Tag: Bryson Kuzdzal

2026 Season Countdown: #46-50

#46. Bryzon Kuzdzal – RB – Grand Rapids (MI) Forest Hills Eastern: Kuzdzal is a 5’11”, 210 lb. redshirt junior who was a walk-on in 2023 when the team won a national championship. He went from not playing in any games that year to playing on special teams in 2024 and then starting two games at running back in 2025 after Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall got injured. Kuzdzal had 76 carries for 326 yards and 4 touchdowns, including 20 carries for 100 yards and 3 touchdowns against Maryland. Perhaps an extra year in the weight room will help, but he’s generally a pretty quick runner who didn’t really show much ability to break tackles. After entering the transfer portal this off-season to find a bigger opportunity, he returned to Michigan after Justice Haynes jumped in the portal and landed at Georgia Tech. Kuzdzal will likely be the third running back this season, behind Marshall and freshman Savion Hiter.

#47. Deakon Tonielli – TE – Oswego (IL) Oswego: Tonielli is a 6’5″, 246 lb. redshirt junior who made two starts at tight end in 2025, grabbing 8 catches for 72 yards. He didn’t play in any games during his first two seasons on campus and then suddenly found himself starting at times, largely because starter Marlin Klein missed a big chunk of time due to a leg injury. The pecking order at tight end is questionable right now, but it appears that Hogan Hansen and Zack Marshall will be ahead of Tonielli on the depth chart. Michigan will also use an extra lineman in place of a tight end at times. I would not be surprised if this is his final season in Ann Arbor unless he can surge past one or both of those aforementioned players for some momentum going into 2027, but for now he should be a solid third tight end.

#48. Jordan Young – S – Monroe (NC) Monroe: Young is a 6’0″, 195 lb. sophomore who played in ten games last season, making 15 tackles and 3 pass breakups. He has earned solid reviews from practices, but competition is stiff in the defensive backfield. It was thought that he could contribute at the nickel position, but defensive coordinator Jay Hill mentioned three players vying for time at nickel (Smith Snowden, Zeke Berry, Jyaire Hill) who weren’t named Jordan Young. It also appears that Rod Moore and Chris Bracy will be the two starting safeties, so Young will be battling for a backup role somewhere. Some spots should open up in 2027 with eligibility running out for a few of the aforementioned players, so he might be a starter for the Wolverines in another year.

#49. Jalen Hoffman – TE – Burke (VA) Lake Braddock: The 6’3″, 245 lb. redshirt junior Hoffman waited a few seasons at Michigan to replace Max Bredeson at fullback, only to have the offense change just before his big opportunity arrived. Hoffman played a fair amount in 2025 as Bredeson’s backup and the highlight of his season was probably when he recovered an onside kick against Michigan State. I don’t know exactly what to expect from the offense in 2026, but it feels like the fullback/H-back position might be de-emphasized when compared to the Jim Harbaugh and Sherrone Moore eras. Michigan also has thumper Eli Owens as a somewhat similar fullback type to Hoffman, so it will be interesting to see how much these body types and skill sets will be used by new offensive coordinator Jason Beck.

#50. Jacob Oden – S – Harper Woods (MI) Harper Woods: Oden is a 6’1″, 205 lb. redshirt sophomore who played in ten games on defense in 2025, making 3 tackles and 1 interception. The interception came against Washington when eventual first round pick Denzel Boston had an uncharacteristic drop after beating the defense, and Oden happened to be nearby on the ground, with the ball falling into his lap. It wasn’t the most beautiful play, but it still goes in the stat book. Anyway, Oden will be a backup once again in 2026, battling with the likes of Jordan Young (see above) and Mason Curtis for playing time. Oden should also be a factor on special teams.

2025 Season Countdown: #81-85

85. CB Tevis Metcalf (So.): Metcalf is listed at 5’10”, 192 lbs. after transferring from Arkansas this off-season with his brother T.J. He played in twelve games last season with the Razorbacks, all of them on special teams and two of them on defense. I think the defensive adjustment may be significant and there’s a good amount of competition to get on the field at cornerback, but he’s a good addition for the coming years.

84. WR Jamar Browder (Fr.): Browder (3-star, #82 WR, #540 overall) is a 6’5″, 208 lb. freshman receiver who enrolled early over the winter. The coaching staff has mentioned wanting to add size at the receiver position, and Browder brings that element, along with Indiana transfer Donaven McCulley. I think hands and route running are going to be an issue early for Browder, but the coaches seem to like him and his size maybe advantageous enough in certain situations or games to put him out on the field.

83. S Max Reyes (RS Jr.): Reyes is a redshirt junior that many fans might not know, but he’s a “sleeper” pick of mine to be a key special teams contributor. He was a solid high school baseball player and a backup quarterback to Quinn Ewers in high school, a football powerhouse at Southlake Carroll. Split squad caveats apply, but he has played quite a bit in his spring game opportunities and seems like a solid tackler. I think he might end up playing quite a bit on coverage units this fall. Last year’s rank: #99.

82. RB Bryson Kuzdzal (RS So.): Kuzdzal is a third-year player who had a good spring game and burst on to the scene, making his name known for the first time to many fans. He ran for 1,378 yards and scored 26 total touchdowns as a senior in the class of 2023, and he set personal record times of 10.99 in the 100 meters and 22.20 in the 200 meters during the spring of his senior year. With Jordan Marshall and Justice Haynes virtually cemented in as the top two backs for this season, it will be a battle for the third spot between Kuzdzal, Princeton transfer John Volker, UMass transfer C.J. Hester, and redshirt freshman Micah Ka’apana. Last year’s rank: #127.

81. DE Chibi Anwunah (RS Jr.): Anwunah is a former walk-on who is now listed at 6’5″ and 278 pounds after bouncing around a little bit between tight end and defensive end. He played in two games last season and presumably moves up the ranks a little bit after Michigan lost Josaiah Stewart to the NFL and didn’t bring in any transfers. He’s still behind several guys and perhaps some young players like Devon Baxter, Lugard Edokpayi, and Nate Marshall will pass him up, but Anwunah’s 278 pounds might give him a leg up over some of the lighter, more athletic options. Last year’s rank: #95.

2024 Season Countdown: #126 Bryson Kuzdzal

Name: Bryson Kuzdzal
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 185 lbs.
High school: Ada (MI) Forest Hills Eastern
Position: Running back
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #41
Last year: I did not rank Kuzdzal. He redshirted.
TTB Rating: N/A

Kuzdzal was a preferred walk-on for Michigan in the class of 2023, and he’ll be getting a national championship ring for his good taste of choosing the Wolverines over MSU as his walk-on destination. As a high school senior in the fall of 2022, he ran for 1,379 yards and 22 touchdowns, caught 1 touchdown pass, and returned 3 kicks (2 kickoffs, 1 punt) for touchdowns while averaging 10.4 yards per carry. But with a loaded backfield, he was unlikely to play in 2023, and he didn’t.

This fall the depth chart doesn’t look much better for his chances. Despite the graduation of Blake Corum and the transfer of C.J. Stokes to Charlotte, Michigan returns Donovan Edwards and Kalel Mullings – the #2 and #3 backs from last season – and they added freshmen Jordan Marshall and Micah Ka’apana in the 2024 class. Throw in Tavierre Dunlap, Ben Hall, and Cole Cabana, and it’s a pretty full running back room. Kuzdzal could potentially get some garbage time snaps, but Michigan has invested more scholarship spots at running back than a couple seasons ago when a guy like Leon Franklin was getting a fair number of snaps.

Prediction: Redshirt