Tag: Josh Nichols

2026 Season Countdown: #101-105

#101. Christian Pierce – LB – Chicago (IL) Brother Rice: Pierce is a 6’0″, 235 lb. linebacker and the younger brother of fourth-year defensive tackle Trey Pierce. Christian spent last season at Western Illinois and made 100 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 4 pass breakups, and 7 quarterback hurries, so he has a fair amount of playing time for a sophomore linebacker. I have not heard about him being talked up much from spring practices, and the jump from being a Western Illinois Leatherneck to playing in Michigan Stadium is fairly significant. Maybe some more experience at the FBS level will push him up the depth chart in the coming years, but for now, I’m thinking he will be a backup.

#102. Joshua Nichols – CB – Detroit (MI) Renaissance: Nichols is a 5’10”, 205 lb. fifth year senior who has played in just one game during his first four years on campus. After being listed as a safety earlier in his career, he is now listed as a cornerback. We have seen him play a little bit in spring games, and his foot speed is not where it needs to be to play cornerback, so we’re not looking at a walk-on like Keshaun Harris who could be in line for some legitimate playing time. Nichols will possibly be a special teams player or a deep bench player.

#103. James Kavouklis – C/LS – Tampa (FL) Berkeley Prep: Kavouklis is now listed at 6’1″, 295 lbs. and played in one game against Central Michigan in 2025. Long snappers don’t typically play offensive line because they have to get downfield on punt coverage, but Kavouklis is an exception. Michigan has some depth at center and Kavouklis will probably be the #3 long snapper, so he’s unlikely to play much in 2026.

#104. Zach Ludwig – LB – South Park (PA) South Park: Ludwig is a 6’2″, 225 lb. redshirt sophomore who played in one game last season, which was in the blowout of Central Michigan. The nephew of former Michigan strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert, it’s been a little surprising that Ludwig – who didn’t have much of a recruiting profile – has stuck around the past couple seasons. But he has added about 20 pounds in the past couple years and is approaching a playable linebacker weight. He will most likely be buried down the depth chart, but he enters year three actually looking like a linebacker.

#105. Bryce Wilcox – WR – Sharpsburg (GA) Trinity Christian: Gosh darn it, I have been in Wilcox’s fan club since he came out of high school, and now it’s year five for him and he hasn’t played much at all. He’s now listed at 5’11” and 191 lbs. and was named the Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year in 2025. Maybe playing receiver isn’t in the cards, but I’m hoping for Wilcox to have one of those walk-on moments in 2026 where he recovers a blocked punt for a touchdown or something like that.

2025 Season Countdown: #111 Joshua Nichols

Name: Joshua Nichols
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 205 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Loyola
Position: Safety
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #36
Last year: I ranked Nichols #96 and said he would be a backup safety and special teamer (LINK). He did not play.
TTB Rating: N/A

Nichols has spent the past few seasons as a scout team player, never seeing the field on a fall Saturday. He has made some appearances during spring games and does not appear to be ready for Big Ten competition, so his role is likely going to stay the same as a practice player.

While Michigan lost Makari Paige to graduation after the 2024 season, they brought in reinforcements and have guys waiting in the wings. Former starter Rod Moore will hopefully be ready for the 2025 season, and former Michigan State starter Jaden Mangham is also on hand. Meanwhile, Brandyn Hillman has made some strides, Mason Curtis has been a pleasant surprise, and Arkansas transfer T.J. Metcalf has a good amount of experience, too. The group hasn’t played together much, but there are a lot of solid pieces for defensive backs coach LaMar Morgan to piece together a back end.

Prediction: Backup safety

2024 Season Countdown: #96 Joshua Nichols

Name: Joshua Nichols
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 196 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Loyola
Position: Safety
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #29
Last year: I ranked Nichols #102 and said he would be a backup safety and special teamer (LINK). He did not play.
TTB Rating: N/A

Nichols came in as a decently talented safety, but he has yet to see the field at Michigan. Over two seasons on campus, he has been unable to crack the rotation or even end up on special teams, the latter of which I thought was pretty likely in 2023. This spring he got a bit of a bad rap when he was beaten for a long touchdown by redshirt freshman wide receiver Kendrick Bell, but that was a case where Nichols was forced into action at cornerback due to the split squad setup of the spring game.

Michigan has faced some departures at safety this off-season with guys like Keon Sabb transferring to Alabama and Rod Moore heading off to ACL rehab land. But they brought in reinforcements like Wesley Walker and Jaden Mangham, so Nichols isn’t any further up the depth chart. His best bet is still getting on the field as a special teams guy. We’ll see if year three pays off for him.

Prediction: Backup safety and special teamer

2023 Season Countdown: #102 Joshua Nichols

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Name: Joshua Nichols
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 190 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Loyola
Position: Safety
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #29
Last year: I ranked Nichols #121 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted.
TTB Rating: N/A

Nichols is one of those walk-ons who seems like he’s going to make an impact by the time his career is over, whether just on special teams or maybe a little bit on defense. He filled up the stat sheet as a high school senior two years ago – 82 tackles, 11 forced fumbles, 7 pass breakups, and 1 interception – and now seems to have put on about 20 pounds of muscle.

Nichols could have a Hunter Reynolds type of career. Reynolds played as a backup before transferring to start at Utah State. Now that Nichols has put on some good weight, perhaps this is the season for him to run down on kickoff and/or punt coverage and start to make a name for himself. With the talent and depth at safety right now, that’s probably the best chance for him to get on the field.

Prediction: Backup safety and special teamer

2022 Season Countdown: #121 Josh Nichols

Name: Josh Nichols
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 165 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Loyola
Position: Safety
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Nichols was a senior in high school.
TTB Rating: N/A

Air Force and Navy both gave Nichols opportunities to play for them, but he decided to stay home and play for the Wolverines. He was a 247 Sports 2-star and the #255 athlete in the country. I really do think Nichols is one of the top few walk-ons Michigan has brought in over the past several years. The only limiting factor for him is a lack of size if he is indeed only 5’10” (or perhaps even shorter if 5’10” is a stretch). Otherwise, Nichols would be a 3-star recruit or higher.

He’s a heat-seeking missile who’s not afraid of contact despite his lack of bulk, and he’s not slow, either. At the very least, he should be a very good special teams player. I think he’s a better player than Caden Kolesar, who’s a special teams stalwart and has worked himself up to the periphery of the safety depth chart. Nichols has to add some size and has a bunch of players ahead of him, so he will have to bide his time. I expect him to redshirt this fall.

Prediction: Redshirt