Tag: 2022 season countdown

2022 Season Countdown: #125 Paul Jokisch III

Name: Paul Jokisch III
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 230 lbs.
High school: Birmingham (MI) Seaholm
Position: Defensive end/outside linebacker
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #44
Last year: Jokisch was not on the roster.
TTB Rating: N/A

Jokisch is joining the football team for the first time. If his name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s the son of former Michigan wide receiver Paul Jokisch, who played in the mid-1980s before being a fifth round draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers. He’s also the nephew of former Wolverine Dan Jokisch and the cousin of former walk-on lineman Dan Jokisch, Jr. So there are a lot of Michigan connections.

For whatever reason, Jokisch III did not play football for his first two years on campus and joined the team this spring. I assume he will have to knock off some rust following the hiatus. You can see below that he played some wingback in high school – where he was a little bit of an awkward fit – and listed at 6’3″ and 230 lbs., he’s undersized to play an edge position at Michigan right now. Perhaps a year or two in the weight room might change that, but he’s very likely just a scout team guy right now.

Prediction: Backup defensive end/outside linebacker

2022 Season Countdown: #126 William McBride

Name: William McBride
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 202 lbs.
High school: Birmingham (MI) Seaholm
Position: Running back
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #31
Last year: McBride was not on the roster.
TTB Rating: N/A

McBride is an unknown at this level. He was not on Michigan’s fall roster in 2021, but he joined the team as a student body walk-on this winter. He was a very productive runner at Seaholm in high school, largely playing the fullback position on a triple option team. With a couple high-profile backs at the top of the depth chart and some more experienced walk-ons like Leon Franklin and Danny Hughes ahead of him, playing time is going to be tough to find. If McBride sticks around for a few years, he may find himself in the Leon Franklin role of being the #3 or #4 guy who can get some carries once game outcomes are already decided.

Prediction: Backup running back

2022 Season Countdown: #127 Daniel Taraboi

Name: Daniel Taraboi
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 295 lbs.
High school: Cedarburg (WI) Cedarburg
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Taraboi was a senior in high school.
TTB Rating: N/A

Taraboi is coming to Michigan as a preferred walk-on after spurning offers from San Diego and Valparaiso. He’s a massive high schooler (listed at 6’7″ and 310 lbs. on Hudl) who is a little bit stiff and plays upright. Because of the lack of flexibility, he is probably looking at a career of being a scout team and backup player, but those guys are valuable to have on your roster.

Prediction: Redshirt

2022 Season Countdown: #128 Declan Byle

Name: Declan Byle
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 175 lbs.
High school: Novi (MI) Catholic Central
Position: Quarterback
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Byle was a senior in high school.
TTB Rating: N/A

Byle committed to Michigan as a preferred walk-on instead of playing in the Ivy League at Yale. He threw for 1,590 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions as a senior at Catholic Central while leading the team to an 8-3 record. He’s a decent athlete who makes a lot of off-platform throws on the move. He seems to constantly be under pressure in his highlights, but maybe that’s just when he makes a lot of his most impressive plays.

I don’t think Byle will ever be in the mix for much playing time at Michigan, but he could be a decent scout team quarterback during his career.

Prediction: Redshirt

2022 Season Countdown: #129 Nico Andrighetto

Name: Nico Andrighetto
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 180 lbs.
High school: Mountain View (CA) St. Francis
Position: Safety
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Andrighetto was a senior in high school. He made 75 tackles, 4 forced fumbles, 3 interceptions, and 1 touchdown.
TTB Rating: N/A

Andrighetto turned down offers from Colgate and Columbia to become a walk-on at Michigan, where his older brother Lucas spent several years as a walk-on running back. Nico was a 247 Sports 2-star and the #209 running back overall. He won “Defensive Back of the Year” in the West Catholic Athletic League in California and his biggest “weakness” is his height. If he were two or three inches taller, he would probably be a Power 5 scholarship player. Chances are slim that Andrighetto becomes much of a contributor at Michigan, except perhaps as a special teams player down the road. But this season should be a redshirt year for him.

Prediction: Redshirt