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
Probably see more scholarship players have careers like this* with increase to 105.
ReplyDelete*This = more in line with a typical PWO than a 3-star recruit on scholarship, back in the 85 scholarship era. The distinction will disappear.
I'm confused. Michigan played 96 players out of a total of 131 (I think 131 is correct). Why would more players have careers like the #111 or #120 player if there are only 105 players on the roster?
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Yep I think you can see this pretty easily with your math. 96 on the field now and only 85 on scholarship so *almost* every scholarship guy is seeing the field at some point in their career because you have need > supply from scholarships. But 96 on the field with 105 scholarships flips the equation and now you have more supply than demand.
DeleteTo further respond to the challenge -- I said careers like this, not rankings like this. If you rank guys 111 with 105 on the roster that would be on you. More likely you would have ranked him 96 last year and 105 this in the new scholarship world.
His ranking this year may or not be appropriate, but it's pretty dang low for a non-freshman scholarship player. But not so unusual for PWOs in the current environment.
There will be more guys like this (i.e., players who are on scholarship but don't see the field) in the future environment because current PWO types will be on scholarship. More scholarships handed out, more guys on scholarship, but not any more opportunities on the field. Add it up and you will get more guys who are on scholarship but never see the field.
A thing that is fairly rare now, but in the future with scholarships increased by >20%, won't be so uncommon.
Yep, just let me know if you have any other questions. Happy to help.
:)
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