Dom Nichols, Cam Brandt impressing Michigan football senior EDGE Derrick Moore in spring
Dom Nichols, Cam Brandt impressing Michigan football senior EDGE Derrick Moore in spring
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- If you listen to what Michigan football players and coaches have been saying since spring ball started, you'll notice some consistencies. One of them is the constant mention of sophomore edge rusher Dom Nichols.
Nichols played in just five games in 2024 and notched only three tackles. But he's been getting a ton of hype, particularly from his teammates, but also his coaches. WolverinesWire asked senior edge rusher Derrick Moore on Wednesday what has made the second-year defensive end so good, and he couldn't just speak about him singularly. Much like Led Zeppelin song 'Heartbreaker' cannot be played on the radio without 'Living Loving Maid' following, you can't take Nichols without his junior edge rushing teammate.
"I'm going to also pick Cam Brandt. Cam Brandt and Dom be kind of like a similarity to me and TJ," Moore said. "Same exact personalities from both sides of the ball and it's kind of crazy because I'm a quiet guy, Cam a quiet guy, TJ and Dom kind of got their own little personal bond and relationship, but they got the same similarities.
"But for them two guys, man, I'm really excited to see what they're going to bring to the table this year. Both young guys who's stepping into their leadership role and they've been waiting and now I feel like them guys are ready for their time. They've just been like the sponge in a room. They took in all the knowledge and feedback and they saw everything with the older guys like me, TJ and J. Stew did and it just all carried over to them and now I see them stepping up, saying stuff to the younger guys that's here now and I'm just really excited to see what they're going to bring this year."
The duo were impressive in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Alabama with both crashing down on quarterback Jalen Milroe forcing him to fumble deep in Crimson Tide territory. Brandt and Nichols are expected to be the two primary reserves at edge rusher when Moore and fellow senior TJ Guy come out of the game.
While Nichols is still awaiting his first career sack, Brandt actually was quite productive as a reserve last year, managing to get three sacks and that forced fumble in 2024.
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