Name: Cam Brandt
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 270 lbs.
High school: Carson (CA) Sierra Canyon
Position: Defensive end
Class: Senior
Jersey number: #9
Last year: I ranked Brandt #29 and said he would be a backup defensive end (LINK). He started one game and made 22 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and 0.5 sacks.
TTB Rating: 82
In the days if the transfer portal, it certainly feels like Cam Brandt has been in Ann Arbor for a long time. We're getting used to non-contributors dipping out of town quickly, transplanted starters coming in to play immediately, and shorter tenures for the average player. But now it's year four for Brandt at Michigan, and he finally enters the season as a likely starter.
Michigan has had quality edges for a while now, and Brandt had to wait his turn behind the likes of T.J. Guy, Derrick Moore, Josaiah Stewart, and others. At one time it looked like Brandt might end up as a defensive tackle, but he enters 2026 at a solid size of 270 lbs. for a strongside end. Michigan probably won't get a ton of pass rush juice from Brandt, but he is experienced and has the size that many of his 245-255 lb. position mates lack. With Utah transfer John Henry Daley a shoo-in to start on one side (as long as he's healthy), it should be between Brandt and Dominic Nichols to start at the other end position.
Prediction: Starting defensive end; 30 tackles, 4 sacks
Has been a bit of a whipping boy for fans. Probably unfair.
ReplyDeleteBrandt earned a lot of special teams playing time as a freshman and then was part of the edge rotation as sophomore and continued the trend as a junior. 9th on defensive snaps in 25 despite being a backup most of the year and 15th in snaps in 2024. There's been no shortage of options for Michigan at edge in those 2 seasons and the 2024 defense was damn good lead by the elite DL Brandt contributed to. Despite what some of the evaluators and pundits are saying -- He's gotta be doing something right.
He's not flashy but has been a solid contributor defending the run. Maybe the coaches (Wink and company) were fools to play him as much as they did but most of the time a new staff comes in they make very similar depth chart decisions. Expect him to have a big role and earn this TTB rank.
Rooting for him to take a big step up in per snap performance and production in '26, regardless of his role with the new staff. Could see him come back for year 5 as well and be one of those rare 5-year contributors.
Count me as one hoping Nichols - or anyone else - comes on
ReplyDeleteBrandt just hasn’t been good. He’s played a lot, but has gotten out of position or simply not produced in three years. I recall my gripe being along the line of “do SOMETHING, ANYTHING” … we’ve seen enough of Cam Brandt
I've heard *some* mentions of Brandt by the coaches in their press conferences, but I've heard a bit more of Nichols. I suspect Brandt is drifting into a backup role.
ReplyDeleteI've heard more about Nichols, too, but sometimes that's just because it's a bit of a fresh face. People are used to seeing Brandt on the field now after the past few seasons. In fact, it seems like people are talking about lots of guys - Meadows, Boney, Edokpayi, Nichols, etc. - and not all of those guys are going to contribute heavily this season.
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