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.

If you appreciate the content here at TTB, please consider making a donation via Paypal. Thanks to Stephen, David, Tony, and Rich for their recent donations!

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.