2014 Season Countdown: #48 Matt Godin

Tag: Matt Godin


8Jul 2014
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2014 Season Countdown: #48 Matt Godin

Matt Godin (#99) – image via MWolverine.com

Name: Matt Godin
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 283 lbs.
High school: Novi (MI) Catholic Central
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #99
Last year: I ranked Godin #37 and said he would be a backup strongside end. He played in six games and made 3 tackles.

Believing Godin would be the primary backup to Keith Heitzman last season, I ranked the towering defensive end a little too high. He played sparingly throughout the year and did not make much of an impact. Reports surfaced that he would have played more, but a nagging back injury limited him during the season. Chris Wormley took a lot of the snaps that might have gone to Godin, and Brennen Beyer also spent some time at strongside end late in the year.

This year Godin seems to have recovered from his injury, and he should be able to play a little more consistently. Starting 3-tech tackle Jibreel Black has graduated, and redshirt sophomores Willie Henry, Wormley (also a defensive tackle now), and Godin should battle for the majority of the snaps. Henry may also play some nose tackle, which could draw Godin into the lineup a little more frequently. Godin does not appear to be a penetrator or pass rushing threat, but he plays with good leverage – despite being the the tallest defensive tackle on the team by two inches. I expect to see him in the rotation quite often, but he won’t fill up the stat sheet.

Prediction: Backup 3-tech defensive tackle

23Jul 2013
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2013 Season Countdown: #37 Matt Godin

Matt Godin (left)

Name: Matt Godin
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 277 lbs.
High school: Novi (MI) Catholic Central
Position: Defensive end
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #99
Last year: I ranked Godin #72 and said he would be a backup defensive end. He redshirted.

Godin put on a few pounds since last year, when he was a long kid who needed to remold his body a little bit. He redshirted during the year and entered the spring competing for the strongside defensive end position, which has been vacated by Craig Roh. The primary backup there last year was Keith Heitzman, who started in the spring game, but Godin got plenty of time.

Michigan needs someone to step up at the vacated position, and Godin looked pretty decent in the spring. He’s a strongside end/defensive tackle tweener, so he’s not an explosive edge rusher. But if Michigan wants him to hold the point of attack while the weakside end and SAM linebacker come off the edge, then I think Godin can hold his ground. He’ll be competing with the likes of redshirt sophomore Heitzman and redshirt freshman Chris Wormley, so there’s not a whole lot of experience in the running. I think the edge goes to Heitzman, who has game experience and a good motor, but Michigan should be able to rotate a couple guys without losing much from first to second string.

Prediction: Backup strongside end

19Jun 2012
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2012 Season Countdown: #72 Matt Godin

Matt Godin

Name: Matt Godin
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 273 lbs.
High school: Novi (MI) Catholic Central
Position: Strongside defensive end
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #81
Last year: Godin was in high school.  He had 90 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, and 8.5 sacks.

Godin committed to Michigan last May after being publicly disappointed about not getting offered earlier.  The coaches saw his 6’6″ frame, now up to 273 lbs., and thought he would fit in well as a strongside end.  Godin’s recruitment paid off in another way by helping to garner a commitment from 2013 running back Wyatt Shallman, Godin’s teammate at Catholic Central; and it almost helped land Danny O’Brien, a defensive tackle from Flint who ultimately signed with Tennessee.  Godin played both ways at times for the Shamrocks, playing as both an offensive tackle and defensive lineman.

Going into his freshman campaign, Godin should be near ready in regard to his size.  He’s expected to play strongside end, and senior starter Craig Roh is expected to have about 280 lbs. on his 6’5″ frame by the time the season begins.  Roh is a technician, however, and Godin needs to work on that aspect of his game.  He has a chance to see the field because of a lack of depth at the strongside end position.  Last year’s starter, Ryan Van Bergen, graduated and Roh is moving from the weak side.  Meanwhile, Godin will have to contend with fellow freshmen Tom Strobel and Chris Wormley, as well as walk-on Nathan Brink and redshirt freshman Keith Heitzman.  It seems likely that Godin will eventually grow into a 3-technique defensive tackle, but in the meantime, the battle for the backup strongside end will be interesting to watch.

Prediction: Backup defensive end

13Feb 2012
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Norfleet, Johnson, Godin to take part in 2012 Michigan HS East West All-Star Game

Dennis Norfleet, Drake Johnson, and Matt Godin are scheduled to compete for the East squad in the 32nd annual Michigan High School East West All-Star Game. The contest is set to be played on June 30th at CMU’s Kelly/Shorts stadium in Mount Pleasant. Mike Giannone of Macomb (MI) Dakota HS will coach the East, and Jerry Rabideau of Spring Lake (MI) HS will coach the West. Last year, Desmond Morgan, who recorded 6 tackles in the game, was U of M’s only representative, although Thomas Rawls was also originally scheduled to play. The complete 2012 roster was released late last month and includes a few other names that Michigan fans might be familiar with, including Aaron Burbridge (MSU), Eric Wilson (Northwestern), and Kevin Buford (Iowa).