Michigan Football: Breaking down preferred walk-on Jerome Nichols

Michigan football added another preferred walk-on for the 2020 class in Detroit Renaissance linebacker/H-back Jerome Nichols. Here’s a breakdown.

Fans always want to focus on stars and rankings when it comes to recruiting, but the truth is, there are a lot of talented players out there. And Michigan football is hoping that it found a diamond in the rough in preferred walk-on Jerome Nichols.

Last week, it was announced that Michigan football had added a preferred walk-on in Noah Stewart, a 6-foot-7 offensive lineman that was also an in-state prospect. Well, Thursday, the Wolverines added another walk-on from in the state as Jerome Nichols announced on Twitter that he was committing to U-M as a preferred walk-on.

He previously had offers Valparaiso and Northwood according to the D Zone, a football recruiting site. 

https://twitter.com/jerome_nichols5/status/1248324641233534978

Nichols also had interest playing in the Ivy League, but the 6-foot-1, 225-pounder will instead join the Wolverines and while his road to actually getting on the field will be difficult, he offers position versatility, which should at least give him a better chance.

Studying his Hudl film, Nichols looks like a solid linebacker. He would have to play on the inside and be sort of a classic mike. He’s tough though and he can hold his own inside the box, which is a trait I liked even more when I watched him play offense.

That’s where I believe his future would be with Michigan football, playing the H-back role. He tagged Jim Harbaugh and an offensive analyst in his tweet, Steve Casula, which makes you think the Wolverines might like him as a fullback type.

Nichols plays some tight end and fullback and his film and at both positions, he shows some promise. He did a solid job in run blocking, again this is just highlights, but there is something worth developing there. He also flashed the ability to catch the ball as a tight end and you know Harbaugh loves an H-back who can catch the ball.

Obviously, the fullback position isn’t a huge priority in the Josh Gattis offense and that’s why a preferred walk-on makes sense. The kid can try to earn his way on special teams and eventually as a fullback. He has the toughness, the willingness to block and the hands to possibly make it there. For now, it’s another body heading into the 2020 season.