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2024 Season Countdown: #89 Owen Wafle

Name: Owen Wafle
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 280 lbs.
High school: Princeton (NJ) The Hun School
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Wafle was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 16 tackles and 10 tackles for loss.
TTB Rating: 73

Wafle was a flip from Notre Dame and is known for his quickness and versatility. He could play defensive tackle or perhaps defensive end, and I even threw out the idea that he could end up as a fullback. He has a younger brother, Luke, who is a top-200 player being recruited by Michigan as an edge player and a tight end end by various schools for 2026. Versatility is the name of the game in the Wafle household.

Owen Wafle is one of those guys who I could see working his way into playing time as a freshman. If Greg Mattison were still the defensive line coach, I would think Wafle would play early. I’m largely unfamiliar with how new defensive line coach Lou Esposito will rotate and reward his guys, so that’s a question mark. It would be a huge surprise for Wafle to make a big impact in 2024, but he could get a little bit of playing time to prepare him for 2025, when there’s a good chance that both Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant will be in the NFL.

Prediction: Redshirt

2024 Season Countdown: #90 I’Marion Stewart

Name: I’Marion Stewart
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 180 lbs.
High school: Chicago (IL) Kenwood
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Stewart was a senior in high school (LINK). He caught 38 passes for 909 yards and 9 touchdowns, and he ran 14 times for 128 yards and 3 touchdowns.
TTB Rating: 80

Stewart is a diminutive wide receiver prospect who shows impressive speed on his high school film. He’s listed at 5’10” and 180 pounds, which is approximately the same size as 2023 freshman contributor Semaj Morgan (5’10”, 176). The new NCAA ’25 video game (BUY IT HERE) gives Stewart a speed rating of 92, which is tied for fourth on the team. That speed shows through with numerous big plays and an average of 23.9 yards per catch. Stewart was ranked as a 4-star, the #50 wide receiver, and #309 overall in the 247 Composite.

Freshman wide receivers are perfectly capable of making an impact on the field, but the Wolverines brought in transfer portal options in the form of C.J. Charleston (Youngstown State) and Amorion Walker (Ole Miss) while also having young up-and-comers like Tyler Morris, Frederick Moore, and the aforementioned Morgan. Stewart could potentially factor in as a receiver or returner, but I’m guessing he will be similar to Karmello English, who caught 1 pass and had 1 punt return while playing in six games in 2023.

Prediction: Backup wide receiver

2024 Season Countdown: #91 Blake Frazier

Name: Blake Frazier
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 275 lbs.
High school: Austin (TX) Vandegrift
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #77
Last year: Frazier was a senior in high school (LINK).
TTB Rating: 89

Blake Frazier is another legacy player at Michigan, and being a Michigan legacy means you’re going to be awesome, just like Will Johnson and Aidan Hutchinson. There are absolutely no exceptions to that rule. The son of former center Steve Frazier, Blake committed in April of 2023 and remained solid through the coaching transition. Frazier ended the cycle as a 4-star, the #14 offensive tackle, and #169 overall in the 247 Composite rankings.

While he has length and athleticism, the spring game was a little bit rough. He had some flat-out whiffs and just kind of froze a couple times. I believe the recognition and reaction will speed up, but in April he was supposed to be worried about prom, not about 250 lb. 21-year-old men trying to beat him to the quarterback. This will probably be a redshirt year for Frazier. But there will be some openings along the offensive line in 2025 after Myles Hinton and Jeffrey Persi move on.

Prediction: Redshirt

2024 Season Countdown: #92 Ben Roebuck

Name: Ben Roebuck
Height: 6’7″
Weight: 330 lbs.
High school: Lakewood (OH) St. Edward’s
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Roebuck was a senior in high school (LINK).
TTB Rating: 64

Roebuck is a mammoth offensive lineman who committed to the Wolverines in March of 2023. He and fellow Ohioan offensive lineman Luke Hamilton had some fun exchanges about Ohio State on Twitter, ingratiating them with Michigan fans. Players from Ohio who don’t get recruited by OSU have a chip on their shoulders when it comes to the Buckeyes, which may help down the road.

Anyway, Roebuck finished the cycle as a 247 Composite 3-star, the #41 offensive tackle, and #539 overall player. I pointed out some issues in his original commitment post, and those issues still existed in his senior highlights: he’s a huge player who doesn’t really finish blocks with a lot of ferocity, and he’s limited athletically (doesn’t show a lot of foot quickness, doesn’t bend particularly well, etc.).

After having played tackle in high school, I think Roebuck will have to move inside to guard. That should help mitigate some of the above issues. I had some of the same concerns about Michael Onwenu, and Onwenu played as a freshman, so perhaps Roebuck’s size will be too overwhelming to keep off the field. Maybe he’ll get a few snaps late in games. Ultimately, I’ll think he’ll play in four games or fewer and keep his redshirt.

Prediction: Redshirt

Ivan Taylor, Wolverine

Winter Garden (FL) West Orange safety Ivan Taylor flipped from Notre Dame to Michigan.

Taylor is listed at 6’0″ and 174 pounds. As a junior in 2023, he made 45 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 4 forced fumbles, and 1 pass breakup.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 85 grade, #5 S, #41 overall
On3: 4-star, 92 grade, #14 S, #132 overall
Rivals: 4-star, 5.9 grade, #11 S, #102 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, 94 grade, #2 S, #41 overall

Hit the jump for more.