2022 Season Countdown: #55 Caden Kolesar

 

Caden Kolesar (image via Twitter)

Name: Caden Kolesar
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 196 lbs.
High school: Lakewood (OH) St. Edward
Position: Safety
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #35
Last year: I ranked Kolesar #67 and said he would be a backup safety and special teamer (LINK). He made 9 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 interception, 1 pass breakup, and 3 punt returns for 33 yards.
TTB Rating: N/A

When Kolesar first committed to Michigan, there was confusion about whether he was offered a scholarship or a preferred walk-on spot. (It was the latter.) So he has come pretty far for a walk-on and has done more than some scholarship safeties, including the guy one spot lower than him in the countdown (Quinten Johnson). A clean-up guy, he even made 1 interception in the Big Ten Championship Game against Iowa and was the primary backup to Ronnie Bell on punt returns after Bell tore his ACL in the season opener.

I may be proven wrong, but Kolesar seems to be one of those guys who's good enough to make some people really root for the underdog, but he's not quite talented enough to maintain a highly valued spot at a place like Michigan. He was the backup punt returner to start, but when the lights came on, he misjudged a couple balls and generally looked uncomfortable, which got him replaced. He's pretty reliable as a coverage guy on special teams, but his size and speed are lacking for full-time duty. Overall, Kolesar is a good piece to have on the team, but he's here in the range of special teams contributors rather than a little higher in the range of two-deep contributors.

Prediction: Backup safety, special teamer