2024 Football Roster

Jersey Number 56
Joel Metzger
- Class:
- Senior
- Position:
- LB
- Height:
- 6-1
- Weight:
- 230
- Hometown:
- Battle Creek, Mich.
- High School:
- Lakeview
At Michigan
• Three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree (2022-24)
• Named the team's Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year (2022)
• Two-time letter winner (2023-24)
Junior (2024)
• Appeared in one game at linebacker and on special teams to earn his second varsity letter
• Played as a linebacker and on special teams against Northwestern (Nov. 23)
Sophomore (2023)
• Appeared in two games on special teams to earn his first varsity letter
• Made his collegiate debut against UNLV (Sept. 9), contributing on special teams
• Earned snaps against Indiana (Oct. 14), contributing on special teams
Freshman (2022)
• Did not see game action
• Named the team's Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year
• Named Scout Team Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his role in preparing the special teams units for UConn
Prep
• Attended Battle Creek Lakeview High School (2021) coached by Jerry Diorio
• Two-year captain for the Spartans (2019-20)
• Helped the Spartans to an undefeated regular season his junior year (2019)
• Salutatorian
• All-Academic honoree for the Spartans
• Also lettered in baseball and in swimming and diving at Lakeview
Key Statistics
• Led the team in tackles as a senior
• Played as a linebacker and fullback
Honors and Ranking
• Division two All-State honorable mention at tight end
• Two-time All-City and All-League honoree
Personal
• Son of Steve and Melissa Metzger
• In baseball, helped the Spartans to the regional semifinal his senior
• Set the single-season program records in home runs (nine) and RBI (69)
• All-State swimmer (freestyle)
• High school coach, Jerry Diorio, won four varsity letters (1980-83) as a guard at U-M
• Enrolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, majoring in Computer Science
• Three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree (2022-24)
• Named the team's Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year (2022)
• Two-time letter winner (2023-24)
Junior (2024)
• Appeared in one game at linebacker and on special teams to earn his second varsity letter
• Played as a linebacker and on special teams against Northwestern (Nov. 23)
Sophomore (2023)
• Appeared in two games on special teams to earn his first varsity letter
• Made his collegiate debut against UNLV (Sept. 9), contributing on special teams
• Earned snaps against Indiana (Oct. 14), contributing on special teams
Freshman (2022)
• Did not see game action
• Named the team's Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year
• Named Scout Team Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his role in preparing the special teams units for UConn
Prep
• Attended Battle Creek Lakeview High School (2021) coached by Jerry Diorio
• Two-year captain for the Spartans (2019-20)
• Helped the Spartans to an undefeated regular season his junior year (2019)
• Salutatorian
• All-Academic honoree for the Spartans
• Also lettered in baseball and in swimming and diving at Lakeview
Key Statistics
• Led the team in tackles as a senior
• Played as a linebacker and fullback
Honors and Ranking
• Division two All-State honorable mention at tight end
• Two-time All-City and All-League honoree
Personal
• Son of Steve and Melissa Metzger
• In baseball, helped the Spartans to the regional semifinal his senior
• Set the single-season program records in home runs (nine) and RBI (69)
• All-State swimmer (freestyle)
• High school coach, Jerry Diorio, won four varsity letters (1980-83) as a guard at U-M
• Enrolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, majoring in Computer Science
Transfer Buchanan Eyes Impact at WR, Talks Coaching Ties
Thursday, April 02
Football Surging with Energy, Continuity in Spring Ball
Thursday, March 26
Football Press Conference: Jason Beck (March 24)
Tuesday, March 24
Football Press Conference: Jay Hill (March 19)
Thursday, March 19




