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Visitors: April 22-24, 2022

2023

Emilio Duran – K/P – Toledo (OH) Ottawa Hills: Duran is a 6’0″, 185 lb. kicker/punter combo. He’s the #2 punter and the #10 kicker in the class of 2023, according to Kornblue Kicking.

Spencer Fano – OT – Provo (UT) Timpview: Fano is a 6’5″, 270 lb. prospect with offers from LSU, Michigan, Oregon, and USC, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #4 offensive tackle, and #40 overall.

Sidikiba Kaba – DT – Columbus (OH) KIPP: Kaba is a 6’4″, 260 lb. prospect who was recently offered by Michigan; he also has offers from Duke, West Virginia, and several MAC schools. He’s a 247 Sports 3-star and the #150 defensive lineman. His teammate Cameron Frazier was also offered by Michigan but did not visit with Kaba.

T.J. Metcalf – S – Pinson (AL) Valley: Metcalf is a 6’1″, 180-pounder with offers from Florida State, Miami, Michigan, and Penn State, among others. He’s a 3-star, the #39 safety, and #468 overall.

2024

Marquis Gallegos – S – West Hills (CA) Chaminade: Gallegos is a 6’1″, 170-pounder with offers from Notre Dame, USC, Washington, and a few others. He’s a 247 Sports 3-star and the #29 safety.

Nick Marsh – WR – River Rouge (MI) River Rouge: Marsh is a 6’3″, 195 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Penn State, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #11 wide receiver, and #76 overall.

Jaheim Merriweather – S – Gallatin (TN) Gallatin: Merriweather is a 6’3″, 185 lb. prospect with offers from Kentucky, Louisville, and Mississippi State, among others. UPDATE: Merriweather picked up an offer on the visit.

Luca Puccinelli – TE – Richmond (VA) Benedictine: Puccinelli is a 6’7″, 225-pounder with offers from Duke, East Carolina, and Virginia Tech. He came on his visit and left without an offer, but there’s still time for Michigan to extend an offer since he’s a 2024 recruit. Puccinelli is a 247 Sports 3-star and the #17 tight end in his class.

Peyton Woodyard – S – Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco: Woodyard is a 6’2″, 188 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, and USC, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #3 safety, and #31 overall.

2025

Eli Owens – TE – Alcoa (TN) Alcoa: Owens is a 6’3″, 230 lb. prospect with an offer from Eastern Kentucky. UPDATE: He was offered by Michigan on this visit.

2022 Season Countdown: #120 Peter Simmons III

Name: Peter Simmons III
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 291 lbs.
High school: Bonita Springs (FL) Bishop Verot
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #75
Last year: I ranked Simmons #129 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted.
TTB Rating: N/A

Simmons moves up a little bit from last year, largely based on the departure of guys ahead of him. I mentioned in last year’s introduction to him that he is limited athletically, and he doesn’t have overwhelming size at 6’3″. Of course former starting center Andrew Vastardis was also 6’3″, but I don’t think Simmons is on the same level athletically. Simmons is probably a career backup, but those guys can be valuable on the scout team.

Prediction: Backup offensive lineman

2022 Season Countdown: #121 Josh Nichols

Name: Josh Nichols
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 165 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Loyola
Position: Safety
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Nichols was a senior in high school.
TTB Rating: N/A

Air Force and Navy both gave Nichols opportunities to play for them, but he decided to stay home and play for the Wolverines. He was a 247 Sports 2-star and the #255 athlete in the country. I really do think Nichols is one of the top few walk-ons Michigan has brought in over the past several years. The only limiting factor for him is a lack of size if he is indeed only 5’10” (or perhaps even shorter if 5’10” is a stretch). Otherwise, Nichols would be a 3-star recruit or higher.

He’s a heat-seeking missile who’s not afraid of contact despite his lack of bulk, and he’s not slow, either. At the very least, he should be a very good special teams player. I think he’s a better player than Caden Kolesar, who’s a special teams stalwart and has worked himself up to the periphery of the safety depth chart. Nichols has to add some size and has a bunch of players ahead of him, so he will have to bide his time. I expect him to redshirt this fall.

Prediction: Redshirt

2022 Season Countdown: #122 Noah Howes

Name: Noah Howes
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 234 lbs.
High school: Rochester (MI) Rochester
Position: Tight end
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #45
Last year: I ranked Howes #131 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted.
TTB Rating: N/A

Howes was listed at 6’4″ and 250 lbs. when he entered Michigan a year ago, which is borderline freshman offensive lineman size – especially if you’re headed to a military academy to play football, which was an option. Now an inch taller and down 16 pounds – at least according to published measurements – he looks more like a viable tight end.

I like Howes and think he might have a future as a blocking tight end down the road, but Michigan’s tight end room is pretty solid with a full complement of scholarship tight ends and even a playable walk-on in Carter Selzer. If Howes continues to add size and strength, he may become the Carter Selzer of the future. For now he’s probably just a scout team guy.

Prediction: Backup tight end

Former Michigan Athlete of the Week: Channing Stribling

The USFL started its regular season this past weekend, and there are some noteworthy items for former Wolverines.

Former Michigan cornerback Channing Stribling, playing for the Philadelphia Stars, made 2 tackles, 1 interception (returned for 32 yards), and a league-leading 3 pass breakups in a 23-17 loss to the New Orleans Breakers.

🙌 @C_Strib8 WITH THE PICK! 🔥

📺 @USA_Network | #USFLOpeningWeekend pic.twitter.com/hZZh6Sady5

— Philadelphia Stars (@USFLStars) April 17, 2022

OTHERS OF NOTE

• QB Shea Patterson (Michigan Panthers): Patterson completed 17/25 passes (68.0%) for 192 yards, 1 touchdown, and 0 interceptions in a 17-12 loss. However, he was sacked 3 times and fumbled 2 times in his first game action since playing at Michigan in 2019; one of the fumbles was returned for a touchdown.

TOUCHDOWN‼️@SheaPatterson_1 finds @successfulj7_ 🤝

📺: @NBCSports & @PeacockTV | #USFLOpeningWeekend pic.twitter.com/HGLAr13RFa

— Michigan Panthers (@USFLPanthers) April 17, 2022

Video also came out where former Michigan running back De’Veon Smith was apparently cut from the Pittsburgh Maulers because he wanted pizza instead of chicken salad and did not respond in a satisfactory way to the person offering the food:

VIDEO: Running back De’Veon Smith cut from USFL team for wanting pizza over chicken salad pic.twitter.com/3RXDWkAzNp #USFL via @gifdsports

— CFL News (@CFL_News) April 18, 2022