The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1523593
D E F E N S I V E L I N E THE WOLVERINE 2024 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 91 with 12.5 as a freshman in 2021, recording 43 tackles with 15.5 for loss and 3 forced fumbles in 13 games with six starts. • Is an Everett (Mass.) High product, where he played with former U-M defensive back Mike Sain- ristil, and was a three-star recruit in the 2021 class, per the On3 Industry Ranking. Year GP/GS Tkls. TFL Sacks 2021* 13/6 43 15.5 12.5 2022* 12/11 36 10 3.5 2023 15/0 38 8.5 5.5 Total 40/17 117 34 21.5 *at Coastal Carolina NEWCOMERS DEVON BAXTER • EDGE Fr. • Clinton, Md. Ht.: 6-6 • Wt.: 235 • Attended Gwynn Park High School, helping the team to the second round of the MPSSAA 2A playoffs his senior year. • Made 55 tackles with 13 sacks, 9 passes defended and 3 fumble recoveries in 2023. • Named a PrepStar 300 All-American and Prince George's 1A/2A All-County Defensive Player of the Year in 2023. • Also lettered in basketball. • Four-star prospect, No. 243 player nationally, 28th- best edge and No. 9 player in Maryland, per On3 Industry Ranking. MANUEL BEIGEL • DL Fr. • Frankfurt, Germany Ht.: 6-5 • Wt.: 280 • Attended Choate Rosemary Hall School in Connecticut, contributing 10 tackles and 4 sacks as a senior. • Played both offensive and defensive lines. • Named PrepStar All-Eastern Region in 2023. • Primarily played soccer before transitioning to football in 2020. • Three-star prospect, No. 878 player in 2023 class and 82nd-ranked defensive lineman, per On3 Industry Ranking. MASON CURTIS • EDGE Fr. • Nashville, Tenn. Ht.: 6-4 • Wt.: 200 • Graduate of Ensworth High School, totaling 31 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 4 passes defended, 4 fumble recoveries and 2 defensive touchdowns as a senior. • Prominent part of a defense that allowed 10.4 points per game in 2023. • Named Tennessee D2-AAA West All-Region and to the Tennessean's 2023 Dandy Dozen list as a senior. • Also lettered in basketball. • On3 Industry Ranking of four stars, No. 323 player nationally, 26th-ranked edge and ninth- best player in Tennessee. LUGARD EDOKPAYI • EDGE Fr. • Bowie, Md. Ht.: 6-6 • Wt.: 225 • Attended Bishop McNamara High School and racked up 22 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 5 sacks and 5 passes defended as a senior. • Also recorded 7 catches for 120 yards. • Named PrepStar All-Atlantic Region and All- WCAC first team. • Four-star signee ranked No. 116 in the country overall, No. 14 edge and third-best player in Maryland, per On3 Industry Ranking. TED HAMMOND • DL Fr. • Cincinnati, Ohio Ht.: 6-5 • Wt.: 265 • Attended Cincinnati St. Xavier High School, recording 38 tack- les, 2 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks during his senior year. • Made 46 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 7 sacks during junior season. • Named to the Division I first-team all-state squad by the Ohio High School Athletic Association and was a PrepStar All-Midwest Region pick as well. • Also played basketball, baseball and competed as a swimmer. • Three-star recruit, No. 444 overall player, 42nd- ranked defensive lineman and 15-ranked player in Ohio, per On3 Industry Ranking. DOMINIC NICHOLS • EDGE Fr. • Frederick, Md. Ht.: 6-5 • Wt.: 251 • Enrolled at U-M in January 2024 and participated in spring prac- tices. • Attended Oakdale High School, helping lead program to 2023 3A Maryland state championship and 14-0 record in 2023. • Oakdale's all-time leader in sacks (27), tackles for loss (51) and QB pressures (143), recording 206 career tackles. • Recorded 84 tackles, program-record 15.5 sacks, 15 passes defended, 77 pressures and an intercep- tion in 2023. • Also played tight end. • Named first-team Maryland All-State and PrepStar All-Atlantic Region in 2023. • Three-star recruit, No. 427 overall player, No. 39 edge and 15th-ranked player in Maryland, per On3 Industry Ranking. DEYVID PALEPALE • DL Fr. • Anchorage, Alaska Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 305 • Played two seasons at Hemp- field High in Pennsylvania and transferred to Manheim High as a senior. • Played in two games in 2023 be- fore suffering a season-ending injury. • Recorded 49 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and 1 interception during junior campaign, also re- covered 2 fumbles and returned 1 for touchdown. • Named a Polynesian Bowl All-Star and PrepStar All-Eastern Region in 2023. • Selected as Pennsylvania Football News' Outstand- ing Lineman of the Year and was a Pennsylvania Sportswriters Class 6A first-team all-state pick as a junior in 2022. • On3 Industry Ranking of three stars, No. 819 over- all prospect, 77th-best defensive lineman in the class. OWEN WAFLE • DL Fr. • Middletown, N.J. Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 280 • Went to The Hun School, help- ing team to 8-1 record and re- cording 16 tackles, including 10.0 for loss, as a senior. • Racked up 64 tackles with 24 tackles for loss and 10 sacks in junior campaign. • Also played fullback. • Two-time Mid-Atlantic Prep League Defensive Player of the Year and New Jersey Prep-A Defen- sive Player of the Year (2022 and '23). • Three-star signee, No. 469 overall player, No. 45 defensive lineman and seventh-ranked player in New Jersey, according to On3's Industry Ranking. Senior defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny made 27 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack last season. He wasn't available to play in the spring while he rehabbed his way back from a leg injury suffered in the Rose Bowl but is expected to be at full strength by fall camp. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER