Name: Jerome Nichols
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 216 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Renaissance
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #50
Last year: I ranked Nichols #100 and said he would be a backup linebacker (LINK). He played in two games.
TTB Rating: N/A
Michigan has a lot of backups but not a lot of proven players at inside linebacker. Last year there was an opportunity for a backup linebacker to work his way into the rotation, but that turned out to be true freshman Jimmy Rolder. Nichols did start to work his way onto the field on special teams in a couple of blowout games against Hawaii and UConn, but after mid-September, he was back to watching from the sideline on Saturdays.
I expect more of the same in 2023. While Nikhai Hill-Green's departure for Charlotte opens up some room on the depth chart, Hill-Green didn't play at all last year due to injury. Meanwhile, Junior Colson and Michael Barrett both return, not to mention Rolder and Nebraska transfer Ernest Hausmann. I don't see a path to defensive snaps for Nichols, but he could once again earn some special teams opportunities.
Prediction: Backup linebacker and special teamer
Less likely to have a role this year than last with the additional bodies and possible emergence of a guys like Hood behind the top 4 LBs.
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