star, 87 grade, #64 OT

Hit the jump for more.

Micah Drescher, Wolverine

 

Micah Drescher (left, image via On3)

Hinsdale (IL) Central kicker Micah Drescher committed to Michigan on June 18. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Air Force and Northwestern.

Drescher is listed at 6'2" and 188 pounds. As a junior in 2024, he made 3/5 field goals; the makes were from 47, 37, and 30 yards, and one of the misses was blocked. He made 35/36 extra points, had 42/50 kickoffs turn into touchbacks, and pinned 10 of his 22 punts inside the 20-yard line.

RANKINGS
ESPN: Unranked
Rivals: 3-star, 80 grade, #9 K
247 Sports: 3-star, 80 grade, #14 K

Hit the jump for more.

Way Too Early 2026 Depth Chart: July 2025

 

Jyaire Hill (image via X)

The following depth chart has removed these listed players from the roster:

• QB Mikey Keene (graduation)
• QB Davis Warren (graduation)
• RB John Volker (graduation)
• WR C.J. Charleston (graduation)
• WR Donaven McCulley (graduation)
• WR Peyton O'Leary (graduation)
• WR Anthony Simpson (graduation)
• TE Max Bredeson (graduation)
• OL Greg Crippen (graduation)
• OL Giovanni El-Hadi (graduation)
• OL Lawrence Hattar (graduation)
• EDGE T.J. Guy (graduation)
• EDGE Tyler McLaurin (graduation)
• EDGE Derrick Moore (graduation)
• DT Rayshaun Benny (graduation)
• DT Ike Iwunnah (graduation)
• DT Damon Payne (graduation)
• DT Tre Williams (graduation)
• LB Jaishawn Barham (graduation)
• LB Ernest Hausmann (graduation)
• LB Jaydon Hood (graduation)
• DB Caleb Anderson (graduation)
• DB Zeke Berry (graduation)
• DB Rod Moore (graduation)
• K Dominic Zvada (graduation)
• P Luke Bauer (graduation)

It assumes that every currently rostered player and every currently committed prospect will be here in the fall of 2026, which is obviously not true.

Hit the jump for the depth chart.

Brody Jennings, Ex-Wolverine

 

Brody Jennings (center) with the late Bradley Jennings, Sr. (left) and Sherrone Moore (right, image via Wolverine Chronicle)

Jacksonville (FL) Mandarin cornerback Brody Jennings de-committed from Michigan last week and flipped to Miami. He had been committed to the Wolverines since July 28, 2024.

Jennings is a 6'1", 175 lb. corner who's ranked as a 4-star, the #24 cornerback, and #277 overall in the 247 Composite list for 2026. In addition to Miami and Michigan, he had taken official visits to Auburn, Florida, and Florida State.

Unfortunately, Jennings's father Bradley Jennings died unexpectedly toward the end of May, which was a big reason why Brody decided to stay closer to home. His older brothers Bradley Jennings, Jr. and Branden Jennings both played college football. While Bradley Jennings, Sr. played linebacker at Florida State, his namesake played for Miami and Indiana, and Branden (who was once also committed to Michigan) ended up at Maryland, Kansas State, UCF, and Mississippi State.

Not to make light of the situation, but it's not often that two brothers were both committed to Michigan and de-committed. I guess the closest thing I can remember is Ben Van Sumeren, who played in Ann Arbor before transferring to Michigan State, and Alex Van Sumeren, who de-committed from the Wolverines after Ben decided to transfer.

On the same day Jennings flipped to Miami, Michigan landed Georgia cornerback Dorian Barney, who joined Virginia product Andre Clarke, Jr. in the defensive backfield for the Wolverines. Michigan is still pursuing several defensive backs to fill out the 2026 class.

Alister Vallejo, Wolverine

 

Liberty Hill (TX) Liberty Hill DT Alister Vallejo

Liberty Hill (TX) Liberty Hill defensive tackle Alister Vallejo committed to Michigan on June 10. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Kansas, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, and SMU, among others.

Vallejo is listed at 6'3" and 310 pounds. As a junior in 2024, he made 51 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 16 quarterback hurries, and 4 blocked kicks.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 80 grade, #29 DL
On3: 3-star, 87 grade, #82 DL
Rivals: 3-star DE, 5.7 grade
247 Sports: 4-star, 91 grade, #32 DL, #204 overall

Hit the jump for more.

Travis Johnson, Wolverine

 

Travis Johnson with WR coach Ronald Bellamy

Chesapeake (VA) Oscar Smith wide receiver Travis Johnson committed to Michigan on Saturday. He picked the Wolverines over Georgia, Miami, North Carolina, Penn State, Texas A&M, and numerous others.

Johnson is listed at 6'3" and 185 pounds. As a junior in 2024, he caught 63 passes for 1,053 yards and 17 touchdowns.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 83 grade, #17 WR, #112 overall
On3: 4-star, 91 grade, #15 WR, #137 overall
Rivals: 4-star, 5.8 grade, #55 WR
247 Sports: 4-star, 91 grade, #23 WR, #173 overall

Hit the jump for more.

Julian Walker, Wolverine

 

Left to right: Titan Davis, Julian Walker, Carter Meadows, Tariq Boney

Irmo (SC) Dutch Fork defensive end Julian Walker committed to Michigan on Tuesday afternoon. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Auburn, North Carolina, North Carolina State, and South Carolina, among others.

