Michigan football freshman is making big strides this summer: 'He's a steady riser'

Michigan Wolverines football freshman linebacker Cole Sullivan was a four-star and the No. 291 overall player in the 2024 recruiting class, but the Pittsburgh (Pa.) Central Catholic product was viewed much more favorably by the Maize and Blue than by the rankings.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder impressed in the Wolverines’ spring game, totaling 3 tackles, knocking down an offensive guard on his way to making one of those stops.

While speaking on The Wolverine Podcast, senior fullback / tight end Max Bredeson explained how Sullivan has progressed since joining the program in the winter as an early enrollee.

“He’s a steady riser,” Bredeson said. “Day one of spring ball, you didn’t really hear ‘Cole Sullivan,’ but all of the sudden and you get to the end, and there’s a certain sound that you can hear when two helmets really hit. Day one, maybe you’re coming out of high school, and it’s like, ‘Oh, there’s something there, some real juice.’

“I’m happy to see a guy put it together in a game situation. There’s that real … as an offensive guy, you can see when a guy’s really [good at] block destruction. You can feel it and see it on tape. So happy to see that kind of come along.”

Graduate quarterback Jack Tuttle, who was also on the podcast, chimed in to say Sullivan is “a huge kid. Like, huge. He got big, fast [over the summer]. He looks great.”

When asked if Sullivan could potentially play EDGE, Bredeson didn’t want to rule it out.

“Great football player,” Bredeson said. “The EDGE spot is just a very specific guy. You never know. Guys can develop in anything. But as of now, you never want to put a limit on a guy. Happy to see.”

Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said at Big Ten Media Days that Sullivan “looks like a defensive end but runs like a linebacker.”

“Excited to watch him,” Moore said.

Michigan is searching for depth at linebacker, behind projected starters and juniors Jaishawn Barham and Ernest Hausmann, so Sullivan could earn some playing time right away.

“Cole Sullivan, he’s ready to break out at some point,” the head coach said. “He’s a true freshman, but he’s a guy that I feel will play this year, whether it’ll be special teams, a little bit on defense.”

Michigan freshman class has ‘humble confidence’

Bredeson has liked what he’s seen from the Michigan freshmen who arrived on campus this summer, including running back Jordan Marshall, the highest-rated recruit in the class.

“It’s hard to really tell until camp, obviously,” Bredeson noted. “But you can just feel certain guys’ energy around the building. Jordan Marshall is one of them. Day one, I walked in and he’s just like sitting in the commons with the play book. That stood out to me right away.”

Another freshman linebacker has stood out, as well.

“There are a lot of talks about Mason Curtis, what he can be, the athlete he can be,” Bredeson explained. “But it’s hard to find out until camp, when you can really see someone go make a play.

“Right now, it’s just off the energy guys bring. There’s a lot of good energy in that freshman class. You can feel a real humble confidence, which is a real valued thing in this program. They really bring it.”

Bredeson, a potential captain for Michigan this season, is excited to begin fall camp July 31.

“You really find out a lot about the team, what you guys are,” he said. “I love fall camp, just because you get to see if your actions really match your words. You can talk all offseason like, ‘Oh, this is what I’m gonna be.’ But you really see it, and can you be that same guy day one of practice in helmets as you are day 16 of the three-hour practice. Can you be that same guy?

“And that’s what I really value about football, you can really look deep within yourself and the guy next to you and the guy across from you about what he’s really about. That’s the beauty of the game, and especially fall camp.”