Tag: Brady Pallante

Brady Pallante, Ex-Wolverine

Brady Pallante

Redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Brady Pallante is not listed on the just-released fall roster. The 6’1″, 280-pounder was recruited by Brady Hoke in the 2014 class and was expected to be an undersized nose tackle. Jim Harbaugh moved him to fullback in spring 2015, but he played defensive tackle when injuries took their toll on Michigan’s defensive line. I thought he might develop as an upperclassman, but the position switch probably didn’t help him gain the necessary size and strength to be a Big Ten nose tackle. Michigan has also done a great job of recruiting and developing nose tackles, so he would have been no higher than fourth on the depth chart going into this season. I ranked him at #67 in the 2016 Season Countdown (LINK).

Michigan is down to 84 allotted scholarships for 2016 (LINK), and that includes walk-ons Kenny Allen and Ryan Glasgow. So one more lucky, hardworking walk-on will be rewarded with a scholarship this year.

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2016 Season Countdown: #67 Brady Pallante

Brady Pallante

Name: Brady Pallante
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 280 lbs.
High school: Naples (FL) Barron Collier
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #45
Last year: I ranked Pallante #73 and said he would be a backup fullback (LINK). He played in seven games as a backup defensive tackle.

Pallante came to Michigan as an undersized nose tackle a few years ago, but when Michigan was lacking fullbacks, Jim Harbaugh gave him a shot to be a lead blocker. He split time between fullback and defensive tackle until he was needed full-time on defense due to some injuries. The coaching staff did not seem to have a ton of faith in him last year, because he lost nose tackle playing time to fellow position-oscillator Tom Strobel. Pallante played in seven games but did not register a tackle.

Michigan returns almost everyone on the defensive line this year, including a couple of the guys who were injured last year. Strobel transferred to Ohio, but the only significant departure was defensive tackle Willie Henry. Pallante won’t factor heavily into the nose tackle situation this year unless injuries rear their ugly heads again, and he was concentrating only on defense this spring. He’s game-experienced now and might see some mop-up time.

Prediction: Backup nose tackle

Spring Football Preview: Defensive Tackles and Defensive Ends

Bryan Mone (#90)

Projected DT starters: Fifth-year senior Ryan Glasgow was one of Michigan’s best starting defenders last season, and you could tell how much the defense missed him when he missed the end of the season with a pectoral injury. He finished the season with 25 tackles, 5 TFLs, and 1 sack in nine games at the nose tackle position. He is very strong, fairly quick off the ball, and uses excellent technique. Last year’s backup nose tackle Maurice Hurst, Jr. was pressed into a lot of playing time at the nose because of injuries, but his size makes him more of a 3-technique in an ideal world. Assuming Glasgow and Bryan Mone return healthy at NT, redshirt junior Hurst (35 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 3 sacks) should slide over to 3-tech and use his quickness there.

Hit the jump for the rest of the defensive line preview.

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2015 Season Countdown: #73 Brady Pallante

Brady Pallante (image via Maize and Blue News)

Name: Brady Pallante
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 276 lbs.
High school: Naples (FL) Barron Collier
Position: Fullback
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number:  #45
Last year: I ranked Pallante #88 and said he would redshirt. He redshirted.

Pallante was an undersized nose tackle last year and did not see the field at all. When Jim Harbaugh was hired and spring practice began, many were surprised to find that Pallante had a new jersey and a new position. One major reason for the position change is likely that both fullbacks (Joe Kerridge, Sione Houma) are seniors that will need to be replaced in 2016. Harbaugh also probably has a plan to work a jumbo fullback into the backfield, and that role could be filled by Pallante or perhaps some like defensive tackle Maurice Hurst, Jr. Pallante won’t be a starter this season and probably won’t be an extremely valuable member of the offense, but he could see an occasional snap in certain packages.

Prediction: Backup fullback

Michigan releases spring 2015 roster

Brady Pallante is a fullback now. Brady Pallante is not #23.

Michigan released its spring roster on Monday as the Wolverines begin spring practice on Tuesday (LINK). Here are some notable updates to the roster.

Ian Bunting: Bunting is up to 6’7″ and 243 lbs. Michigan needs help at tight end this fall, so 243 lbs. is a good sign of him developing physically. He should be up over 250 lbs. by the fall.

Brian Cole: Cole, a true freshman early enrollee, is wearing #81. He’s listed at 6’2″, 200 lbs.

Ross Douglas: Douglas was recruited as a cornerback, moved to slot receiver, moved to running back, and now is back at corner. Still wearing #29, he is now listed as Ross Taylor-Douglas.

Derrick Green: Green is listed at 5’11” and 234 lbs.

Ty Isaac: Isaac is listed at 6’3″ and 240 lbs.

Alex Malzone: Malzone, a true freshman early enrollee, is wearing #12. He’s listed at 6’2″, 218 lbs.

Brady Pallante: Pallante came to Michigan as a nose tackle prospect and is now listed as a redshirt freshman, 6’0″, 276 lb. fullback wearing #45.

Terry Richardson: Richardson is listed as a redshirt junior cornerback and is finally nearing close-to-acceptable weight at 174 lbs. at 5’9″.

Matt Thompson: Thompson is a new addition as a walk-on quarterback from Cincinnati (OH) Indian Hills. He’s listed at 6’5″, 214 lbs. as a redshirt freshman. Here are Thompson’s Hudl highlights from his senior year (LINK). His delivery is a little bit wonky, but he doesn’t look too bad for a walk-on. He’s not a bad guy to have available for running a scout team and such. It also looks like he’s hit a growth spurt since high school.

Ryan Tice: Tice is a 6’1″, 177 lb. walk-on who enrolled early out of Saline (MI) Saline. I mainly note this because Michigan graduated both their punter and kicker, so Tice might be competing for one of those jobs, along with walk-on Kenny Allen (punter) and 2015 signee Andrew David (kicker).