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.
