The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MAY 2026 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 41 have for him, though — how badly did he want it? "Consistency" was the word most used when asked what he needed to do to see the field more, and even his teammates said he was unstoppable "when he wanted to be." That's now carried over to the spring and a new staff, as well. Though the ju- nior is getting better and better — fel- low defensive end Lugard Edokpayi called him one of the leaders on the edge — there's still another gear he can reach. "Dom Nichols, he's coming into his own. He's a force out there," head coach Kyle Whittingham said. "He's 6-4 plus and 260 pounds and really has a great first step in pass-rushing skills. He's a guy that I think has a chance to be All-Big Ten before he's finished here. "I think he's that good, and it's up to him how good he can be. If he continues to work hard and put every- thing into it, then he's going to play this game for a long time." As in, longer than just a few more years at Michigan. He's got an NFL body and the physicality, and though he didn't put up huge numbers last year — 1 sack on 87 pass-rush snaps rotat- ing behind veterans Derrick Moore and Jaishawn Barham — he did manage 9 pressures and was in the backfield con- sistently. Against the run, meanwhile, he was one of the Wolverines' best edges per snap. He notched 19 tackles, 5.5 of which went for loss — tied for fourth on the team — and 9 were short-yard- age stops. He also didn't miss a tackle all year, according to advanced met- rics sites, giving him the highest tackle grade among Michigan defensive line- men per Pro Football Focus and ranked third on the team, trailing only line- backers Jimmy Rolder and Troy Bowles. Though he and several of the other potential starters were limited in the spring game, Nichols made the most of his opportunities. He only played in the non-tackling first quarter ("thud," meaning wrapping up only, not taking a ball carrier to the ground), but he was in the backfield many times and held the edge against the run. He'd have been credited with at least a sack after one spin move in which he had an offensive lineman grasping at air. Whittingham's eyebrows raised when asked about his junior, pouring on the praise. Nichols' teammates agreed — he's ready for a breakout year. "He's a great guy, another veteran," Edokpayi said. "Just his work ethic, ev- erything he's put into this game, as well. "It's taken him a long way. He's an- other guy who is going to make a huge impact this fall. He's a guy." READY TO PROVE IT He won't get there without help, of course, and the new coaching staff has played a huge role in getting the most out of him. Practices are such that if you're five minutes early, you're late, Nichols noted. Everything is more structured, the players have said, and the demands are … well, what they should be at a place like Michigan: Ex- tremely high. It's taken some a bit to get used to it, but the veterans have taken it upon themselves to lead. They're following the examples of the new staff, which for the defensive ends is Lewis Powell, who came to Michigan from Utah. "I'm a fan of Coach Powell," Nich- ols said. "I'm a big fan. This spring ball — maybe it's because I'm a little bit older and I see things differently now — I've made a big jump with the help of his coaching. "I like to compare him to our old coach, Coach 'Phee' [Pernell McPhee]. They're both players' coaches, will al- ways have your back, so it makes you want to play harder for him, almost run through a wall." Though he's always had the "get off" and great first step to go with raw power and speed, Nichols is now refining his technique. Powell has been a huge help in that respect. "The biggest thing, in terms of help- ing me in my game, is my hands," Nich- ols said. "He's helped my hands and my feet moving at the same time. I'm a lot more fluent as a player in terms of pass rushing, and he makes sure we're always physical in the run game." Whittingham demands it, and on both sides of the ball. At the same time, offensive coordinator Jason Beck is as creative as it gets in designing an of- fense, giving the defense more looks to prepare for. Utah was outstanding in the run game last year, finishing second nationally with 266.3 yards, so in that sense, it seems like a typical Michigan offense we've seen over the last several years with Jim Harbaugh and then Sherrone Moore. Not so much, Nichols said. "The offense almost reminds me of like a USC, not what we're used to in the Big Ten," he said. "I think it's good, an opportunity for teams to see something new that you're not used to, which is usually always harder to play against once they hit you with something you've never seen before. "I've had an opportunity this spring to get used to new looks, different looks. You're looking at the formation and you don't really know what you're going to get, but you've still got to try to make a play or do your job the best you can. I'm a fan." He's also been pleased with the com- petition, understanding they'll all have a role if they do their jobs. Whittingham talked about Cam Brandt and Nate Mar- shall as guys who could help make an impact, but perhaps the most impactful still hasn't put on pads. Utah All-Amer- ican John Henry Daley has been work- ing back from a lower-leg injury and is expected to be full go in June, and he'll push for playing time at the very least. Nichols is excited for the challenge. "This is Big Ten football. I was never the type of guy to really run from com- petition," Nichols said. "That's what I want. I'm here to start this year, so that's what I'm going to go out there and do … just play my game, get better at my game, do what I'm doing and stay confident in my game." What it will look stats-wise is yet to be determined, but there's no question Nichols has a chance to be a difference- maker. He's excited for his opportunity. Now, he just has to take it. ❏ ❱ U-M head coach Kyle Whittingham on Nichols "He's coming into his own. He's a force out there. … I think has a chance to be All-Big Ten before he's finished here."