Skip to main content
Michigan

Michigan OL Brady Norton pushes back on 'he's too small' claims, reveals updated height and weight

clayton-sayfieby: Clayton Sayfie05/07/25CSayf23
Brady Norton Connor Jones
Michigan Wolverines football offensive linemen Connor Jones and Brady Norton at the 2025 spring game. (Photo by Lon Horwedel / TheWolverine.com)

Michigan Wolverines football junior offensive lineman Brady Norton is a Cal Poly transfer who just went through his first-ever winter with snow. He’s acclimating well to the weather and his new team, and is in the mix to earn a starting job in the trenches this fall.

Norton has already improved by practicing against Michigan’s high-level defensive line this spring, he discussed on the ‘In The Trenches’ podcast with Jon Jansen.

“Coming from the FCS, I didn’t go against crazy talent,” Norton explained. “Obviously, there are a lot of hidden gem guys. I had a guy at my old school who’s actually a defensive end going to the league. Went against him every practice. Huge shout out to him for making me a lot better.

“But guys like [senior] Derrick Moore, [graduate] TJ Guy, [junior] Cameron Brandt, [sophomore] Dominic Nichols, going against them every practice was tough for the first two. But once I adjusted and was able to play my ball more confidently, I was able to compete. They made me so much better.”

A Mission Viejo, Calif., native, Norton started 11 games at left tackle for Cal Poly last season. He’s been repping at that position, plus some others, since arriving at Michigan. It’s not easy to move around on the offensive line, but Norton is more than willing to play wherever he’s needed.

“For offensive line, you wouldn’t think it’s too much,” Norton said of the challenges of playing multiple spots. “But, for example, for tackle, I push off my front foot. I’m primarily a left side guy, but going to the right just feels so much more comfortable, because my right knee is a lot stronger than my left.

“Remembering the plays and what directions … I’m not gonna lie, I had a couple times where they put me at right tackle and I got mixed up with the left tackle stance. 

“It’s not anything too bad. I’ll take whatever challenge they want me to do. I have yet to play center in my whole career, but if they tell me to snap a ball, I’ll snap a damn ball. It’s as simple as that.”

Norton is listed on the Michigan roster at 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds, but that is out-dated. He was up to 295 last December, he told TheWolverine.com at the time, and position coach Grant Newsome said this spring that he has no concerns about Norton’s size. He’s actually 6-foot-4 and a half, as well, he noted.

“Definitely gaining a little more weight,” Norton said of his goals for the rest of the offseason. “I’m not gonna lie, on the site it says I’m 6-3, 275. They say I’m 6-3, 275 — I’m not 6-3, 275. I’m 6-4 and a half, around 315 right now. They got that all wrong.

“I see people on Twitter complaining, ‘Oh, he’s only 275. He’s too small!’ No, that was my freshman year at Poly height and weight, when I first got there.”

Michigan players have lauded Norton’s strength and work ethic in the weight room, but he’s still looking to add more muscle.

“I want to get a little bit more weight in my trunk, my legs,” he continued. “I’m a decently strong guy in the weight room, but just a little bit of that.

“And then just making sure I’m super locked into the play book, so I have everything down, I don’t have to think about the play, I can play so much more confident, physical and smart.”

The remainder of the offseason will also give Norton the chance to continue to bond with his Michigan teammates, particularly those who share the offensive line room with him.

“Coming in, they’re like, ‘Who’s this guy?’ Brand new guy,” Norton pointed out. “But the thing is I think the O-line room, we’re brothers. We’re brothers from another mother.

“Just getting together with the guys and starting off small with meals or introducing myself or, ‘oh, you want to go do this,’ or ‘hey, can you help me out with this?’ I’ve slowly inserted myself into that group and slowly been a part of that family. It’s definitely a big blessing I’ve had with those guys.”

You may also like