Walker is listed at 6'6" and 252 pounds. As a junior in 2024, he made 44 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 81 grade, #23 DE, #235 overall
On3: 4-star, 91 grade, #20 edge, #136 overall
Rivals: 3-star, 5.7 grade, #48 edge
247 Sports: 4-star, 91 grade, #16 edge, #155 overall

Hit the jump for more.

Andre Clarke, Wolverine

 

Richmond (VA) Hermitage DB Andre Clarke, Jr.

Richmond (VA) Hermitage defensive back Andre Clarke committed to Michigan on Monday afternoon. He picked the Wolverines over Florida State, Kentucky, Miami, SMU, South Carolina, and Tennessee, among others.

Clarke is listed at 6'1" and 175 pounds.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 83 grade, #14 CB, #101 overall
On3: 4-star, 90 grade, #27 S
Rivals: 4-star, 5.8 grade, #32 S
247 Sports: 4-star, 92 grade, #11 S, #136 overall

Hit the jump for more.

Carter Meadows, Wolverine

 

Washington (DC) Gonzaga defensive end Carter Meadows (image via Instagram)

Washington (DC) Gonzaga defensive end Carter Meadows committed to Michigan on Sunday afternoon. He picked the Wolverines over Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, and South Carolina, among others.

Meadows is listed at 6'6" and 225 pounds. Playing in just six games as a junior in 2024, he made 33 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and 1 forced fumble.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 83 grade, #10 DE, #88 overall
On3: 5-star, 98 grade, #2 edge, #6 overall
Rivals: 4-star, 5.8 grade, #19 edge, #241 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, 94 grade, #5 edge, #34 overall

Hit the jump for more.

Markel Dabney, Wolverine

 

Markel Dabney (image via Instagram)

Richmond (VA) Huguenot linebacker Markel Dabney flipped from SMU to Michigan on Saturday. He picked the Wolverines over other offers from Florida State, Miami, Notre Dame, Penn State, Pitt, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech, among others.

Dabney is listed at 6'1" and 205 pounds.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 3-star, 79 grade, #10 LB
On3: 3-star, 88 grade, #54 LB
Rivals: 3-star ATH, 5.6 grade
247 Sports: 3-star, 86 grade, #108 ATH

Hit the jump for more.

Malakai Lee, Wolverine

 

Sherrone Moore and Malakai Lee (image via X)

Honolulu (HI) Kamehameha offensive tackle Malakai Lee committed to Michigan on Friday. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Alabama, Georgia, Texas, and numerous others.

Lee is listed at 6'6", 318 lbs.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 80 grade, #31 OT, #263 overall
On3: 4-star, 92 grade, #9 OT, #85 overall
Rivals: 4-star, 5.9 grade, #12 OT, #128 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, 91 grade, #10 OT, #137 overall

Hit the jump for more.

Zion Robinson, Wolverine

 

Mansfield (TX) Mansfield WR Zion Robinson (right) with Michigan wide receivers coach Ronald Bellamy (image via X)

Mansfield (TX) Mansfield wide receiver Zion Robinson committed to Michigan on Wednesday. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Florida, LSU, Miami, Notre Dame, Oregon, TCU, Texas, and Texas A&M, among others.

Robinson is listed at 6'3" and 180 pounds. He caught 42 passes for 527 yards and 8 touchdowns as a junior in 2024.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 82 grade, #19 WR, #116 overall
On3: 3-star, 88 grade, #88 WR
Rivals: 4-star, 5.9 grade, #18 WR, #130 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, 93 grade, #6 WR, #71 overall

Hit the jump for more.

Site News: What's Going On?

 

If you're still visiting TTB, you're most likely a loyal reader. And I appreciate it.

For the past few weeks, I have been producing less on the blog than I probably ever have. And there's a reason for that. It's not just a coincidence.

I don't want to go into too many details, but unfortunately, I have a close family member who has an addiction problem that has created a great deal of personal and financial woes. I'm somebody who tries to learn about problems and fix things, which has led me to dive deep into researching, reading, watching videos, listening to podcasts, etc. about addiction.

I was already stretched pretty thin because I've had my primary job while always juggling coaching, side gigs, writing, etc. The blog has always been my third- or fourth-biggest source of income, so I have to treat it as the third- or fourth-biggest professional priority.

I'm still updating the recruiting boards and watching film, but to be honest, it's tough to focus on the more elaborate pieces that I used to enjoy putting together so much - the scouting reports, the film breakdowns, the hypothetical scenarios, etc.

Go Blue.

Visitors: June 13-15, 2025

 

Tony Alford and Savion Hiter (image via X)

2026

Ben Boulware - DT - Winston Salem (NC) Oak Grove: Boulware is a 6'5", 305 lb. tackle prospect with this Michigan visit as the only official visit on his schedule, but he also has offers from the likes of Georgia, South Carolina, USC, and lots of others. He's a 3-star, the #57 defensive lineman, and #501 overall.

Chace Calicut - S - Houston (TX) North Shore: Calicut is a 6'3", 190-pounder with Georgia, Ole Miss, and Texas official visits, along with this official to Michigan. He's a 4-star, the #13 safety, and #162 overall. There are three crystal balls in place and they're all for Texas.

