Nolan Ulizio
[Eric Upchurch]

Nolan Ulizio in Transfer Portal Comment Count

Seth January 15th, 2019 at 9:37 AM

Somebody last night noticed amidst the long list of Nittany Lions in the transfer portal the name of Michigan redshirt junior OL Nolan Ulizio. A onetime starter for Michigan, Ulizio lost his job as quickly as he won it in 2017, and virtually disappeared last year behind the two-deep freshmen.

Lorenz's article points out that the transfer portal does not mean a player is certainly leaving. As per the new rule, athletes who ask to be placed in the portal can be contacted by other coaches to discuss a transfer, but that's no guarantee of any bites, or that the player will prefer his transfer options to sticking around. In this case I'm guessing he's gone.

Ulizio was a flier recruit taken in late January 2015 when Harbaugh arrived to find just Grant Newsome and legacy Jon Runyan in the class, and the guys on campus already nearing the end of their eligibility. Until that point Ulizio had been committed to Connecticut with not a lot of other choices. While offensive linemen are the toughest to predict, that's often an effect of having to gain or lose a lot of weight. Ulizio was more of a late riser and big drive blocker who projected to guard down the line. In the context of the 2015 class and the need for OL down the road it was a worthy swing. The bar was set at Reuben Riley. Intelligence was the reason to hope he'd be more.

That hope grew when Ulizio was mentioned after 2016 spring practice as a potential contributor, and momentarily exploded when he was announced as the starting right tackle shortly before the 2017 opener against Florida. Unfortunately that was the peak of his Michigan career. Ulizio's performances over five starts put him in that category of guys who grade out so badly in UFR that talking about it feels harsh, with blame doled out to coaches and universes more so than the player. It turned out that both Juwann Bushell-Beatty and Runyan were superior options, and when Ulizio appeared again it was as a guard in mop-up hour. Just a redshirt sophomore at that point, the early playing time suggested there might be a player in practice who'd translate that to the field eventually. Or maybe Drevno and Frey weren't happy with the other tackles and flung Ulizio out there in late desperation or something. Following that dysfunctional season Drevno was forced out, Frey jumped to his alma mater, and Ulizio had to prove himself to a third OL coach.

By Spring 2018 that seemed increasingly unlikely, as the tackle battle dominated offseason chatter without so much of a breath spent on Nolan. Ulizio was not just behind Runyan and JBB but two redshirt freshmen and true freshman Jaylen Mayfield. A late move inside, though probably a better fit, would also come with more competition. Ulizio's chances of earning a fifth year offer in spring, let alone playing again, were iffy at best with all the youngsters passing him. His chances of finding a good school that would take a tackle who started five games for Michigan and can play right away seem much higher.

Ulizio's exit would mean the Wolverines are down to just Runyan and Reuben Jones (if he's extended a fifth year in spring) from the Hoke-Harbaugh transition class. Michigan is now, by my reckoning, down to 88 scholarships for 2019, with a lot of offseason to go before they're expected to be at 85. With normal attrition still expected that's well ahead of the curve, meaning they have some room to offer a few more guys. The new assistants might have some players in mind, and it wouldn't be surprising if Michigan is currently searching the portal for defensive tackles.

Comments

N. Campus Tech

January 15th, 2019 at 10:01 AM ^

Best of luck to you, Nolan.

If nothng else, it speaks to how far the OL depth has come. At one point he was a starter. Now he's the fifth best option, despite being 2 years older. 

JPC

January 15th, 2019 at 10:25 AM ^

I hope he enjoyed his time on the team. He took a lot of shit from the fans, but it's important to remember that he was the best guy available. He took his lumps on and off the field. 

Thanks, buddy!

Mongo

January 15th, 2019 at 10:27 AM ^

Good luck to Nolan !

It would be great if someone could update the Depth Chart by Class under useful stuff, including moving over the early enrollees and placing a * on the new redshirts ... mucho gracias !

 

 

Bodogblog

January 15th, 2019 at 11:14 AM ^

No, we need as many options as possible to find starting OTs.  Runyan is really a guard.  He can be fine at RT, but will still be below average at pass pro.  Best case would be Runyan to RG supplanting Onwenu, where he could be very good, and someone else taking the job at RT.  In any scenario we desperately need a LT. 

Perhaps its Mayfield or someone else.  Perhaps isn't good enough with a passing offense that could explode otherwise.  They should bring in a grad transfer tackle if they have the opportunity.  I am a sunshine blower from the happy place, but time is something we no longer have.  We've been waiting for two solid years non-awful pass pro from the OT position.  No, I don't care about All-B1G status.  Good run blockers this year, bad at pass pro (needed help from TEs, were crushed by better competition). 

Kevin13

January 15th, 2019 at 11:38 AM ^

I think we are fine at tackle. I think Mayfield could become the next great LT at UM. We then can switch Runyon to the right side and have him battle Stueber and the other young players for the starting role. The interior should be very good. I think next years OL could be very good.  

I think we need to find a good DT in the transfer portal for next year 

Bodogblog

January 15th, 2019 at 12:01 PM ^

Your speculation on Mayfield is based on nothing.  No one has seen him play meaningful snaps.  He wasn't able to supplant Runyan last year.  There have been positive murmers about him from camp, but there was also that for Hudson, Steuber as a freshman, and countless others including one Mr. Nolan Ulizio at one time or another.  I hope he's great.  You have zero basis for thinking he could be the next great tackle at Michigan. 

Steuber seemed OK-ish from the starts he had.  I believe he was crushed in the OSU and UF games, however.  That's shouldn't cut it next year.  I hope Steuber is great as well.  None of us has any basis for believing that however. 

If you can get an average B1G starter from the transfer portal, you beam that up.  If someone beats him out, hot damn and we have some depth. 

maize-blue

January 15th, 2019 at 11:18 AM ^

I liked his HS film and thought he could be a sleeper pick. On his HS film he looked aggressive and kept his feet moving/driving. At the UM level I don't think he had the side-to-side agility to deal with better athletes.

JamieH

January 15th, 2019 at 4:32 PM ^

Dude started more games at Michigan than most people could dream of in their lifetimes.  Hopefully he finds a place where he can finish out his career playing and not sitting on the bench.