Late brother’s resilient spirit fuels Michigan football 4-star commit Matt Ludwig

Matt Ludwig’s world was turned upside down on Feb. 21, 2023. The Michigan class of 2026 four-star tight end commit lost his beloved younger brother, Nicko Ludwig, who died from cardiac arrest shortly after a heart transplant.

Meanwhile, Matt’s heart was shattered. The brothers, separated by three years, were attached at the hip growing up, whether it was playing sports, boating, sledding or playing video games. Nicko was born with a single ventricle heart defect and underwent a handful of surgeries as a child, including six by age 3. Matt said Nicko never complained about his condition and approached every day with a smile on his face.