Andre Clarke - CB - Richmond (VA) Hermitage: Clarke is a 6'1", 175 lb. player who's listed as a cornerback in some places and as a safety in others. He's a 4-star, the #16 safety, and #177 overall. He has already taken official visits to SMU and Kentucky, and he has one coming up to Miami. This is an official visit.

Hit the jump for more.

Visitors: June 6-8, 2025

 

Mansfield (TX) Lake Ridge OT Felix Ojo (image via X)

2026

Nick Abrams II - LB - Owings Mills (MD) McDonough: Abrams is a 6'2", 215 lb. prospect with official visits set for Alabama and Oregon, and he has already visited Georgia. He's a 4-star, the #17 linebacker, and #251 overall. This is an official visit.

Khary Adams - CB - Towson (MD) Loyola Blakefield: Adams is a 6'2", 175-pounder with official visits to Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, and South Carolina, along with Michigan. He's a 4-star, the #9 cornerback, and #75 overall. This is an official visit.

McHale Blade - DE - Chicago (IL) Simeon: Blade is a 6'4", 245 lb. edge prospect with officials to Purdue and Wisconsin under his belt, and this is his last scheduled official visit for the time being. He's a 4-star, the #21 defensive lineman, and #169 overall. He attends the alma mater of Chris Bryant, Michigan's Director of High School Relations. This is an official visit.

Hit the jump for more.

2025 Season Countdown: #106 Avery Gach

 

Avery Gach

Name: Avery Gach
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 287 lbs.
High school: Franklin (MI) Groves
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #74
Last year: Gach was a senior in high school (LINK).
TTB Rating: 77

Gach committed to Michigan despite being a Michigan State legacy, and that not only takes some intelligence, but also some guts. I guess it should be pretty obvious that the Wolverines are the better choice given both options, but some people aren't able to grasp it. Michigan pursued Gach because he's tough and aggressive, envisioning a return to the physical offensive lines that led the way for Michigan's rushing offense from 2021-2023, and Gach has the mindset to be able to play for a line like that.

Gach is rated in the 247 Composite as an interior offensive lineman (4-star, #15 IOL, #279 overall) but some sites rank him as a tackle. I think his feet are too slow laterally to make tackle an option, so he's likely limited to guard or perhaps center. But he definitely has the tenacity to be a physical finisher on the interior as a run blocker. He did some good things in the spring game as an early enrollee, but he still needs to learn some technique, play lower, and add some weight to his 287 lb. frame. He is likely headed for a redshirt, but if one of the early season games turns into a blowout, I could see him getting a few snaps to prepare him for the future.

Prediction: Redshirt

2025 Season Countdown: #107 Julius Holly

 

Julius Holly

Name: Julius Holly
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 224 lbs.
High school: Alpharetta (GA) Alpharetta
Position: Defensive end
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #37
Last year: Holly was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 9 tackles and 1 tackle for loss while playing in just two games due to injury.
TTB Rating: 76

Holly has flown somewhat under the radar as a recruit even though he's a 4-star (#36 edge, #403 overall) in the 247 Composite. He took official visits to Georgia, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M before committing to Michigan at the end of last July, so he was pursued by some heavy hitters. Various college coaches must have seen something in him.

Unfortunately, Holly's senior season was cut short by injury, so he was only able to play in two games. MGoBlue lists him at 6'4", 224 lbs. after he was listed at 6'3", 230 lbs. during his recruitment, so he comes in a little bit taller and leaner than expected. The height is welcome, but the light weight is something that registers as a red flag for any chance of contributing as a freshman. At the Big Ten level, guys who are 224 pounds would get tossed around, so Holly is a virtual lock to redshirt this season.

Prediction: Redshirt

2025 Season Countdown: #108 Chase Taylor

 

Chase Taylor

Name: Chase Taylor
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 213 lbs.
High school: Stockbridge (GA) Stockbridge
Position: Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #29
Last year: Taylor was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 62 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 4 pass breakups, and 3 quarterback hurries.
TTB Rating: 58

Taylor was recruited to Michigan to play inside linebacker, and he committed when he was listed at 201 pounds. It takes a lot of projection to see a 201 lb. player and think he'll be a Big Ten inside linebacker, where the normal playing weight is anywhere from 235-245 pounds. Sometimes long and lean players are 200 pounds and can project to tight end or outside linebacker because they're 6'5" or 6'6" and have a lot of room for growth, but at 6'2" there's not quite as much real estate to add beef.

A true senior highlight reel could not be found for Taylor for the 2024 season, so there are a few highlights from a handful of games. Based on what I saw in those clips, I still think Taylor has a long way to go, even though MGoBlue now lists him at 213 pounds. Taylor seems a little bit slow to make plays, and he doesn't always finish tackles the way I'd like to see for a future Big Ten inside linebacker. He can at times come downhill, lower his hips, and make a solid impact, but those plays just seem too few and far between. Based upon those senior clips, I lowered Taylor's TTB Rating from 69 to 58, and I think he's a pretty surefire redshirt in 2024 since he's so light.

Prediction: Redshirt

Mason Bonner, Wolverine

 

Denver (CO) Mullen TE Mason Bonner

Denver (CO) Mullen tight end Mason Bonner committed to Michigan on Thursday. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Colorado, Florida, Miami, Penn State, and several others.

