1. Chase Winovich, Michigan
Chase Winovich is a former four-star prospect from Pennsylvania who signed with the Michigan Wolverines back when Brady Hoke was still in Ann Arbor. He was a linebacker for Hoke, and switched to tight end before defensive end for the 2016 season.
The former redshirt and scout team star came into his own at the defensive end position after taking ballet and Jiu-Jitsu lessons during the off-season. The long haired Winovich has as feisty personality on the field and a goofy mild mannered one off of it. He logged 73 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks during his redshirt junior campaign in maize and blue.
On the documentary “All or Nothing: The Michigan Wolverines” which chronicled the Wolverines 2017 season, Winovich became one of the stars. The cameras followed him around as he did charity work or entertained his fellow Michigan student body on campus and mic’ed the first team All-Big Ten defensive lineman up during games.
Winovich spent the 2017 season trash talking opposing offensive tackles and quarterbacks with taunts that he was unblockable while promising to meet the quarterback in the back field. Winovich was an obvious star for both the documentary and the Michigan football program.
It also just so happens that Winovich’s head football coach, Jim Harbaugh, is a huge fan of WWE and his brother John is a former teammate of wrestling legend Brian Pillman from their time together at Miami University in Ohio.
Next: Way-too-early college football top 25 rankings for 2018
The pro wrestling connection between the Harbaugh family and through notable Michigan alums Scott and Rick Steiner (real surname: Rechsteiner) could help get Winovich a break into the WWE. The Steiner’s were pro wrestling and Michigan amateur wrestling legends.