Tag: 2021 season countdown

2021 Season Countdown: #120 Andrew Russell

Name: Andrew Russell
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 190 lbs.
High school: Victor (NY) Victor
Position: Safety
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #43
Last year: I did not rank Russell. He did not play in any games.
TTB Rating: N/A

Russell has been on campus for a couple years and has not participated in any games so far. I did not rank him previously, partly because he’s a safety on a team that recruited a ton of safeties over a couple recruiting classes. While the focus on recruiting safeties has perhaps petered out a little bit, there are still a lot of those guys on the roster.

Russell’s only real chance of getting on the field is playing on special teams. At 6’2″ and 190 lbs., Russell is a former standout lacrosse player (he was on Michigan’s lacrosse team for two years) and a decent athlete. He does not have superb speed, but his length and aggression are respectable. I do not expect him to see the field this fall.

Prediction: Backup safety and special teamer

2021 Season Countdown: #121 Noah Stewart

Name: Noah Stewart
Height: 6’7″
Weight: 255 lbs.
High school: Muskegon (MI) Northern Muskegon
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #61
Last year: I did not rank Stewart. He redshirted.
TTB Rating: N/A

I did not rank Stewart in 2020. The season countdown wasn’t as expansive, and as a freshman preferred walk-on lineman, I didn’t deem him capable of stepping on the field. And that was accurate. Stewart didn’t have a chance as a 6’7″, 245 lb. offensive tackle.

This year Stewart is a whopping 255 lbs. If I were Michigan, I might look at giving him a tight end number and playing him as a blocking tight end. Last year Michigan toyed with walk-on Carter Selzer and converted lineman Joel Honigford at tight end, and Stewart probably fits that role as a blocker better than Selzer. I don’t necessarily expect Stewart to play this year, but he has a lot of upside for a walk-on lineman.

Prediction: Backup offensive lineman

2021 Season Countdown: #122 Dominick Giudice

Name: Dominick Giudice
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 265 lbs.
High school: Freehold (NJ) Mater Dei
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #56
Last year: Giudice was a senior in high school. He made 46 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, and 42 quarterback hurries.
TTB Rating: N/A

Giudice committed to Michigan over a year ago, in March of 2020. Compared to most Michigan recruits, he was lightly recruited. Naturally, that led many Michigan fans to flip their lids about his commitment. While I did not flip my lid, I was not super impressed with Giudice’s film or athleticism.

Until late in the process, Giudice was Michigan’s only defensive tackle commitment. Eventually, he was joined by George Rooks, Ike Iwunnah, and Rayshaun Benny. It rarely works out this way, but Giudice appears to have the least upside of the group. Iwunnah and Benny are more physically ready, and Rooks is a shade more athletic. It’s always tough to get on the field as a freshman defensive tackle, let alone as the fourth most talented one in a recruiting class. I do not expect Giudice to see the field this fall.

Prediction: Redshirt

2021 Season Countdown: #123 Will Rolapp

Name: Will Rolapp
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 190 lbs.
High school: Suffield (CT) Suffield Academy
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #30
Last year: I did not rank Rolapp. He redshirted.
TTB Rating: N/A

Rolapp went to Darien (CT) Darien – home of Andrew Stueber – before transferring to Suffield Academy – alma mater of Brad Hawkins and Kechaun Bennett – for his final year. At Suffield in 2019, he caught 25 passes for 432 yards and 3 touchdowns. Last season he won Scout Team Player of the Week leading up to the Minnesota game.

After watching his senior year film, I don’t think Rolapp has any special traits that will get him on the field in any other capacity than perhaps special teams at some point.

2021 Season Countdown: #124 Peyton O’Leary

Name: Peyton O’Leary
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 188 lbs.
High school: Byfield (MA) Governor’s Academy
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: O’Leary was a senior in high school.
TTB Rating: N/A

O’Leary, a standout lacrosse player, chose to commit to the Wolverines as a preferred walk-on football player. His 2019 junior season saw him catch 17 passes for 403 yards and 5 touchdowns. Unfortunately, he was unable to play a season in 2020 due to the pandemic.

You can watch O’Leary’s highlights below, and they’re pretty impressive. He’s a long, lanky receiver who moves really well. I would not be surprised at all if he eventually factors into the rotation at Michigan, as we’ve seen less talented walk-on receivers (Jake McCurry, Nate Schoenle, etc.) get on the field. A walk-on receiver is unlikely to contribute as a freshman, but if O’Leary can add a little weight, maintain his speed, and improve his route-running, he could be a valuable member of the team.