Bonner is listed at 6'6" and 200 lbs.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 3-star, 79 grade, #17 TE-H
On3: 3-star, 89 grade, #21 TE
Rivals: 3-star, 5.6 grade, #44 TE
247 Sports: 3-star, 88 grade, #34 TE

Hit the jump for more.

2025 Season Countdown: #109 Benny Patterson

 

Benny Patterson

Name: Benny Patterson
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 245 lbs.
High school: Newburgh (IN) Castle
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Patterson was a senior in high school. He made 70 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries.
TTB Rating: 78

Patterson was a somewhat late flip in the class of 2025, picking the Wolverines on November 1, 2024, after being committed to Cincinnati. I never did a commitment post for him because I was busy at that time of year and didn't circle back, so this is basically the first you're hearing about him much on TTB.

MGoBlue's commitment bio for Patterson lists him at 6'2", 240 lbs. while 247 Sports lists him at 6'4", 245. Maybe I should have gone with a listed 6'3", 242.5 pounds up above, but the general idea seems to be that he's in the 240s. Has he added weight since his senior football season ended? That's likely. How much? Nobody knows.

In general on Patterson's senior film, I see a quick and athletic defensive lineman who does not have a ton of technique or strength. His stance is inconsistent, he tends to stand straight up on his first step, and he sometimes shocks an offensive lineman with his hands, but he tends not to do much with his hands after that if the initial blow doesn't work. The bright side is that it often works because he's a Division I-level athlete, but the down side is that he'll have a lot to learn at the college level because those guys will keep fighting - and they won't have to fight very much because Patterson is only 242.5 pounds.

Most guys with Patterson's skills and body type end up playing defensive tackle. Greg Mattison would take Patterson and turn him into a pretty solid 3-technique by 2027. Whether Patterson lasts that long on Michigan's roster is a question mark, considering the transfer portal era. Regardless, he has potential if he sticks around, but he's going to need a couple years to get up into that 290 pound range where he can be a viable option. If he can do that and maintain some of his quickness, he has a chance to be a very good player. But the most likely option for 2025 is for him to eat a high amount of calories and watch from the sideline on Saturday afternoons.

Prediction: Redshirt

Matt Ludwig, Wolverine

 

Billings (MT) West TE

Billings (MT) West tight end Matt Ludwig committed to Michigan on Tuesday. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Oregon, Texas, Texas A&M, and lots of others.

Ludwig is listed at 6'4" and anywhere from 230-240 pounds. As a junior in 2024, he caught 53 passes for 822 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also ran for 149 yards and 2 touchdowns as a short yardage wildcat QB.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 80 grade, #11 TE, #297 overall
On3: 4-star, 92 grade, #5 TE, #92 overall
Rivals: 4-star, 5.8 grade, #10 TE
247 Sports: 4-star, 90 grade, #12 TE, #237 overall

Hit the jump for more.

Way Too Early 2025 Depth Chart: May 2025

 

Derrick Moore (image via NY Times)

The following depth chart has removed these listed players from the roster:

• RB Benjamin Hall (transfer to North Carolina)
• WR Amorion Walker (transfer to Middle Tennessee)
• DE Kechaun Bennett (transfer to UCLA)
• DE Aymeric Koumba (transfer to UCF)
• DT Alessandro Lorenzetti (transfer to Baylor)
• LB Jason Hewlett (transfer to Boston College)
• CB Ja'Den McBurrows (transfer to Appalachian State)

It assumes that every currently rostered player and every currently committed prospect will be here in the fall of 2025, which is obviously not true.

Hit the jump for the depth chart.

2025 Season Countdown: #110 Kaleb Schlecht

 

Kaleb Schlecht

Name: Kaleb Schlecht
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 195 lbs.
High school: Ann Arbor (MI) Skyline
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #89
Last year: I did not rank Schlecht. He did not play in any games.
TTB Rating: N/A

Remember before the internet really existed and some guys just popped up on Michigan's roster and you had no idea who they were and there was really no way to figure it out?

Well, Kaleb Schlecht is here to remind you.

Kaleb Schlect doesn't have any Hudl highlights posted, except for a few basketball plays, mostly showing him being a lanky defender.

When I looked up Kaleb Schlecht on Twitter/X, he thankfully had a football highlight video linked, so I clicked on it. I thought maybe Google had just failed me.

The video showed a 6'0" running back, which is not the same as a 6'4" wide receiver.

So I double-checked the link, and Kaleb Schlect had simply re-posted his younger brother Ayden's Hudl highlights.

That's Kaleb Schlecht's singular Twitter/X post since he signed up in January 2024.

So to sum up what I know about Kaleb Schlecht, here are Ayden's Schlecht's junior football highlights:

2025 Season Countdown: #111 Joshua Nichols

 

Joshua Nichols

Name: Joshua Nichols
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 205 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Loyola
Position: Safety
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #36
Last year: I ranked Nichols #96 and said he would be a backup safety and special teamer (LINK). He did not play.
TTB Rating: N/A

Nichols has spent the past few seasons as a scout team player, never seeing the field on a fall Saturday. He has made some appearances during spring games and does not appear to be ready for Big Ten competition, so his role is likely going to stay the same as a practice player.

