2018 Season Countdown: #106 Matt Baldeck

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11May 2018
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2018 Season Countdown: #106 Matt Baldeck

Matt Baldeck (image via Twitter)

Name: Matt Baldeck
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 210 lbs.
High school: Lewiston (ID) Lewiston
Position: Long snapper
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #44
Last year: I did not rank Baldeck. He redshirted.

I know this isn’t a sexy pick for the #106 player on the countdown, and you all were hoping for something sexy. Nope. I’m picking a backup long snapper. Michigan’s starting long snapper, Camaron Cheeseman, returns from last season, and Baldeck is in the running to be the #2 guy, along with Andrew Robinson. It’s not uncommon for a team to use two snappers on special teams throughout the season, whether due to ineffectiveness, injury, or different skill sets, so I’m putting Baldeck here on the chance that something happens to Robinson.

Prediction: Backup long snapper

10May 2018
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2018 Season Countdown: #107 Peter Bush

Peter Bush (#12, image via LA Times)

Name: Peter Bush
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 225 lbs.
High school: Newport Beach (CA) Corona Del Mar
Position: Fullback
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #48
Last year: I did not rank Bush. He did not see any game action.

Bush is a one-time high school quarterback who ended up catching 62 passes for 915 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior in the 2015 season. He came to Michigan in 2016 and has been packing on weight since then. As Michigan searches for contributors at the fullback/H-back positions, I see Bush as a potential candidate for playing time. Bush is more of an H-back type, while Matt Brown (LINK) looks like more of a traditional fullback. The Wolverines have several options and fullback is a spot that can be capably manned by walk-ons, so there’s a cluster of these types of players down here toward the bottom of the countdown list.

Prediction: Backup fullback

9May 2018
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2018 Season Countdown: #108 Matt Brown

Matt Brown (image via Twitter)

Name: Matt Brown
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 220 lbs.
High school: Solon (OH) Solon
Position: Fullback
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #46
Last year: I did not rank Brown. He redshirted.

Brown was one of the most impressive preferred walk-ons in Michigan’s 2017 class. He posted 155 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, and 3 fumble recoveries as a senior in 2016. Brown made the switch to fullback at Michigan, and I might even be underrating this kid at #108. I think he has a good physical and mental makeup for the fullback position, but since he was mostly a defensive player in high school, he may take some time to get acquainted with all the offensive stuff. I expect Ben Mason and Ben VanSumeren to get the bulk of the snaps at fullback, but Brown looks like a guy who would have no problem running full speed into a linebacker or two.

Prediction: Backup fullback

8May 2018
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2018 Season Countdown: #109 Hunter Reynolds

Hunter Reynolds

Name: Hunter Reynolds
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 188 lbs.
High school: South Orange (NJ) Choate Rosemary Hall
Position: Cornerback
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #27
Last year: I did not rank Reynolds. He redshirted.

Reynolds is a guy I would have liked to have seen in a spring game setting, because I think some people may have been surprised. This guy can play and is one of the most skilled walk-ons you’ll ever find at Michigan. The problem is that he plays a position that is often dominated by high-profile, highly skilled scholarship guys. I still wouldn’t put it past Reynolds to get on the field in some capacity during his career, whether it’s at corner, nickel, or safety. I don’t think that time will come this year for him to play on defense, but he could be a valuable special teams guy on the punt or punt return team.

Prediction: Backup defensive back, special teamer