2019 Season Countdown: #87 Matt Brown
Name: Matt Brown
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 232 lbs.
High school: Solon (OH) Solon
Position: Fullback
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #46
Last year: I ranked Brown #108 and said he would be a backup fullback (LINK). He played in four games.
TTB Rating: N/A
Brown came to Michigan as someone who looked like a classic middle linebacker type but found himself playing fullback in Michigan’s tight end- and fullback-heavy offense. As a redshirt freshman in 2018, he backed up Ben Mason and Jared Wangler, playing fullback in three blowout victories. The off-season transition to a new offense that de-emphasizes the fullback was one that I thought might see Brown move back to linebacker, but instead he remains listed as a fullback, where he will presumably be some sort of backup to Mason once again. I liked Brown’s film coming out of high school, but the position might not dictate that a fullback – let alone a backup – sees the field very much. Would you rather have Matt Brown on the field or one of numerous skilled wide receivers? I think Brown will get an opportunity to play this season, but not as much as he was probably hoping if Pep Hamilton had remained the offensive coordinator.
Prediction: Backup fullback, special teamer
