Michigan Football: How each new assistant coach will impact recruiting

Nua could open doors for new opportunities out west

Shaun Nua is the newest addition to the Michigan football coaching staff and he will take over for Mattison along the defensive line. Nua, 37, is young like Gattis and Campanile and he offers NFL experience, which could be critical for attracting top-flight defensive lineman to Ann Arbor.

Mattison was a talented recruiter but he did most of his work in the Midwest. Nua, a Samoan, could give the Wolverines more chances to connect with players on the west coach such as in Arizona, Hawaii and California.

It’s hard to judge Nua on recruiting because he coached at Navy before Arizona State, however, he was able to help Arizona State land a four-star defensive Stephon Wright. On top of that, Nua was critical in helping the Sun Devils get four-star quarterback Jayden Daniels. 

Even though Nua obviously has nothing to do with coaching quarterbacks, he developed a relationship with Daniels and he eventually committed to Arizona State. That’s the kind of thing that can help any program and with the reach of Michigan football, plus his NFL background, Nua could be a star on the recruiting trail.

At the very least, he should help the Wolverines make even greater inroads out west and anytime you can expand into different parts of the country, it’s a good thing.