Name: Trey Pierce
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 315 lbs.
High school: Oak Lawn (IL) Brother Rice
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Junior
Jersey number: #95
Last year: I ranked Pierce #39 and said he would be a backup nose tackle (LINK). He started one game and made 7 tackles.
TTB Rating: 79
Pierce once again spent a season mired in the shadow of Kenneth Grant and Mason Graham. He started one game, but for the most part, he was in a backup role. He played in all thirteen games and made 7 total tackles. Nothing really stood out about his play, but he wasn't getting steamrolled, either.
This year with Grant and Graham gone, there's more of an opportunity for Pierce. Michigan did bring in Damon Payne from Alabama and Tre Williams from Clemson, but they're not on the same level as the departed players. Along with Rayshaun Benny, Enow Etta, and Ike Iwunnah, Michigan goes at least six-deep with playable tackles on the interior.
Prediction: Backup nose tackle
Yep 6 deep sounds good. You need about 5 though right?
ReplyDeleteLast year, fully healthy, with 2 generational talents starting at DT, Michigan still used Benny for 32 snaps and Pierce for 4 snaps. Iwunnah and Etta didn't play when the rotation was tightened up, but they did see meaningful snaps other times during the season. The rotation is typically 5, and often 6.
Michigan has addressed the depth here but like at other positions, an injury or two or a guy or two falling flat on expectations and suddenly that depth that looked so robust with "playable" options just isn't there anymore and now you're on to freshman, walk-ons, or special teamer vets.
We talk about it a lot at, for example RB3. "What if there's an injury!?! He'll have to move up to a rotational role" but you generally don't get that level of concern for the guys on the fringe of the DB and DL rotation.
Yep I forgot to talk about Pierce LOL. I think he's off to a very promising start and hopefully ascends into that #3 DT role this year as a springboard to a starting gig next year. Best case scenario is he taking snaps away from Williams/Payne, keeping those guys fresh and healthy.
DeleteVery important player because I think we want to avoid having to sign free agents like Williams/Payne again in 2026 -- they are very costly and come at the expense of other positions that maybe didn't get the some budget love (e.g., WR, OL).
I'm "liking" depth at DT, but not yet loving it
ReplyDeleteNeed Etta, Iwunnah and Pierce to each take steps because Payne & Williams are not The Gifts. We need quantity to replace equally
Yep harsh reality is there is no replacing Graham and Grant. Just hoping those new guys are healthy enough to hold down the front. The disruptive playmaking is probably coming from Benny, the edges, and the LBs.
Delete