Tag: Brooks Bahr

2024 Season Countdown: #81 Brooks Bahr

Name: Brooks Bahr
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 298 lbs.
High school: Lake Forest (IL) Loyola
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #51
Last year: I ranked Bahr #120 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted.
TTB Rating: 71

After being coached by former Illinois and NFL linebacker John Holecek in high school, Bahr was one of those tweener freshmen in 2023, the kind of player who comes in tall and somewhat thin (if 280 can be considered thin) and doesn’t really have a place. Does he lose weight and play defensive end? Or does he add weight to become a defensive tackle? Either direction was going to take some time, so Bahr redshirted.

Now it’s 2024, and we see which direction Michigan has Bahr going: defensive tackle-ward. He’s up to 298 pounds this season, which is defensive tackle-adjacent, but it’s probably not where he needs to be to get on the field. At 6’5″ that’s not a ton of bulk. Add in the technique work he needed coming out of high school, and he probably still needs another year in the oven before he’s really ready for prime time. Bahr might start getting some snaps in certain situations, but I don’t think we’re going to see him on the field much in 2024.

Prediction: Backup defensive tackle

2023 Season Countdown: #120 Brooks Bahr

Name: Brooks Bahr
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 280 lbs.
High school: Lake Forest (IL) Loyola
Position: Defensive end
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Bahr was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 49 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks.
TTB Rating: 71

Bahr committed to Michigan over a year ago, back in March of 2022. A tall and relatively lanky defensive lineman, he seems to be headed for somewhere along the defensive line. Whether Michigan decides to use him on the edge like Mike Morris or as more of an interior guy might depend on how his body progresses. Usually, it seems like guys with his body type usually end up hanging out between the 290-300 lb. range. Morris was an odd fit at stand-up defensive end at 292-295 pounds, and Julius Welschof could barely get on the field except on special teams – and Bahr doesn’t have that kind of athleticism.

So I expect to see Bahr redshirt this season as Michigan figures out what to do with him and as Bahr’s body figures out how it wants to grow. He also has some technical things to figure out, as he played lacrosse and basketball in addition to football.

Prediction: Redshirt

Class of 2023 Senior Highlights: DE Brooks Bahr

Wilmette (IL) Loyola Academy defensive end Brooks Bahr is a 6’6″, 270-pound signee who’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #71 defensive lineman, and #669 overall.

Visitors: Michigan vs. Hawaii

2023

Brooks Bahr – DT – Wilmette (IL) Loyola: Bahr is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Kayden McDonald – DT – Suwanee (GA) North Gwinnett: McDonald is a 6’3″, 310 lb. prospect with offers from Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, and Ohio State, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #35 defensive lineman, and #243 overall. Right now there are three crystal ball picks, and they’re all in favor of Clemson, which recruits the state of Georgia very well. This is an official visit.

Hit the jump for more.

Visitors: 2022 BBQ at the Big House

Note: Rankings mentioned are from Rivals.

2023

Collins Acheampong – DE – Santa Margarita (CA) Rancho Santa Margarita: Acheampong (4-star, #21 WDE) committed to Michigan in March.

Brooks Bahr – DE – Chicago (IL) Wilmette: Bahr (3-star, #45 SDE) committed to Michigan in March.

Semaj Bridgeman – LB – Philadelphia (PA) Imhotep: Bridgeman (4-star, #12 ILB) committed to Michigan in July.

Hit the jump for more.