Cal Poly offensive lineman Brady Norton committed to Michigan on Monday. He picked the Wolverines over an offer from Ohio State.
Norton was listed at 6’3″ and 275 pounds while at Cal Poly as a redshirt freshman this past season, but commitment reports list him at 6’4″ and 290 pounds. He graded out as Pro Football Focus’s top FCS offensive lineman for the 2024 season.
With limited film from the FCS level, I don’t have a lot of insights into Norton. I’ve watched a few clips here and there, and I’m impressed by his quickness. I think Michigan fans might be impressed by how well he moves once he puts on a winged helmet. We’ll also be waiting to see how he measures up when he arrives on campus. Even if he is indeed 290 pounds, that’s a little bit light to expect much of a contribution upon arrival. He might need a year to comfortably get in the 300-310 pound range to make him a little more playable.
Norton reportedly has long arms, which could make him an option at tackle; I like his feet for the tackle position, but those can also be put to good use if the coaches plan to pull him from the guard spot. Again, the athletic ability is there, but the size might be more of the determining factor for which position he plays.
Norton has played just one season of college football after redshirting in 2023, so he has three years of eligibility remaining. The last FCS transfer Michigan took was cornerback Aamir Hall prior to the 2024 season, and Hall ended up making a couple interceptions and being a de facto starter with Will Johnson missing half the season. I don’t expect such an immediate impact from Norton, but he could be a solid player down the road.
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