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2026 Season Countdown: #96-100

#96. Jeffrey Chukwu – CB – Severna Park (MD) Severna Park: Chukwu is a 6’2″, 195 lb. redshirt sophomore who walked on to the team in 2025. He did not play in any games, but he was named Scout Team Special Teams Player of the Week three times during the year. Chukwu appears to have been more of a soccer player in high school than a football standout, but his Hudl profile did list him with a 4.5 forty. There might be some things to work with her on special teams, but he is probably not a threat to play much defensive back this season.

#97. Titan Davis – DT – St. Louis (MO) DeSmet: Davis is listed at 6’4″, 275 lbs. on the MGoBlue roster as a freshman defensive lineman. He finished the recruiting cycle as a 4-star, the #11 defensive lineman, and #95 overall. Davis started his high school career as a quarterback and transitioned to the defensive line, and I do tend to like former quarterbacks who play other positions . . . so I have some high hopes for Davis down the road. Right now he seems like kind of a tweener between defensive end and defensive tackle, and the (in)consistency of his play makes me think he might be a bit of a project for down the road, but someone with high upside. He will have to get off the ball quicker and use his hands better, but Davis could flash this season, depending on how quickly he learns to play on the interior. He’s ranked pretty low right now, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him make a big jump in next year’s countdown.

#98. Crandall Quinn – TE – Grand Rapids (MI) Forest Hills Central: Quinn is a 6’2″, 238 lb. former member of Michigan’s lacrosse team. He joined the football team in 2025 and appeared in one game at tight end. Michigan should be in a little less tight end-heavy personnel this season because of their expanded depth at the wide receiver position, and Quinn likely isn’t going to force himself onto the field.

#99. Randy Keugmone – DE – Oakdale (MN) Tartan: Keugmone is a 6’2″, 237 lb. defensive end who spent five years playing football at South Dakota State. He then joined Michigan in 2025 and is back for the 2026 season, using the COVID waiver and apparently getting some extra eligibility from an injury earlier in his career. He has played in 38 career football games, but he only played in one game in 2025. He will likely be a scout team player in 2026.

#100. Ace Hamilton – C – Washington (DC) St. John’s: Hamilton is listed at 6’3″, 295 lbs. as a freshman center and earned some buzz during spring practice. It’s notoriously difficult to play center as a freshman, so I don’t think he’ll see the field much at all, especially if the guys in front of him stay healthy. He finished the 2026 recruiting cycle as a 3-star, the #47 interior offensive lineman, and #607 overall, but I have a feeling he will outplay his ranking by the time his career is over. The aforementioned lack of experience will probably be too big of a hurdle to overcome this year.

2026 Season Countdown: #101-105

#101. Christian Pierce – LB – Chicago (IL) Brother Rice: Pierce is a 6’0″, 235 lb. linebacker and the younger brother of fourth-year defensive tackle Trey Pierce. Christian spent last season at Western Illinois and made 100 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 4 pass breakups, and 7 quarterback hurries, so he has a fair amount of playing time for a sophomore linebacker. I have not heard about him being talked up much from spring practices, and the jump from being a Western Illinois Leatherneck to playing in Michigan Stadium is fairly significant. Maybe some more experience at the FBS level will push him up the depth chart in the coming years, but for now, I’m thinking he will be a backup.

#102. Joshua Nichols – CB – Detroit (MI) Renaissance: Nichols is a 5’10”, 205 lb. fifth year senior who has played in just one game during his first four years on campus. After being listed as a safety earlier in his career, he is now listed as a cornerback. We have seen him play a little bit in spring games, and his foot speed is not where it needs to be to play cornerback, so we’re not looking at a walk-on like Keshaun Harris who could be in line for some legitimate playing time. Nichols will possibly be a special teams player or a deep bench player.

#103. James Kavouklis – C/LS – Tampa (FL) Berkeley Prep: Kavouklis is now listed at 6’1″, 295 lbs. and played in one game against Central Michigan in 2025. Long snappers don’t typically play offensive line because they have to get downfield on punt coverage, but Kavouklis is an exception. Michigan has some depth at center and Kavouklis will probably be the #3 long snapper, so he’s unlikely to play much in 2026.

