Name: Declan Byle Height: 6’2″ Weight: 169 lbs. High school: Novi (MI) Catholic Central Position: Quarterback Class: Redshirt freshman Jersey number: #24 #20 Last year: I ranked Byle #128 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted. TTB Rating: N/A
Byle is almost certainly headed for another “redshirt” season after not playing at all in 2022. He did get a run-out-the-clock snap or two in the spring game, so there’s that. But he’s actually lighter in 2023 (169 lbs.) than he was in 2022 (175 lbs.), so he needs to buy into that Ben Herbert plan and be on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List by 2025. Anything less will be a total disappointment.
And Ben Herbert better start earning his $1,000,000+ and get this kid up over 180 lbs. by next season.
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.
Detroit (MI) Loyola safety Josh Nichols (image via Hudl)
At any top-tier football program, walk-ons can seem meaningless. When teams recruit 5-star and 4-star players, what are the chances that some walk-on is going to do anything significant on the field? Except in almost any year, a walk-on plays a significant role, even if it’s “only” on special teams. This past season, safety Caden Kolesar (9 tackles), defensive tackle Jess Speight (7 tackles), tight end Carter Selzer, and long snapper William Wagner all played significant snaps for the Wolverines. There’s a good chance that at least one or two of these players will end up playing a lot of minutes in a Michigan uniform.
Nico Andrighetto – S – Mountain View (CA) St. Francis Andrighetto is the 5’9″, 180 lb. brother of walk-on running back Lucas Andrighetto. He turned down offers from FCS Colgate and Columbia to walk on at Michigan. Nico had 75 tackles, 4 forced fumbles, 3 interceptions, and 1 touchdown as a senior in 2021. You can find his highlights HERE.
Chibi Anwunah – DE – Westland (MI) Lutheran Anwuna is a 6’7″, 225 lb. Nigerian immigrant who played out of position – at least for college – as a linebacker in high school. He will almost certainly move down to the defensive line, probably defensive end, for Michigan. Anwunah has good size and decent athleticism, but he plays tentatively and needs to get a lot stronger. If he does he could be a diamond in the rough in a few years. You can find his highlights HERE.
Evan Boutorwick – LS – Sterling Heights (MI) Henry Ford II Boutorwick has nice size at 6’4″ and 225 lbs. He was an Under Armour All-American and Korblue Kicking has him ranked as the #10 long snapper in the class of 2022.
Declan Byle – QB – Novi (MI) Catholic Central Byle is a 6’2″, 175 lb. prospect who looks like a walk-on quarterback. He does not have a particularly good arm or noteworthy athleticism. I do not see him factoring into Michigan’s depth chart in the future. You can find some of his highlights HERE.
