The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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58 THE WOLVERINE ❱ NOVEMBER 2024 Michigan hosted several highly touted underclassmen for its Big Ten opener against USC Sept. 21, including Breck Kolojay. The On300 2026 offensive lineman out of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy enjoyed watching the Wolverines win in a thriller. "It was my first game-day visit in The Big House, and it was probably one of the best games I've ever been to," Kolojay said. "I just love seeing the offensive line work that game. "There weren't a lot of passes. I think the game ball should have gone to the of- fensive line and No. 20 [Kalel Mullings]. It was fantastic to watch. I'm glad I made it out. It was a special experience." Michigan dominated in the trenches and pounded the rock all game. Kolo- jay, the No. 18 interior offensive lineman and No. 239 overall prospect nationally, paid close attention to the offensive line throughout the game and was impressed. "When I go to games, I watch how the offensive line operates and how they interact with each other," Kolojay said. "Watching the offensive line operate, you can tell they are close on and off the field. I liked their communication. There were some missed assignments here and there, which is going to happen. But the game was dependent on that fourth-and-1, and I loved watching them dig deep and fight adversity." Kolojay, who also visited Michigan in June, had a chance to reconnect with U-M offensive line coach Grant Newsome. "It's always great to see Coach New- some in person again," Kolojay said. "We've been chatting it up for a while. We had deeper conversations about the game and what's next in my recruitment. "I love his energy. He brings positive energy everywhere he goes. He cares about his guys. I got to meet some of the players, and they said great things about Coach Newsome and Coach [Sherrone] Moore. He's a hell of a coach, and he played offensive line." Kolojay spent almost his entire visit with 2025 Michigan offensive line commit Kaden Strayhorn — the two are current teammates at IMG Academy. "He recruits all the time. Same with DJ [fellow 2025 U-M commit Donovan Johnson]. It would be awesome to play with them again. Kaden and I have that center and guard connection. We've been at IMG so long, we have that friendship and it shows on the field." The Wolverines have made a strong im- pression on Kolojay. "Michigan is going to play a huge factor in my recruitment," Kolojay said. "They'll be in my top list when I drop it. I'm not sure how many schools will be on it, but Michigan will be on it for sure. I'll prob- ably visit again this spring and get back for an official visit. They are up there." — EJ Holland One of the highest ranked recruits on campus this fall was Top 100 2026 Me- chanicsburg (Pa.) Cumberland Valley of- fensive lineman Tyler Merrill. Merrill had already visited Michigan three times going into this trip. However, this was his first game-day experience, and it's safe to say the Wolverines wowed him with their thrilling win over USC. "It was really good," Merrill said. "I got to talk to Coach [Grant] Newsome, his of- fensive line staff and the recruiting staff. They are all great people. "There is a very good culture down there. It's very welcoming. You feel like a part of the community already when you're there. "It was my first time in The Big House for a game, which was pretty cool. It was awesome to see 110,000 people. It was a great game, and they played some great football. It definitely had its own unique atmosphere. I liked it." Michigan ran the ball nonstop against the Trojans and flexed its muscles in the trenches. Merrill, the No. 6 interior of- fensive lineman and No. 74 overall recruit nationally, paid close attention to the of- fensive line and came away impressed. "They looked great," Merrill said. "I remember watching pregame, and they had a lot of guys looking good out there. I could definitely see myself playing there based on how they run block and finish blocks. I feel like that's very similar to my play style. The offensive line aspect of Michigan definitely appeals to me." Newsome, Michigan's offensive line coach, is leading the way in Merrill's re- cruitment and is making him a top prior- ity next cycle. "It's kind of hard to talk about things when you're on the phone all the time," Merrill said. "But we had some small talk. It's always great to see him. We share a lot of things in common. I think we connect really well. "He's a newer coach, so there are still pressures of that. But I give him a lot of credit. He's doing a great job." Michigan also got a boost from four- star 2025 Michigan offensive line commit Avery Gach, who spent some time with Merrill on his visit. "I'm getting close with Avery Gach," Merrill said. "We've been bonding pretty well. I saw him at The BBQ at The Big House and at other visits, too. We caught up and talked football. He's a good kid. The thing I notice on visits is all the offen- sive linemen are like me. It's always easy to find a little group to hang out with." Notre Dame has the projected lead for Merrill in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. However, Merrill does not have a fall visit planned to South Bend. Merrill is slated to see Alabama and Penn State before the end of the year, but U-M will be a strong contender moving forward. — EJ Holland IMG Interior Offensive Lineman Makes First Visit To Big House U-M Is A Strong Contender For Top 100 Pennsylvania OL ❱ PREP PROFILES ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) Littleton, Colo. Class: 2026 Position: IOL Ht.: 6-5 • Wt.: 295 On3 Rankings: No. 44 player in Florida, and No. 18 interior offensive lineman and No. 239 overall prospect nationally. ❱ Breck Kolojay ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Cumberland Valley High School Mechanicsburg, Pa. Class: 2026 Position: IOL Ht.: 6-5 • Wt.: 330 On3 Rankings: No. 2 player in Pennsylvania, and No. 6 interior offensive lineman and No. 74 overall prospect nationally. ❱ Tyler Merrill