Trieu: Texas LB Bryce Breeden getting to know Michigan football

The new Michigan coaching staff got a later start in recruiting the 2027 class, but made good progress during the latter part of January’s evaluation period.

The Wolverines began their efforts out West, where the staff had prior connections, and in their home base of Michigan and the Midwest states.

They also were able to hit states outside of those two wheelhouses. One offer in Texas was to Bridge City linebacker Bryce Breeden, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound tackling machine with 225 tackles (39 for loss), 14 sacks and seven forced fumbles in the last two seasons. 

While Breeden does not have any connections to the university, Michigan is helped by his father working and living in the state. They have talked about both Michigan and Michigan State as options so Dad could make his games.

He is working on getting to know the staff at Michigan better, but they had offered at Utah back in October.

“I’ve been in contact with coach Alex Whittingham, and his first impression was great,” Breeden said. “I’m very interested in the program now. I like how they are a run-stopping defense. I don’t know too much about the school, but I’m willing to learn more about them.”

Breeden has nearly 30 offers. Louisville, Arizona State, Pittsburgh, TCU, Northwestern, Arizona, West Virginia, Purdue, Virginia Tech and more are on that list.

A swing through Michigan where he could stop in both Ann Arbor and East Lansing make sense, but a schedule for his next few months is still in the works.

“I haven’t finalized my spring and official visits yet, but I plan on committing around the first or second week of June,” he said.

What he knows is, how he connects with a staff will be an important component in that eventual decision.

“I’m a big relationship guy,” he said. “I want to go to a school where I’m wanted and needed, and team culture (is important).”

Breeden was District 10-4A D1 Defensive Most Valuable Player this season. He also blocked two field goals on special teams.

In the classroom, he holds a 3.7 grade-point average.

Wolverines make progress with LB recruits

In addition to Breeden, Michigan also offered Brentwood (Tennessee) Academy linebacker Kenneth Simon II earlier in the month. 

A 6-foot-2, 200-pound four-star, Simon has 24 offers. His father Kevin Simon played at Tennessee then in the NFL. He named a top four of Alabama, Texas A&M, Tennessee and Ole Miss, but Michigan is hoping to work its way into his list.

Michigan also is set to receive a spring visit from Tooele (Utah) Stansbury linebacker Broncs Baker, who has a relationship with the Wolverine staff from their Utah days. A 6-foot-1, 215-pound prospect, he is also considering Virginia Tech, Cal, Arizona State, Boise State and more, but the Wolverines are believed to be one of the top programs for him.

More information

Bryce Breeden profile

Broncs Baker profile

Kenneth Simon profile

Allen Trieu covers Midwest football recruiting for 247Sports. He has been featured on the Big Ten Network on its annual Signing Day Show. His Michigan and Michigan State recruiting columns appear weekly at detroitnews.com.