Name: Dominic Nichols Height: 6’5” Weight: 251 lbs. High school: Frederick (MD) Oakdale Position: Defensive end Class: Freshman Jersey number: #33 Last year: Nichols was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 84 tackles, 15.5 sacks, 1 interception, and 77 quarterback pressures. TTB Rating: 79
Nichols had an outstanding senior season with 15.5 sacks and, according to MGoBlue, a school record of 77 pressures. I have no idea about the history of Oakdale, but it’s hard to imagine getting more than 77 pressures in a high school season. His senior season showed some athletic and technical development, and he was blowing up high schoolers trying to block him.
Nichols enrolled early over the winter and participated in spring practices. He looked bigger than I expected (I figured he would be around 260 instead of listed at 251) and seemed like he could be a guy who gets an early role in mop-up situations. He’s probably not a guy who will rotate in during key moments, but Michigan is looking for people to step up at the edge positions; outside of Josaiah Stewart, Derrick Moore, and T.J. Guy, nobody really seems to know what to expect from the other edges. But this is a position that played at least four guys regularly in 2023, including Stewart, Moore, Braiden McGregor, and Jaylen Harrell. Can Nichols maybe be that fifth edge, kind of like T.J. Guy, who played 81 defensive snaps in 2023?
2023 Starters: OLB Jaylen Harrell, DT Mason Graham, DT Kris Jenkins, DE Braiden McGregor Losses: Reece Atteberry (transfer), Cam Goode (NFL), Harrell (NFL), McGregor (NFL) Returning players: Josaiah Stewart (Sr.), Kechaun Bennett (RS Jr.), Rayshaun Benny (RS Jr.), T.J. Guy (RS Jr.), Ike Iwunnah (RS Jr.), Tyler McLaurin (RS Jr.), Graham (Jr.), Grant (Jr.), Derrick Moore (Jr.), Alessandro Lorenzetti (RS So.), Breeon Ishmail (So.), Cameron Brandt (So.), Roderick Pierce (So.), Brooks Bahr (RS Fr.), Enow Etta (RS Fr.), Aymeric Koumba (RS Fr.) Newcomer: DE Dominic Nichols (Fr.) Projected starters: OLB Stewart, DT Graham, DT Grant, DE Moore
Michigan had an excellent defensive line in 2023, and it might have been the best position group on the national championship squad. The biggest differential in the national championship game against Washington was Michigan’s defensive line against the offensive line of the Huskies. Washington had a couple potential high draft picks in that group, and the Wolverines tossed them around like rag dolls.
Whereas Michigan had dynamic edge rushers in 2021 with David Ojabo and Aidan Hutchinson, the interior of the defensive line has been the strength the past two years. That should be the case once again in 2024, though I’m expecting a little more pass rush from the edge guys this season. Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant are entrenched as the starters at defensive tackle, and they should be the #1 defensive tackle combo in the nation. Grant is 6’3″ and 340 pounds but is fast enough to chase down Penn State running backs from behind. Graham is 6’4″, 310 and plays with both explosion and technique.
Michigan needs someone to emerge from the backup ranks, as starter Kris Jenkins, Jr. and frequently used backup Cam Goode have both moved on. Rayshaun Benny broke his foot late in the season, too, and will probably not be full strength until the fall. This spring look for Roderick Pierce to get some heavy rotation after playing a decent amount as the fourth nose tackle a year ago. Ike Iwunnah is a fourth-year player who has yet to see the field, so it’s tough to see him breaking out at this point, and Alessandro Lorenzetti is another player with decent size (6’5″, 301) who has yet to see the field. Michigan will either have to play one of those inexperienced older guys or give a shot to some young guys who really needed to bulk up from “strongside defensive end” vibes to playing tackle, such as Cameron Brandt or Brooks Bahr.
On the edges, Josaiah Stewart – who spent his first two seasons at Coastal Carolina – and Derrick Moore seem like very good bets to start. Stewart should step in capably for Harrell, and Moore should slide in smoothly for McGregor. They both rotated heavily last year and received a ton of playing time, and Stewart in particular showed a lot of growth throughout the year as he adjusted to playing in the Big Ten.
Once again, the big questions come from the backup ranks. Who will step up to rotate into the game frequently? And will anyone turn into an elite pass rusher? T.J. Guy is a fourth-year player with a good bit of experience, and he could be a solid backup option. He’s probably not a game-changer at this point, so the guys fans really want to see are the likes of Breeon Ishmail and Enow Etta. Both had excellent potential coming out of high school, and Etta was a highly valued recruit who was absolutely dominant in high school (20+ sacks in each of his final two seasons) but played against inferior competition.
Aymeric Koumba is a second-year Frenchman, and Dominic Nichols is an early enrollee freshman. Both have potential but it seems a little early for them to make much of an impact.
Ijamsville (MD) Oakdale defensive end Dominic Nichols
Ijamsville (MD) Oakdale defensive end Dominic Nichols committed to Michigan on Sunday afternoon. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Penn State, and Wisconsin, among others.
Nichols is listed on 247 Sports at 6’5″ and 252 lbs.
St. Louis (MO) University wide receiver Ryan Wingo (image via 247 Sports)
2024
Manuel Beigel – DT – Wallingford (CT) Choate Rosemary Hall: Beigel is an international prospect from Germany who has been committed to Michigan since July of 2022. He has since picked up offers from some other big-time programs like Georgia, Penn State, and Texas A&M, among others. This is his official visit.
Boo Carter – ATH – Cleveland (TN) Bradley Central: Carter is a 5’10”, 184-pounder with offers from Michigan, Tennessee, and a bunch of others . . . but it seems to be a two-horse race between the Wolverines and the Volunteers. He’s a 4-star, the #20 athlete, and #240 overall. This is his official visit.
Ondre Evans – CB – Nasvhille (TN) CPA: Evans is a 6’0″, 190 lb. prospect with offers from Arkansas, Michigan, North Carolina State, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and others. He’s a 4-star, the #30 cornerback, and #340 overall. This is his official visit.
Orlando (FL) Edgewater cornerback Cai Bates was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’1″, 180 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Florida, LSU, Ohio State, and Penn State, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #18 cornerback, and #223 overall. As a junior in 2022, he made 7 pass breakups and 4 interceptions, including 3 in one game. The last Michigan player signed from Edgewater was wide receiver Greg Mathews in the class of 2006.
CRYSTAL BALL UPDATES
The following 2024 recruits have received 247 Sports crystal balls in favor of Michigan over the last week:
Belleville (MI) Belleville linebacker Jeremiah Beasley (4-star, #25 LB, #265 overall) from Sam Webb
Ijamsville (MD) Oakdale defensive end Dominic Nichols (4-star, #31 edge, #423 overall) from Steve Lorenz
Chicago (IL) Kenwood wide receiver I’Marion Stewart (4-star, #26 ATH, #315 overall) from Allen Trieu
