Tag: Ike Iwunnah

2023 Season Countdown: #79 Ike Iwunnah

Name: Ikechukwu Iwunnah
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 321 lbs.
High school: Garland (TX) Lakeview Centennial
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #92
Last year: I ranked Iwunnah #69 and said he would be a backup nose tackle (LINK). He did not play in any games.
TTB Rating: 75

Here’s a fun fact about Ike Iwunnah: He’s the only class of 2021 recruit yet to play a down of football in a Michigan uniform.

That is, unless you count transfer offensive tackle Willie Allen, who transferred in and out of Michigan during the off-season between 2020 and 2021.

Even Louis Hansen (UConn), George Rooks (Boston College), and a few offensive linemen who needed physical development have stepped on the field.

So here Iwunnah sits at #79 in the countdown, even though nose tackle Mazi Smith went to the Dallas Cowboys in the 1st round of the NFL Draft. Iwunnah has been passed up by 2022 signees Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, and fellow 2021 signee Rayshaun Benny has been earning more and more praise as he develops. Iwunnah has added about 15 pounds this off-season and may be more viable at the nose tackle position this season, but I will have to see it before I believe it for now, as there has been almost no practice buzz surrounding him at any point.

Prediction: Backup nose tackle

Potential Early Departures: Defense

With the onslaught of transfer portal entries in college football, it’s inevitable that Michigan will face some more departures this off-season. Four players have already announced their intentions to transfer, and two (Cade McNamara and Erick All to Iowa) have already found a landing spot. Quarterback Alan Bowman and tight end Louis Hansen are both headed for, ahem, greener pastures.

McNamara and All are both somewhat unique cases of players who played a lot but felt slighted in some way, but Bowman and Hansen are more typical cases of players buried on the depth chart who want to see some light at the end of the tunnel. This post explores several players in similar situations who may find better situations elsewhere.

You can find the version for the offensive side of the ball here (LINK).

DISCLAIMER: This post is speculative in nature and not intended to encourage/discourage any player from leaving Michigan’s program. The reality is that college football is now a lot like unrestricted free agency from year to year.

LB JOEY VELAZQUEZ
Why he should stay: Velazquez is a solid two-sport athlete who’s having a decent impact on the baseball field with Michigan’s baseball team. His playing time on the field has increased yearly from one game in 2020 to seven games in 2021 to eleven games so far in the 2022 season. He is a steady contributor on special teams and has made a career-high 6 tackles.
Why he might leave: Playing time has been difficult to find on defense, and he has never risen above third string on defense. He was immediately passed by freshman Jimmy Rolder this fall, and the commitment of Ernest Hausmann probably does not bode well for the staff’s faith in Velazquez contributing on defense in 2023. Velazquez only has one season of eligibility remaining, and he may want to go somewhere he can compete for a starting job, which is extremely unlikely in Ann Arbor.

Hit the jump for more.

2022 Season Countdown: #69 Ikechukwu Iwunnah

Name: Ikechukwu Iwunnah
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 306 lbs.
High school: Garland (TX) Lakeview Centennial
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #92
Last year: I ranked Iwunnah #85 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted.
TTB Rating: 75

Iwunnah’s season in 2021 went about as expected. A defensive tackle with some good size coming in, he was pretty raw and needed to redshirt. So when the season came and went without him getting any snaps, I don’t think anyone was surprised.

I don’t expect much from Iwunnah in 2022, either. Even though Michigan lost a couple defensive tackles, they brought in UCF transfer Cam Goode and are expecting big things from Rayshaun Benny and George Rooks. I think Iwunnah will start getting some snaps behind Mazi Smith and Goode, but Michigan has enough defensive linemen that Iwunnah shouldn’t be forced into a critical role unless there are major injury issues.

Prediction: Backup nose tackle

2021 Season Countdown: #85 Ikechukwu Iwunnah

Name: Ikechukwu Iwunnah
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 281 lbs.
High school: Garland (TX) Lakeview Centennial
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Iwunnah was a senior in high school (LINK).
TTB Rating: 75

Iwunnah was a late addition to the 2021 class, and a much needed one at the time. It’s not easy to pull kids out of Texas to come to Michigan, but the Wolverines needed an influx of size on the defensive line. They ended up signing four defensive tackles (Iwunnah, George Rooks, Dominick Giudice, and Rayshaun Benny), and two of those commitments came on National Signing Day: Iwunnah and Benny.

At 281 pounds Iwunnah is a little bit light to handle the interior defensive line as a freshman, and he also has some technical things to clean up before he plays in the Big Ten. He has some decent quickness and good strength, but he needs to get better at defeating blocks and finding the ball. His future could be a bright one, but he needs this season to develop.

Prediction: Redshirt

Class of 2021: Historical Recruiting Comparisons

In case you’re not aware, I have a list of every Michigan recruit going back 20+ years and their rankings (LINK).

Below you will find each 2021 recruit and his closest ranked comparison by position in Michigan history. This might help boost – or temper – some expectations for what we will see from the class.

Hit the jump for the comparisons.