Tag: 2023 season countdown

2023 Season Countdown: #93 Brandyn Hillman

Name: Brandyn Hillman
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 191 lbs.
High school: Portsmouth (VA) Churchland
Position: Safety
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Hillman was a senior in high school (LINK). He passed for 1,312 yards and 11 touchdowns, and he ran for an additional 1,236 yards and 22 touchdowns.
TTB Rating: 83

Hillman was a late flip from the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. After signing with the Golden Domers, there was an issue with his transcript that wouldn’t allow him to enroll. At that point he was released from his National Letter of Intent. Michigan, which hadn’t even offered him during the cycle, saw he was available, threw him an offer, got him to visit, and then got him to sign. It was quite a stroke of luck for the Wolverines.

Hillman is an excellent athlete with quarterback experience, and quarterbacks often translate well to the college game. We’ve seen it with various players in recent years, including Desmond Morgan (QB to LB), Courtney Avery (QB to CB), Zach Gentry (QB to TE), Michael Barrett (QB to LB), and Luke Schoonmaker (QB to TE). All those players did well, but there is usually a period of transition to the college game; even Desmond Morgan, who played defense in high school, needed time to get ready. Furthermore, Michigan is in pretty good shape at safety with Makari Paige and Rod Moore as the starters, plus a few quality second-year players like Keon Sabb and Zeke Berry. Hillman has a chance to be a good player down the road, and I think he might start getting some experience as a backup and/or on special teams this season.

Prediction: Backup safety and special teamer

2023 Season Countdown: #94 Cameron Brandt

Name: Cameron Brandt
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 260 lbs.
High school: Chatsworth (CA) Sierra Canyon
Position: Defensive end
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Brandt was a senior in high school (LINK).
TTB Rating: 82

Ranked as a 3-star and the #456 overall player in the country, Brandt was close to having Michigan fans’ undivided attention during the late signing period in February. Michigan wrapped up almost every spot in December, but Brandt – who was committed to Stanford for a while – was someone the Wolverines were working on for a long time. It seemed like a foregone conclusion that he would end up in Ann Arbor rather than in Palo Alto, where longtime coach David Shaw resigned, but he kept fans wondering until the last minute.

Brandt has the body to potentially contribute early at 6’4″ and 260 lbs., but the situation on the defensive line doesn’t really require much from young guys. Eyabi Okie (Charlotte), Taylor Upshaw (Arizona), and Mike Morris (Seattle Seahawks) all departed from the defensive front, but they should be replaced by Josaiah Stewart (Coastal Carolina) and an up-and-coming crew that includes Braiden McGregor and Derrick Moore, among others. Brandt could play some backup snaps, and he could watch the entire season from the sideline. Regardless, he’s a solid prospect who should have some solid seasons in the maize and blue if he waits his turn.

Prediction: Backup defensive end

2023 Season Countdown: #95 Jake Thaw

Name: Jake Thaw
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 190 lbs.
High school: Westport (CT) Staples
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #26
Last year: I ranked Thaw #107 and said he would be a backup wide receiver (LINK). He played in two games and make 1 punt return for 10 yards.
TTB Rating: N/A

Thaw finally broke into some playing time in 2022, his third year in the program. He played in a couple blowout games, and he was actually called upon to return a punt against Colorado State. There was a little bit of excitement on his 20-yard return, but it was taken back 10 yards due to a penalty. He also caught a touchdown on a whip route in the 2023 spring game.

My opinion of Thaw is bolstered most by the fact that the coaches trusted him to catch a punt, even though it was late in a blowout win. Obviously, the staff trusts him not to go out there and look like a dolt and turn over the ball. Alas, Michigan has some good receivers returning (Cornelius Johnson, Roman Wilson) and some talented youngsters vying for playing time (Darrius Clemons, Fredrick Moore, etc.), not to mention walk-on Peyton O’Leary, who was the star of the spring game overall. I expect to see Thaw on the field a little bit this fall, but probably not in crunch time.

Prediction: Backup wide receiver and special teamer

2023 Season Countdown: #96 Jason Hewlett

Name: Jason Hewlett
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 215 lbs.
High school: Youngstown (OH) Chaney
Position: Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Hewlett was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 59 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 interceptions, and 3 forced fumbles on defense. He also recorded 14 catches for 317 yards and 3 touchdowns on offense, adding 2 defensive scores and 1 kickoff return touchdown.
TTB Rating: 81

Hewlett is a wild card from the 2023 class. As a 6’3″, 215 lb. wide receiver, kick returner, linebacker, and edge rusher in high school, he could play a variety of roles in college. While offense is probably not in the cards, Jim Harbaugh could probably turn him into a pretty decent H-back. With that speed and a decent frame, he could be a tough cover for defenders, but he might struggle with the blocking aspect.

But I digress.

Hewlett is more of a defensive athlete who could be an inside linebacker, turn into an outside linebacker, or even eventually put his hand down to play defensive end. I think his best spot is outside linebacker where he could potentially be a more explosive Jaylen Harrell. He’s not going to be that this season, though, and Harrell wasn’t a contributor as a freshman, either. Hewlett needs a year of bodily development and probably needs to focus on one position for a bit. He might get some garbage time snaps in a few games this year, but I expect it to be four or fewer so he can redshirt this season.

Prediction: Redshirt

2023 Season Countdown: #97 Jerome Nichols

Name: Jerome Nichols
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 216 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Renaissance
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #50
Last year: I ranked Nichols #100 and said he would be a backup linebacker (LINK). He played in two games.
TTB Rating: N/A

Michigan has a lot of backups but not a lot of proven players at inside linebacker. Last year there was an opportunity for a backup linebacker to work his way into the rotation, but that turned out to be true freshman Jimmy Rolder. Nichols did start to work his way onto the field on special teams in a couple of blowout games against Hawaii and UConn, but after mid-September, he was back to watching from the sideline on Saturdays.

I expect more of the same in 2023. While Nikhai Hill-Green’s departure for Charlotte opens up some room on the depth chart, Hill-Green didn’t play at all last year due to injury. Meanwhile, Junior Colson and Michael Barrett both return, not to mention Rolder and Nebraska transfer Ernest Hausmann. I don’t see a path to defensive snaps for Nichols, but he could once again earn some special teams opportunities.

Prediction: Backup linebacker and special teamer