Michigan Football: Shaun Nua gives Wolverines an edge with elite DE

Michigan football is making a push for Quintin Somerville, an elite defensive end in 2021 and assistant coach Shaun Nua is giving the Wolverines a shot.

On the defensive side of the ball, one of the things that Michigan football needs more of are pass rushers and in 2021, few are better than four-star defensive Quintin Somerville, a prospect out of the state of Arizona.

Arizona isn’t necessarily a stronghold for the Wolverines, but Michigan football was able to get some recruits out of there in 2020 and thanks to defensive line coach Shaun Nua, who had a relationship established with Somerville when he was at Arizona State.

U-M is in a good spot with the 6-foot-3 Somerville, who weighs 230 pounds and is compared to Shaq Larson on his 247 sports scouting profile.

The defensive end will also be looking to take some visits soon and according to 247 sports, Michigan football is one of the programs in the mix, thanks to Nua:

"“We’re also trying to get out to USC on Mar. 7 but other than that I have no other visits that are planned,” Somerville told 247Sports ($). “I like that the Trojans have a very storied program. Right now I am also trying to work out an official visit to Michigan. I’ve built a great relationship with coach Shaun Nua ever since he was at Arizona State — he was actually the first coach that recruited me.”"

Nua has developed a really solid reputation recruiting for the Wolverines and was essential in getting the commitment of four-star Braiden McGregor, the top defensive commit in the 2020 class.

Over the past couple of seasons, it has become clear that the Wolverines need more pass rusher, the kind that wins one-on-one matchups consistently. Chase Winovich was that guy in 2018 and in 2019, Josh Uche was really good in that role. The issue is depth and Michigan needs more of it.

You need to have an army of pass rushers, ready to harass the opposing quarterback if you want to slow down really good offenses and for the most part, since 2015-2016, Michigan football hasn’t had that.

A kid like Somerville could help change that. He’s the fourth-ranked strongside end in the 2021 class and the top prospect in the state of Arizona, as well as the 69th-best overall.

Michigan needs more upper-echelon players on the edge and landing Somerville would be a tremendous start.