While Michigan lost Makari Paige to graduation after the 2024 season, they brought in reinforcements and have guys waiting in the wings. Former starter Rod Moore will hopefully be ready for the 2025 season, and former Michigan State starter Jaden Mangham is also on hand. Meanwhile, Brandyn Hillman has made some strides, Mason Curtis has been a pleasant surprise, and Arkansas transfer T.J. Metcalf has a good amount of experience, too. The group hasn't played together much, but there are a lot of solid pieces for defensive backs coach LaMar Morgan to piece together a back end.

Prediction: Backup safety

2025 Season Countdown: #112 Zach Ludwig

 

Zach Ludwig

Name: Zach Ludwig
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 217lbs.
High school: South Park (PA) South Park
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #43
Last year: I ranked Ludwig #128 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted.
TTB Rating: 55

Ludwig was recruited to Michigan at a time when Ben Herbert, Ludwig's uncle, was Michigan's strength and conditioning coach. Ludwig was listed at 202 pounds last season, a good indication that he would not be ready to play in year one. That held true as the season came and went without his seeing the field.

Now we come out of spring with Ludwig still on the roster, listed at a slightly more reasonable 217 pounds. By weight alone, that's still probably going to keep him off the field at linebacker. Special teams could be an option, but we're likely looking at another season of him watching from the sidelines.

Prediction: Backup linebacker

2025 Season Countdown: #113 James Kavouklis

 

James Kavouklis

Name: James Kavouklis
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 284 lbs.
High school: Tampa (FL) Berkley Prep
Position: Center/Long snapper
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #64
Last year: I ranked Kavouklis #123 and said he would be a backup center (LINK). He did not see game action.
TTB Rating: N/A

Kavouklis joined Michigan's team in 2022 and promptly played in the blowout against UConn. That's a pretty swift start for a true freshman preferred walk-on.

He has since gone on to play zero games in 2023 and 2024.

Kavouklis doubles as a long snapper, but he has been hovering around 280 pounds, and it's tough to be a long snapper at such a weight. The punt snapper usually has to get downfield and help with punt coverage, and a 280-pounder is unlikely to have the speed or open-field athleticism to make that optimal for a coverage unit.

Michigan lost long snapper Will Wagner, but former starter Greg Tarr is still on the team. Michigan brought in Dan Rosenberg, a transfer from Holy Cross, but Rosenberg is also exploring other options. Whether Rosenberg is still here in the fall is difficult to say, so perhaps Kavouklis should be ranked higher, but this is the new age of college football.

Prediction: Backup long snapper

2025 Season Countdown: #114 Shomari Stone II

 

Shomari Stones (image via Instagram)

Name: Shomari Stone II
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 190 lbs.
High school: Washington (DC) St. John's
Position: Safety
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #41
Last year: I ranked Stone #122 and said he would be a backup defensive back (LINK). He did not play in any games.
TTB Rating: N/A

Stone is entering his fourth year of college and his third year on the team, as he was not a part of the program in the fall of 2023. Stone was a preferred walk-on in 2022 and happens to be the son of Washington, D.C.-area television news anchor Shomari Stone.

Unfortunately, Stone does not seem to have a clear path to playing time. He's undersized and is playing a position where Michigan has loaded up with depth pieces over the past couple off-seasons. It's going to be a struggle for him to get on the field yet again in 2025.

Prediction: Backup defensive back

2025 Season Countdown: #115 Bobby Kanka

 

Bobby Kanka (image via Detroit Free Press/Livingston Daily)

Name: Bobby Kanka
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 299 lbs.
High school: Howell (MI) Howell
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #99
Last year: Kanka was a senior in high school.
TTB Rating: 57

Kanka committed to Michigan all the way back on August 1, 2023, so at this point, it has been almost two years since he pledged to the Wolverines. He went through his junior and senior seasons committed to the program, though he did field other interest when there was some uncertainty surrounding Michigan's coaching situation. Overall, he stayed pretty rock solid as a local kid.

Kanka played some tight end on offense, but he was most known for being a defensive lineman. As a senior, he was listed at 6'4", 285 lbs. by Howell and is now listed at 289 pounds on Michigan's roster after enrolling this winter. Viewers of the spring game probably saw Kanka getting pushed around fairly easily a few times. Aside from that, I think Kanka's senior film showed a guy with a slow first step and a penchant for standing up too high at the snap. I think he'll need a lot of work and some reshaping of his body before he gets on the field at Michigan, and in some ways, I think he looks more like an offensive lineman. This is most likely a developmental year for Kanka behind a rather deep group of defensive tackles.

Prediction: Redshirt

2025 Season Countdown: #116 Drew Hickmott

 

Drew Hickmott

Name: Drew Hickmott
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 200 lbs.
High school: Ortonville (MI) Brandon
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #35
Last year: I did not rank Hickmott. He did not play in any games.
TTB Rating: N/A

Okay, well, in my "research" for this post, I went on Drew Hickmott's Twitter and found out he's looking to transfer. On April 24, 2025, he had posted his highlights/info as a transfer receiver. He did the same thing back in December and was still on the spring roster, so to be honest, I have no idea if he'll be with the program in the fall.

But. Here he is, anyway. Hickmott is a second-year player who did not play during his first year. He was a perfectly fine receiver at a small school and had over 1,600 receiving yards as a senior a couple years ago, but Big Ten football is a different deal. He's probably not going to play a role at Michigan if he stays, at least not in 2025. Still, kudos to the walk-ons who want to be a part of a great football program!

