Joey Velazquez

Class:
Graduate Student
Position:
LB
Height:
6-0
Weight:
222
Hometown:
Columbus, Ohio
High School:
St. Francis De Sales

CAREER HIGHS

• Tackles: 2 - vs. Nebraska (Nov. 12, 2022)
• Solos: 2 - vs. Nebraska (Nov. 12, 2022)
• Asst: 1 - vs. Purdue (Dec. 3, 2022)
• TFLs: none
• Sacks: none
• Int: none
• FR: none
• PBUs: none

At Michigan
• Three-time letterman (2019, 21-22)
• Also a four-year letter winner on the Michigan baseball team (2020-23) as an outfielder and left-handed bat
• Helped the team win the Big Ten Tournament in spring, 2022 and has advanced to two NCAA Regionals (2021-22)

Graduate Student (2023)
• Did not see game action

Senior (2022)
• Appeared in 11 games on special teams including five at linebacker; made six tackles to earn his third varsity letter
• Played snaps at linebacker against Colorado State (Sept. 3)
• Assisted on two tackles from the linebacker spot against Hawaii (Sept. 10) and contributed on special teams
• Played as both a linebacker and special teams contributor against UConn (Sept. 17)
• Contributed on special teams against Maryland (Sept. 24), Michigan State (Oct. 29), Illinois (Nov. 19), at Indiana (Oct. 8), at Rutgers (Nov. 5)
• Assisted on one tackle in special team coverage at Iowa (Oct. 1)
• Made two solo tackles playing linebacker and contributing on special teams against Nebraska (Nov. 12)
• Assisted on a stop playing on special teams and as a linebacker against Purdue in the Big Ten Championship (Dec. 3)

Junior (2021)
• Appeared in eight games on special teams and on defense in two; recorded two special teams tackles and recovered a fumble to earn his second varsity letter
• Shared Play of the Week honors for his fumble recovery at Wisconsin
• Named the Scout Team Player of the Week on defense for his role in helping the defense prepare for Northern Illinois
• Contributed as a safety and also played special teams against Northern Illinois (Sept. 18)
• Contributed on special teams against Rutgers (Sept. 25), Indiana (Nov. 6), and at Penn State (Nov. 13)
• Recovered a fumble on the punt team at Wisconsin (Oct. 2), the first of his career
• Assisted on two tackles playing linebacker and special teams at Maryland (Nov. 20)
• Contributed on special teams against Georgia in the Capital One Orange Bowl/CFP Semifinal (Dec. 31)

Sophomore (2020)
• Did not see game action

Freshman (2019)
• Appeared in one game on special teams and earned his first varsity letter
• Made his U-M debut playing special teams against Michigan State (Nov. 16)

Prep
• Attended St. Francis De Sales School (2019) coached by Ryan Wiggins

Key Statistics
• As a senior, made 101 tackles, including 21 for loss, with six pass breakups and seven forced fumbles
• On offense, played running back and wildcat quarterback, and carried the ball 160 times for 817 yards with 13 touchdowns and caught 14 passes for 103 yards
• Recorded 50 tackles, four pass breakups and two interceptions as a junior, adding 356 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on offense

Honors and Rankings
• Also an elite baseball prospect committed to play at U-M
• 247.com three-star prospect, rated the No. 85 safety nationally and No. 47 player in Ohio
• ESPN three-star recruit, rated as the No. 81 safety prospect nationally and the No. 48 player in Ohio
• Rivals three-star recruit, ranked the No. 48 player in Ohio
• Two-time Central Catholic first team All-League selection as a linebacker
• Central District defensive player of the year and first team Super 25 selection
• Dispatch All-Metro team as a linebacker
• OHSAA All-Ohio Division III first team honoree as a linebacker
• Division III OPSWA All-Ohio first team honoree as a linebacker
• Two-time first team all-state selection in baseball, and all-state player of the year in 2018
• Two-time all-district honoree and all-district player of the year in 2018
• All-metro player of the year as a junior and first team honoree
• Two-time Super 20 selection and three-time All-Central Catholic League

Personal
• Joey Velazquez was born Sept. 20, 2000
• Son of Jason and Erin Velazquez
• Pursuing a Master's degree from the School of Social Work