Name: Cameron Brandt
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 260 lbs.
High school: Chatsworth (CA) Sierra Canyon
Position: Defensive end
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Brandt was a senior in high school (LINK).
TTB Rating: 82
Ranked as a 3-star and the #456 overall player in the country, Brandt was close to having Michigan fans' undivided attention during the late signing period in February. Michigan wrapped up almost every spot in December, but Brandt - who was committed to Stanford for a while - was someone the Wolverines were working on for a long time. It seemed like a foregone conclusion that he would end up in Ann Arbor rather than in Palo Alto, where longtime coach David Shaw resigned, but he kept fans wondering until the last minute.
Brandt has the body to potentially contribute early at 6'4" and 260 lbs., but the situation on the defensive line doesn't really require much from young guys. Eyabi Okie (Charlotte), Taylor Upshaw (Arizona), and Mike Morris (Seattle Seahawks) all departed from the defensive front, but they should be replaced by Josaiah Stewart (Coastal Carolina) and an up-and-coming crew that includes Braiden McGregor and Derrick Moore, among others. Brandt could play some backup snaps, and he could watch the entire season from the sideline. Regardless, he's a solid prospect who should have some solid seasons in the maize and blue if he waits his turn.
Prediction: Backup defensive end
Curious if when our personnel last year was 5 DBs, Colson, Barrett, Harrell, Morris, Jenkins, and Smith. Did you generally consider that a 3-3-5 or a 4-2-5 (or did it depend?)
ReplyDeleteI'm asking since I noticed Harrell not mentioned here and sometimes referred to as an OLB, but on the roster he is listed as an EDGE and is the top returning guy in terms of snap count on the defensive front.
I consider that group to be more of a 4-2-5. Harrell doesn't drop into coverage enough for me to consider him a true outside linebacker. Yes, he does do it, but just not enough.
DeleteGotcha. That's how I see it too. With a clear top 4 (Harrel, McGregor, Moore, Stewart) and a few guys rising (Guy, Bennett) behind them it's hard to see much room for freshman.
DeleteBrant is in a big group of those freshman edges - several might get their 4 games in during low leverage situations or maybe special teams but probably won't see anything meaningful. Then again if injuries hit, you never know.
I guess I hadn't realized it until you wrote it here, but we're down 2 guys (-3 +1) from last years edge rotation. Some of it maybe gets backfilled with more use of LB or more 5-man fronts but there's certainly room for someone to elevate. But Guy seems ahead of the larger pack at this stage for those 3rd-string rotational duties.