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2023 Season Countdown: #114 Joel Metzger

Name: Joel Metzger
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 218 lbs.
High school: Battle Creek (MI) Lakeview
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #54
Last year: I did not rank Metzger. He did not play in any games.
TTB Rating: N/A

Metzger is a student body walk-on who joined the team in 2022. He made enough of an impact on special teams in practice to be named the team’s Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year, so that’s something. This is not meant to be an insult, but watching his film can make you realize that effort and toughness can go a long way. He’s not the biggest or fastest guy – and he has certainly grown since high school – but he must be doing some impressive things in practice to earn the aforementioned honor.

Maybe special teams on Saturdays is in the cards for this fall, but maybe not. I don’t foresee him factoring into the linebacker rotation anytime soon, but if he can play on coverage units, good for him.

Prediction: Backup linebacker and special teamer

2023 Season Countdown: #115 Josh Beetham

Name: Josh Beetham
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 242 lbs.
High school: Yorkville (IL) Yorkville
Position: Tight end
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #40
Last year: I ranked Beetham #115 and said he would be a backup tight end (LINK). He played in one game.
TTB Rating: N/A

Beetham, a former high school quarterback, played in one game last season. It seems like walk-ons had a choice last year: either play against Hawaii or UConn. Beetham went with Hawaii, and that was that. Of course, Michigan had a glut of tight ends, and even some scholarship guys didn’t get much run, so it makes sense that Beetham didn’t play much.

The 2023 season likely won’t see much of a change for Beetham. While he has added three pounds to his frame, Michigan brought in transfer A.J. Barner, who will probably be a co-starter with Colston Loveland. Meanwhile, Matt Hibner and Max Bredeson should both play quite a bit, with some other young up-and-comers also battling for playing time. Beetham will probably just play in one or two games again this season.

Prediction: Backup tight end

2025 Recruiting Update: May 19, 2023

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2025

Wallingford (CT) Choate Rosemary Hall offensive tackle Will Black (unranked) was offered by Michigan. Miami, Penn State, and Pitt have also offered.

Savannah (GA) Christian tight end Logan Brooking (unranked) was offered by Michigan. Georgia Tech, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, and Wisconsin are some of his other offers. He’s the son of former Georgia Tech linebacker Keith Brooking, who would go on to be the #12 overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons.

Greensboro (NC) Grimsley defensive end Bryce Davis (4-star, #7 edge, #53 overall) was offered by Michigan. He’s 6’4″ and 230 lbs. with offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Notre Dame, Penn State, Tennessee, and others.

Hit the jump for more.

Way Too Early 2024 Depth Chart: May 2023

The following depth chart has removed these listed players from the depth chart due to various reasons, even though some could return with a fifth year or COVID year exception:

• QB Jack Tuttle (graduation)
• RB Blake Corum (graduation)
• WR A.J. Henning (graduation)
• WR Cornelius Johnson (graduation)
• WR Roman Wilson (graduation)
• OL Karsen Barnhart (graduation)
• OL LaDarius Henderson (graduation)
• OL Myles Hinton (graduation)
• OL Trente Jones (graduation)
• OL Trevor Keegan (graduation)
• OL Drake Nugent (graduation)
• DT Cam Goode (graduation)
• LB Michael Barrett (graduation)
• LB Nikhai Hill-Green (transfer to Charlotte)
• LB/RB Kalel Mullings (graduation)
• LB Joey Velazquez (graduation)
• CB Mike Sainristil (graduation)
• S Damani Dent (transfer)
• S Quinten Johnson (graduation)
• S R.J. Moten (transfer to Florida)

It also assumes that every currently rostered player and every currently committed prospect will be here in 2024, which is obviously not true.

Hit the jump for the depth chart.

2023 Season Countdown: #116 Evan Link

Name: Evan Link
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 305 lbs.
High school: Washington (DC) Gonzaga
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Link was a senior in high school (LINK).
TTB Rating: 72

Link committed to Michigan on August 1, 2022, and signed with the Wolverines in December. His recruiting profiles listed him at about 290 pounds, although MGoBlue’s website puts him at 305. Anyway, usually those listings are overshot – just look at all the sophomores and redshirt freshmen who lose an inch and a chunk of weight between years one and two – and it takes a couple years for linemen to develop their bodies.

Link also seems to have very few highlights of pass protection, which probably means he either played in a run-heavy offense . . . or he just doesn’t have much good to show off in pass pro. While I’m not questioning his athleticism – he’s a pretty good athlete – pass protection issues can get people hurt. Furthermore, Michigan has a ton of depth on the offensive line and shouldn’t need true freshmen to play.

Prediction: Redshirt