Prediction: Backup wide receiver

2025 Season Countdown: #117 John Weidenbach

 

John Weidenbach (image via Detroit News)

Name: John Weidenbach
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 215 lbs.
High school: Naperville (IL) Benet Academy
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #59
Last year: I did not rank Weidenbach. He did not play in any games.
TTB Rating: N/A

Weidenbach was a preferred walk-on linebacker in the class of 2023 and is the grandson of former Michigan athletic director Jack Weidenbach. Jack, who passed away a little over a year ago, would be proud of his grandson, as John has pushed back against the NCAA's attempt to limit roster sizes (LINK).

The NCAA wants rosters to be limited to 105 athletes for FBS teams, and to be honest, John would probably be on the chopping block if Michigan had to nail down its 105 most talented players. So this would be an important topic for him, along with numerous other players around the country. John has been on the team for two seasons and has not seen the field, and just based on his high school film, I would not expect that to change much during his time in Ann Arbor.

Prediction: Backup linebacker

2025 Season Countdown: #118 Tomas O'Meara

 

Tomas O'Meara (#3, image via MLive)

Name: Tomas O'Meara
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 183 lbs.
High school: Ann Arbor (MI) Gabriel Richard
Position: Running back
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #36
Last year: I did not rank O'Meara. He was not on the team.
TTB Rating: N/A

The first entry for 2025 is student body walk-on Tomas O'Meara. O'Meara is a 5'10", 183-pounder who played at local school Gabriel Richard. He last played football during the fall of 2023 when he was a running back and safety, earning second team all-state honors.

Below are O'Meara's senior highlights, and he makes some nice runs and defensive plays against the so-so competition. With the depth at running back and the inexperience at the college level, O'Meara is unlikely to play a meaningful role for Michigan this fall.

The 2025 Season Countdown is Coming!

 

Every year since 2009, I have counted down from the least important player on that year’s roster to the most important player, including starters, scholarship players, preferred walk-ons, special teams players, student body walk-ons, and everyone in between.

In case you want a look back at last year’s list, here it is (LINK). The top two players, Will Johnson and Colston Loveland, both got hurt, and it's probably not a coincidence that the team struggled mightily at times, even though there were also other deficiencies.

YEARLY DISCLAIMER: The countdown is by the player’s importance to the team, not his overall talent. A talented player at a deep position won’t necessarily be missed a lot if he gets injured, but an injury to a moderately talented player at a thin position could be devastating. For example, I had cornerback Ambry Thomas ranked at #2 in 2020 because he was the team's only proven cornerback. Naturally, he opted out of the season and the team as a whole was an unmitigated disaster. Meanwhile, first round pick Kwity Paye was #6 because more talent was returning on the defensive line.

I had to wait an extra week this year to watch the spring game on TV, and I was also waiting to see if the house settlement would reduce rosters to 105, but it doesn't look like we'll get any clarification on that anytime soon.

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2026 Recruiting Update: May 9, 2025

 

Newbury Park (CA) Newbury Park QB Brady Smigiel

COMMITMENTS

Washington (DC) St. John's defensive end Tariq Boney committed to Michigan (LINK).

Newbury Park (CA) Newbury Park quarterback Brady Smigiel committed to Michigan (LINK).

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2026

Hoover (AL) Hoover defensive end Tyson Bacon (4-star, #34 DL, #297 overall) decommitted from Tennessee. Michigan has been in constant contact with Bacon and may have been one of the reasons for his decommitment.

OFF THE BOARD

Greenwood (AR) Greenwood quarterback Kane Archer (3-star, #34 QB, #619 overall) committed to UCF.

Cincinnati (OH) St. Xavier linebacker Ja'Kobe Clapper (3-star, #29 LB, #399 overall) committed to Notre Dame.

Nashville (TN) Christian quarterback Jared Curtis (5-star, #1 QB, #2 overall) committed to Georgia.

Hit the jump for more.

Brady Smigiel, Wolverine

 

Newbury Park (CA) Newbury Park QB Brady Smigiel

Newbury Park (CA) Newbury Park quarterback Brady Smigiel committed to Michigan on April 26. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, and Penn State, among others, and he was previously committed to Florida State.

247 Sports lists Smigiel at 6'6" and 205 pounds. As a junior in 2024, he completed 219/336 passes for 3,521 yards, 49 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions while also rushing 89 times for 435 yards and 11 scores. Altogether, he has been responsible for 165 touchdowns, thrown 28 interceptions, and thrown for 11,222 yards as a three-year varsity starter.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 84 grade, #4 QB, #45 overall
On3: 4-star, 90 grade, #17 QB, #246 overall
Rivals: 5-star, 6.1 grade, #5 QB, #23 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, 91 grade, #8 QB, #126 overall

Hit the jump for more.

Tariq Boney, Wolverine

 

Washington (DC) St. John's defensive end Tariq Boney (image via Rivals)

Washington (DC) St. John's defensive end Tariq Boney committed to Michigan a little over a week ago, picking the Wolverines over offers from Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and West Virginia, among others.

Boney is listed at 6'2", 230 lbs.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 80 grade, #46 DE
On3: 3-star, 86 grade, #76 edge
Rivals: 3-star, 5.6 grade, #65 edge defender
247 Sports: 3-star, 86 grade, #88 edge

Hit the jump for more.

