Tag: Jacob Oden

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: #46-50

50. DT Ike Iwunnah (RS Sr.): Iwunnah was a nice little success story in 2024. In a pretty rare career swing, he went from not playing at all in his first three years to being a pretty key rotation player in the defensive line as a redshirt junior. Michigan was very talented at defensive tackle last year but pretty thin outside of Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, and Rayshaun Benny. The great defensive lines over the past few years have had to play about five guys on the interior pretty regularly, and Iwunnah broke into that rotation, making 8 tackles and 1 tackle for loss. This season should see more of the same with Benny and Trey Pierce back, along with transfers Damon Payne (Alabama) and Tre Williams (Clemson). Last year’s rank: #83.

49. WR Anthony Simpson (RS Sr.): Simpson transferred in from UMass after starting his career at Arizona, playing two seasons at each stop. Altogether, he has a respectable 68 receptions for 910 yards and 3 touchdowns in his college career, but most of that (57 catches, 792 yards, all 3 TDs) came in 2023 for the Minutement. The 5’11”, 184-pounder could be a bit of a gadget guy and might provide some run-after-catch abilities. I don’t expect him to start, but there’s a possibility that he could play a similar role to what we saw from Semaj Morgan during the 2023 national championship season.

48. S Jacob Oden (So.): Oden earned his way onto special teams late in the season, playing in four games and preserving his redshirt. The 6’1″, 196-pounder could be a bit of an insurance policy in 2025, depending on the health of former starter Rod Moore, who missed all of 2024 with an injury. Michigan lost starter Makari Paige and heavy contributor Quinten Johnson, bumping up Oden, Brandyn Hillman, and Jaden Mangham, the last of whom transferred from Michigan State prior to last season. Oden will probably start seeing some time on defense this fall. Last year’s rank: #87.

47. OT Andrew Babalola (Fr.): Aside from quarterback – where freshman Bryce Underwood seems likely to starter over Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene – the left tackle battle is probably the most interesting one on the team. Babalola (5-star, #3 OT, #16 overall) is listed at 6’6″ and 300 lbs. on Michigan’s roster and could potentially be the starting left tackle by season’s end. But he’s contending with redshirt sophomore Andrew Link, who started at right tackle last season, and redshirt freshman Blake Frazier. Link appears to be the nominal starter going into fall, and Sam Webb thinks Frazier will win the job. Regardless, Babalola should get some playing time this fall and will probably be the front-runner to start in 2026.

46. S Mason Curtis (So.): Curtis is one of the most interesting players on the roster when it comes to figuring out how to rank him and how much he will play. He looked like a possible edge player as a recruit, then a linebacker, and then settled in somewhat at safety last season, playing in five games at safety and making 8 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 interception. At 6’5″ and 200 lbs., he looks a little odd at safety but he could potentially be a “big nickel” this season if/when Michigan decides to deploy that look. Last year’s rank: #112.

2024 Season Countdown: #87 Jacob Oden

Name: Jacob Oden
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 206 lbs.
High school: Harper Woods (MI) Harper Woods
Position: Safety
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #5
Last year: Oden was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 56 tackles, 4 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and 14 pass breakups while scoring 2 defensive touchdowns.
TTB Rating: 80

Oden is the son of a former walk-on fullback at Michigan, so the recruitment did not seem to be a difficult one. He was an ardent member of the 2024 class even when Jim Harbaugh was headed to the NFL. But Oden wasn’t just a legacy recruit. He finished as a 247 Composite 4-star, the #27 safety, and #293 overall while also fielding offers from Auburn, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and others.

Oden enrolled early and could be on track to play some this season. In fact, he might have been one of the top few safeties if not for some late developments, such as landing Wesley Walker (Tennessee) and Jaden Mangham (Michigan State), while also securing the return of Quinten Johnson. That affords Oden a little more time to develop. He seems to have put on some good weight since his junior year, and Michigan now lists him at 206 pounds, which is good bulk for someone who’s 6’1″. Michigan now has the numbers to let Oden redshirt, but considering that he might be in line to start in 2025 (Makari Paige, Rod Moore, Johnson, and Walker could all move on), the coaching staff may want to get him some on-field experience.

Prediction: Backup safety

Visitors: Michigan vs. Purdue

2024

Jadyn Davis – QB – Charlotte (NC) Providence Day: Davis is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Jo’Ziah Edmond – CB – Nappanee (IN) Northwood: Edmond is committed to Michigan.

Channing Goodwin – WR – Charlotte (NC) Providence Day: Goodwin is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Hit the jump for more.

Visitors: Michigan vs. Indiana

2024

Blake Frazier – OT – Austin (TX) Vandegrift: Frazier is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Hogan Hansen – TE – Bellevue (WA) Bellevue: Hansen is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Jacob Oden – S – Harper Woods (MI) Harper Woods: Oden is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Cole Sullivan – LB – Pittsburgh (PA) Central Catholic: Sullivan is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Hit the jump for more.