Tag: Sam Staruch

2023 Season Countdown: #111 Sam Staruch

Name: Sam Staruch
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 182 lbs.
High school: Lake Orion (MI) Lake Orion
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #84
Last year: I ranked Staruch #105 and said he would be a backup wide receiver (LINK). He played in two games.
TTB Rating: N/A

Staruch parlayed his touchdown catch in the 2022 spring game into playing on special teams in the season opener and then playing some wide receiver two weeks later against UConn. That type of action is probably once again the ceiling in 2023, as the Wolverines lost some receiving talent but are also bringing in some talented freshmen. Plus the emergence of walk-on Peyton O’Leary shows the top of the pecking order when it comes to walk-ons.

Prediction: Backup wide receiver and special teamer

2022 Season Countdown: #105 Sam Staruch

Name: Sam Staruch
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 180 lbs.
High school: Lake Orion (MI) Lake Orion
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #84
Last year: I did not rank Staruch. He did not play in any games.
TTB Rating: N/A

Staruch was probably not on very many fans’ radar before the spring game, and maybe not even then. An unused walk-on receiver so far in his career, Staruch caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Alan Bowman toward the end of this year’s spring game. He was uncovered in the left flat, so Bowman got a quick snap and flung the ball out to the left, where Staruch easily side-stepped a flailing tackle attempt and walked into the endzone. I don’t think Staruch will see the field much, if at all, this fall but it was a nice moment for him to score a televised touchdown in front of some live fans.

Oh, and he was also the guy whose touchdown celebration was a keg stand, so there’s that.

Prediction: Backup wide receiver

2021 Season Countdown: #119 Sam Staruch

Name: Sam Staruch
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 182 lbs.
High school: Lake Orion (MI) Lake Orion
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #84
Last year: I ranked Staruch #106 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted.
TTB Rating: N/A

Staruch had a very solid high school career and looks like a possible future contributor at wide receiver. Last year I had him at #106, but I think Michigan has brought in a few solid walk-on receivers, somewhat lessening the importance of any one individual guy. There may be an opportunity for playing time now that a couple occasional walk-on contributors – Jake McCurry and Nate Schoenle – have moved on, but offensive coordinator Josh Gattis seems a little less likely to take advantage of walk-ons than previous OCs at Michigan.

Prediction: Backup wide receiver

2020 Season Countdown: #106 Sam Staruch

Name: Sam Staruch
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 185 lbs.
High school: Lake Orion (MI) Lake Orion
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Freshman
Last year: Staruch was a senior in high school.

I don’t have much background information on Staruch, but based on his senior film, I think he has the best natural receiving skills of the preferred walk-ons. He’s a lanky kid with decent speed and good ball skills. Dayton (FCS) offered, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he had other FCS interest.

As a freshman preferred walk-on, he’s very unlikely to see the field. But that could be a possibility in the next few years.

Hit the jump for his senior highlights.