2025 Mock NFL Draft

 

Colston Loveland

Most years I like to take a stab at a mock NFL draft. Everybody else is doing it, so why not me? This draft should be particularly interesting for Michigan fans, because the program could set a school record with four (4!!!) first round picks in the form of Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Will Johnson, and Colston Loveland (in no particular order other than alphabetical).

1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward - QB - Miami
Why? He seems to be the consensus choice here, and Tennessee has all but announced the pick already.

2. Cleveland Browns: Travis Hunter - CB/WR - Colorado
Why? Cleveland needs a lot of help, but there are no quarterbacks worth taking here. Hunter fills a couple holes. Personally, I think he should be a cornerback and moonlight at wide receiver, because it's easier to find good receivers than it is to find elite corners. It's also tough to mostly be a wide receiver and then be ready for whatever a defense throws at you if you're only a part-time cornerback. If you have special packages on offense, the offense gets to dictate how and when that package is used, instead of the other way around.

3. New York Giants: Abdul Carter - DE - Penn State
Why? I actually don't love this pick here because I don't see it as a huge need for the Giants, but they get a chance to pick a player who some people think is the best player in the draft (or second best behind Hunter). In some ways, it could be a good "value" pick even though it's still a top-three choice.

Hit the jump for more.

2026 Recruiting Update: April 22, 2025

 

Princeton transfer running back John Volker (image via Rivals)

COMMITMENTS

Michigan picked up commitments from a few transfer portal targets this past week:

• Missouri punter Luke Bauer (LINK)
• UMass running back C.J. Hester (LINK)
• Princeton running back John Volker (LINK)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2026

Fort Lauderdale (FL) Saint Thomas Aquinas wide receiver Jeffar Jean-Noel (3-star, #149 WR, #948 overall) decommitted from West Virginia.

Hit the jump for more.

John Volker, Wolverine

 

John Volker (image via Rivals)

Princeton transfer running back John Volker committed to Michigan on Monday morning. Volker visited Michigan toward the end of last week.

Volker is listed at 6'0", 215 lbs. and was a captain for the Tigers. As a redshirt junior in 2024, he ran for 514 yards and 6 touchdowns. Altogether, he played in 29 games at Princeton with 245 carries for 1,183 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also caught 31 passes for 273 yards and 2 touchdowns. (Oddly, both career touchdowns came as a freshman, when he had his lowest receiving output with 4 catches for 96 yards.)

Hit the jump for more.

C.J. Hester, Wolverine

 

C.J. Hester (image via On3)

UMass transfer running back C.J. Hester committed to Michigan on Saturday. He had visited for the spring game.

Hester is listed at 5'11" and 195 lbs. As a freshman at Western Michigan in 2023, he ran 29 times for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns in seven games. He then transferred to UMass in 2024, ranking as the team's second leading rusher with 119 carries for 529 yards and 4 scores across eleven games. Coming out of Cincinnati (OH) Wyoming in 2023, he was a 247 Composite 3-star, the #113 running back, and #1702 overall.

I think Hester's size is exaggerated; he's probably closer to 5'9" than 5'11". And I don't think he's 195 pounds, or at least he wasn't during the 2024 season. But he does run tough. His numbers aren't great, but he was playing for UMass, one of the worst FBS teams. There are several highlights of him running through tackles and fighting for extra yardage, and that's a step up in a way from the type of tackle-breaking ability Donovan Edwards showed over the past few seasons. That's not to say that Hester is a better overall running back, but at least Hester has the ability to fight through tackles. Hester also has a little bit of wiggle and a little bit of quickness, but he's not going to be a breakaway threat like Edwards.

Overall, Hester is a notch below Jordan Marshall and Justice Haynes, and that's probably the best Michigan can hope for from someone committing from the portal at this point in the cycle. Michigan has Marshall and Haynes and then a bunch of unproven players, including redshirt freshman Micah Ka'apana and a couple freshmen.

Hester would be the only player other than Jibreel Black, who finished his college career in 2013, to play for Michigan out of Cincinnati (OH) Wyoming.

Luke Bauer, Wolverine

 

Luke Bauer (image via ESPN)

Michigan landed a punter in the transfer portal in the form of former Missouri punter Luke Bauer.

Bauer is a 6'5", 207 lb. former walk-on who joined the Missouri program in 2020, the COVID year exemption making it irrelevant for his eligibility. He then sat on the bench in 2021 and 2022 before becoming the starting punter in 2023 and 2024. He punted 49 times for 2,047 yards (41.8 yards/attempt) in 2024 and punted 22 times for 927 yards (42.1 yards/attempt) in 2023. In addition, he completed a pass on a fake punt against Kentucky in 2023, resulting in a 39-yard touchdown.

Michigan needed to replace former starting punter Tommy Doman, who transferred to Florida this off-season. The move to Bauer seems to be a downgrade, but we'll see; he may not even win the starting job, since Mississippi State transfer Hudson Hollenbeck looked solid in the bowl game against Alabama, punting 6 times and averaging 46.2 yards/attempt. Doman averaged 42.6 yards/attempt last year, down from 44.3 in 2023.