#104. Zach Ludwig – LB – South Park (PA) South Park: Ludwig is a 6’2″, 225 lb. redshirt sophomore who played in one game last season, which was in the blowout of Central Michigan. The nephew of former Michigan strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert, it’s been a little surprising that Ludwig – who didn’t have much of a recruiting profile – has stuck around the past couple seasons. But he has added about 20 pounds in the past couple years and is approaching a playable linebacker weight. He will most likely be buried down the depth chart, but he enters year three actually looking like a linebacker.

#105. Bryce Wilcox – WR – Sharpsburg (GA) Trinity Christian: Gosh darn it, I have been in Wilcox’s fan club since he came out of high school, and now it’s year five for him and he hasn’t played much at all. He’s now listed at 5’11” and 191 lbs. and was named the Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year in 2025. Maybe playing receiver isn’t in the cards, but I’m hoping for Wilcox to have one of those walk-on moments in 2026 where he recovers a blocked punt for a touchdown or something like that.

2026 Season Countdown: #106-110

#105. John Weidenbach – LB – Naperville (IL) Benet Academy: Weidenbach is a 6’0″, 215 lb. redshirt junior who has been on the team for the past three seasons. He saw his first game action in 2025, playing some linebacker against Central Michigan in the 63-3 blowout. Weidenbach won’t play a meaningful role in 2026, but he could be in line for some garbage time opportunities.

#106. Kaleb Schlecht – WR – Ann Arbor (MI) Skyline: Schlecht is a 6’4″, 205 lb. wideout who saw his first playing time against Central Michigan in 2025. He has good size, but even going back to high school, his speed and athleticism didn’t indicate an FBS contributor. He may be able to play some as a blocking wideout, but Michigan seems to have enough bodies at wide receiver to keep Schlecht on the sideline.

#107. Ndi Etta – LB – Keller (TX) Liberty Christian: Etta is the 6’2″, 215 lb. younger brother of Michigan defensive tackle Enow Etta. Michigan jumped into his recruitment late and landed him over a few MAC schools and Sacramento State. Ndi lacks the quick twitch ability of a true linebacker, and he doesn’t have the size to contribute at defensive end right now, so this is almost certainly going to be a developmental year. Perhaps he can contribute down the road, but we will see how his body develops. Enow grew from a good-sized edge prospect into a good looking defensive tackle, so there is a family history of packing on good weight.

#108. Tommy Fraumann – OT – Wilmette (IL) Loyola: Fraumann is a true freshman whom Michigan flipped from Miami-OH. While he was listed at 6’8″ and 255-265 lbs. as a recruit, he is reportedly around 280 lbs. now. That still makes him unplayable at offensive tackle, but he’s inching toward a respectable size. Michigan has not had great luck with super tall offensive tackles over the years, but occasionally you get a Taylor Lewan, which can be fun.

#109. Sam Baron – CB – Cadillac (MI) Lake Area: Baron is a 6’1″, 188 lb. redshirt junior who just joined the football team as a walk-on in the spring. His father Phil played football at Michigan State back in the day, but his mom – who must be an awesome person – attended Michigan. It’s very unlikely that someone who hasn’t played football in three years will make any contributions, but as a more mature team member, maybe some opportunities can arise.

Frederrick Ford, Wolverine

Greenwood (MS) Greenwood linebacker Frederrick Ford committed to Michigan on Thursday. He chose the Wolverines over finalists that included LSU, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State, and Tennessee.

Ford is listed at 6’4″ and 203 lbs. on 247 Sports.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 82 grade, #10 LB, #143 overall
Rivals: 3-star, 88 grade, #47 LB
247 Sports: 4-star, 90 grade, #13 LB, #190 overall

Hit the jump for more.

Ryan Jung, Wolverine

Milton (GA) Milton kicker Ryan Jung committed to Michigan, becoming the first member of Michigan’s 2028 recruiting class.

The 6’2″, 195 lb. Jung went 4/5 on field goal attempts as a sophomore in 2025, with a long of 46. He made 50/62 extra points and 36/66 kickoffs were touchbacks.

RANKINGS
Kohl’s Kicking: 5-star, #1 kicker

Hit the jump for more.