ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- At this point in the year, we can come up with all of the depth chart projections possible, and like shuffling a deck of cards, it's unlikely we'll manage to predict the accurate rotation by the time the season rolls along.
For instance, as we look at the premier defensive back position, nickel, we were thinking that TJ Metcalf or Ja'Den McBurrows would be the one-two punch there. However, it sounds like Tevis Metcalf is more likely than his brother TJ to hold the position, but we also never predicted that second-year safety Mason Curtis would be working there, as well.
At 6-foot-4, Curtis is tall for a defensive back as it is, let alone to cover the slot receiver. But he shared on Friday that he's cross-training between nickel and his extant safety position.
"Yeah, Coach Morgan prepared me well enough to go out there and practice and rotate in it. It's just something new," Curtis said. "I just think football IQ and also range (helps). Size helps also, but just being able to know the defense."
Of course, playing nickel means that a player like Curtis may be facing opposing wide receivers who are much smaller than him. Slot is often where teams put their shortest, fastest receivers, and Michigan is no exception.
Thus, it's important for Curtis to be able to jam the wideout at the line of scrimmage so that they don't get a free release, slowing them down just enough for him to keep up.
"You have to guard people like Semaj, so quick and fast, stuff like that," Curtis said. "Yeah, definitely got to get your hands on him."
While it might be unusual in college to see a 6-foot-4 nickel, it's not anathema to the sport. Baltimore Ravens standout Kyle Hamilton is that same height and he often plays over the slot receiver. Using his length, Curtis says that he looks to Hamilton's game to help educate him on what he can do at the college level against smaller receivers.
"Yeah, really Kyle Hamilton. That's kind of somebody I try and model my game after," Curtis said. "So when I see him do it, it just gives me confidence I have a bigger body and nickel."
Michigan will showcase its new-look team on April 19 in the annual spring game which is set to take place at The Big House.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Mason Curtis could be Michigan football nickel in 2025