Michigan now has options at punter, at least. The potential roster limits might make it difficult to carry several potential punting options, but word coming out of bowl practices and spring ball was that tight end Marlin Klein was the backup punter to Hollenbeck. Obviously, relying on your starting tight end to be a backup punter is fraught with issues, including fatigue, injury, etc.

Bauer would be the first player to play for Michigan from St. Louis (MO) DeSmet since 1980.

2025 Spring Game Visitors

 

Newbury Park (CA) Newbury Park QB Brady Smigiel (image via SI/Rene Morales)

2026

Khary Adams - CB - Towson (MD) Loyola Blakefield: Adams is a 6'2", 175-pounder with officials planned for Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, and South Carolina. He's a 4-star, the #10 cornerback, and #76 overall.

J.J. Finch - DT - Indianapolis (IN) Warren Central: Finch is a 6'3", 260 lb. prospect who's the son of former Michigan commit Jerimy Finch, a safety who played for Florida and Indiana. The younger Finch is a 3-star, the #43 defensive lineman, and #435 overall. Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee are slated to get official visits, and Michigan is trying to join that list.

Brody Jennings - CB - Jacksonville (FL) Mandarin: Jennings is committed to Michigan. He's a 4-star, the #23 cornerback, and #269 overall.

Hit the jump for more.

Ja'Den McBurrows, Ex-Wolverine

 

Ja'Den McBurrows

Fifth year senior defensive back Ja'Den McBurrows has decided to enter the transfer portal for his final season.

McBurrows is listed at 5'11" and 194 lbs. on Michigan's roster. He played four games as a freshman in 2021 and then missed 2022 with an ACL injury. He played in fifteen games in 2023 and 2024, totaling nineteen appearances throughout his career. McBurrows was also involved in the infamous tunnel brawl with Michigan State when he tried to help fellow defensive back Gemon Green.

At various times in his career, McBurrows has been thought to be a key contributor, especially at the nickel position. However, injuries and the performances of other players have prevented him from being a major factor. Last year the nickel spot was won by Zeke Berry initially, and then safety Makari Paige won the role during the second half of the year when Berry moved to outside corner. That was probably McBurrows's best chance to play significant moments, but his season ended due to injury after the first four games.

McBurrows has one season of eligibility remaining (though with his injury history, he could eventually apply for a sixth year and would probably get it). Overall, he made 13 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 pass breakups, and 1 interception in his career at Michigan, and that one pick came against the dastardly MSU Spartans in 2023, a year after they attacked him in the tunnel.

Jason Hewlett, Ex-Wolverine

 

Jason Hewlett

Redshirt sophomore Jason Hewlett has decided to enter the transfer portal.

Hewlett is a 6'2", 227 lb. linebacker who played in nine games, mostly on special teams and all of them in 2024. He made 2 career tackles after redshirting in 2023.

Hewlett was committed to Cincinnati at one point in the process but Michigan swooped in and stole him. I gave him a TTB Rating of 81 when he came out of Youngstown (OH) Chaney (LINK) listed at 6'4", 220, but the fact that he's two inches shorter than that and has only put on seven pounds in two years did not bode well for his playing much in 2025.

This makes ten players from the class of 2023 who have already transferred, where Hewlett joins LB Semaj Bridgeman (Michigan State), RB Cole Cabana (Western Michigan), CB Cam Calhoun (Utah/Alabama), WR Karmello English (West Georgia), OG Amir Herring (Kansas), LB Breeon Ishmail (Purdue), LB Hayden Moore (Wasington), K Adam Samaha (North Carolina), and CB D.J. Waller, Jr. (Kentucky). All the linebackers from the class (Bridgeman, Hewlett, Ishmail, Moore) have transferred as the linebacker room has seen some coaching turnover in that time, going from Chris Partridge to Rick Minter to Brian Jean-Mary.

Visitors: April 11-13, 2025

 

Folsom (CA) Folsom QB Ryder Lyons (image via SI)

2026

Nick Abrams II - LB - Owings Mills (MD) McDonogh: Abrams is a 6'2", 215 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Oregon, Penn State, and others. He's a 4-star, the #15 linebacker, and #213 overall.

McHale Blade - DE - Chicago (IL) Simeon: Blade is a 6'4", 245-pounder with offers from Florida, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, and Notre Dame, among others. He's a 4-star, the #21 defensive lineman, and #185 overall.

Davion Brown - WR - Richmond (VA) Trinity Episcopal: Brown is a 6'3", 185 lb. wideout with officials set for Duke, Georgia, Penn State, and Virginia Tech. He's a 4-star, the #29 wide receiver, and #180 overall.

Hit the jump for more.

Jaylen Pile, Wolverine

 

Ronald Bellamy and Jaylen Pile (image via SI)

Dallas (TX) Parish Episcopal wide receiver Jaylen Pile committed to Michigan back in October of 2024. I did not do a write-up on him at the time, but he picked the Wolverines over offers from Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, and Tennessee, among others.

Pile is listed at 6'0" and 175 lbs. As a junior in 2024, he caught 63 passes for 1,367 yards and 19 touchdowns. He's the son of former Virginia Tech and NFL safety Willie Pile.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 3-star WR
On3: 3-star, 87 grade, #151 WR
Rivals: 4-star, 5.8 grade, #9 WR, #217 overall
247 Sports: 3-star, 85 grade, #178 WR

Hit the jump for more.