Tag: TJ Metcalf

2025 Season Countdown: #16 T.J. Metcalf

Name: T.J. Metcalf
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 200 lbs.
High school: Birmingham (AL) Pinson Valley
Position: Safety
Class: Junior
Jersey number: #7
Last year: Metcalf played for Arkansas. He started eleven games and made 57 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 3 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, and 7 pass breakups.
TTB Rating: N/A

T.J. Metcalf was a free agent transfer from Arkansas who fit in immediately upon arriving in Ann Arbor. A starter at safety in 2024 who played in 24 total games for the Razorbacks, he’s a good-sized player who apparently has a football mind. Sam Webb recently stated that Metcalf said he learned Michigan’s defense in about a week this spring, and that’s good news, because the defense is thought to be rather complicated since it’s an NFL system.

His Arkansas career included three interceptions last season, two of which came against former Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne, who decided to move south to throw his interceptions in an Auburn uniform instead.

Now that he’s in Ann Arbor, he seems likely to play the nickel position formerly inhabited by Mike Sainristil, Zeke Berry, and Makari Paige. Fifth year senior Rod Moore could be an option at nickel, too, but Moore is coming back from an injury. To start the year, I think it makes the most sense to have Moore at nickel, Jaden Mangham and Brandyn Hillman at safety, and then Zeke Berry and Jyaire Hill at cornerback. Sherrone Moore was quoted over the summer as saying Metcalf could be one of the best players not only on the team, but in the Big Ten.

Prediction: Starting nickel; 60 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 interceptions

T.J. Metcalf, Wolverine

Arkansas safety T.J. Metcalf, a cousin of NFL wide receiver D.K. Metcalf, committed to Michigan on Monday night after visiting over the weekend. He and his younger brother Tevis are both now Wolverines. (I’ll address Tevis in a separate post.)

T.J. is a 6’1″, 200 lb. safety who made 57 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 3 interceptions, and 7 pass breakups playing a deep safety role for the Razorbacks. He made 2 interceptions against Auburn, which made Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze tear his hair out and publicly call out (former Michigan State) quarterback Peyton Thorne. One interception was a tipped ball that bounced up into the air, and the other was a diving catch. Metcalf’s other interception was against UAB.

Metcalf has a strong build and should be an asset both as a tackler and a coverage guy down the road. While his performances have been up and down, he should get better coaching at Michigan than he got at Arkansas. With Michigan losing both Quinten Johnson and Makari Paige to graduation, along with key backup Wesley Walker, there’s room for immediate help. I would probably pencil in Metcalf as a starter at free safety, though there is potential for Rod Moore to return in 2025, which could shake up the lineup or the depth chart.

Metcalf was a 3-star, the #51 safety, and #541 overall in the class of 2023. Michigan had offered him out of Pinson (AL) Valley, along with Florida State, Miami, Penn State, and Tennessee, among others.

Visitors: April 22-24, 2022

2023

Emilio Duran – K/P – Toledo (OH) Ottawa Hills: Duran is a 6’0″, 185 lb. kicker/punter combo. He’s the #2 punter and the #10 kicker in the class of 2023, according to Kornblue Kicking.

Spencer Fano – OT – Provo (UT) Timpview: Fano is a 6’5″, 270 lb. prospect with offers from LSU, Michigan, Oregon, and USC, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #4 offensive tackle, and #40 overall.

Sidikiba Kaba – DT – Columbus (OH) KIPP: Kaba is a 6’4″, 260 lb. prospect who was recently offered by Michigan; he also has offers from Duke, West Virginia, and several MAC schools. He’s a 247 Sports 3-star and the #150 defensive lineman. His teammate Cameron Frazier was also offered by Michigan but did not visit with Kaba.

T.J. Metcalf – S – Pinson (AL) Valley: Metcalf is a 6’1″, 180-pounder with offers from Florida State, Miami, Michigan, and Penn State, among others. He’s a 3-star, the #39 safety, and #468 overall.

2024

Marquis Gallegos – S – West Hills (CA) Chaminade: Gallegos is a 6’1″, 170-pounder with offers from Notre Dame, USC, Washington, and a few others. He’s a 247 Sports 3-star and the #29 safety.

Nick Marsh – WR – River Rouge (MI) River Rouge: Marsh is a 6’3″, 195 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Penn State, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #11 wide receiver, and #76 overall.

Jaheim Merriweather – S – Gallatin (TN) Gallatin: Merriweather is a 6’3″, 185 lb. prospect with offers from Kentucky, Louisville, and Mississippi State, among others. UPDATE: Merriweather picked up an offer on the visit.

Luca Puccinelli – TE – Richmond (VA) Benedictine: Puccinelli is a 6’7″, 225-pounder with offers from Duke, East Carolina, and Virginia Tech. He came on his visit and left without an offer, but there’s still time for Michigan to extend an offer since he’s a 2024 recruit. Puccinelli is a 247 Sports 3-star and the #17 tight end in his class.

Peyton Woodyard – S – Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco: Woodyard is a 6’2″, 188 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, and USC, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #3 safety, and #31 overall.

2025

Eli Owens – TE – Alcoa (TN) Alcoa: Owens is a 6’3″, 230 lb. prospect with an offer from Eastern Kentucky. UPDATE: He was offered by Michigan on this visit.

2023 Recruiting Update: February 18, 2022

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2023

Peyton Bowen – S – Denton (TX) Guyer: Bowen is a 6’0″, 185 lb. prospect who’s committed to Notre Dame. He’s a 4-star, the #4 safety, and #61 overall. Guyer is a powerhouse program in Texas.

T.J. Metcalf – S – Pinson (AL) Valley: Metcalf is a 6’1″, 180-pounder with offers from Florida State, Miami, and Penn State, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 3-star and the #41 safety.

Isaiah Neal – DT – Baltimore (MD) St. Frances: Neal is a 6’3″, 265 lb. prospect with offers from Maryland, Ohio State, Pitt, and West Virginia, among others. He’s a 3-star, the #60 defensive lineman, and #451 overall. St. Frances is the former stomping grounds of current Michigan staffer Biff Poggi.

Isaac Smith – S – Fulton (MS) Itawamba: Smith is a 6’0″, 200 lb. prospect with offers from Arkansas, Georgia, Notre Dame, and Texas A&M, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #19 safety, and #196 overall.

Robert Stafford – CB – Melbourne (FL) Eau Gallie: Stafford is a 5’11”, 171-pounder with offers from Florida, Ohio State, and Oregon, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #23 safety, and #272 overall. He has some really nice acceleration and explosiveness and looks like he could help in the return game, too.

OFF THE BOARD

Findlay (OH) Findlay offensive tackle Luke Montgomery committed to Ohio State. He had a high interest in Michigan and visited several times, but it was not to be. His younger brother Ryan Montgomery is a 2025 quarterback with a Michigan offer.

Lawrence (MA) Central Catholic tight end Preston Zinter committed to Notre Dame. Zinter is the younger brother of Michigan offensive guard Zak Zinter, but it sounds like Michigan was not strongly pushing for Preston with a tight end already committed in the 2023 class in the form of Andrew Rappleyea.