The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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[ L I N E B A C K E R S ] 104 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2021 FOOTBALL PREVIEW At the same time, James Ross said, a lot of what they did in Brown's defense still applies in Macdonald's approach. "Any of those guys from that viper posi- tion could be in the middle at times. We did a lot of things where we would bump 'back- ers in the box, and they would be in-the-box linebackers," he said. "Mike's comfortable with it and, based on what I'm hearing, do- ing some good things. I'm definitely confi- dent he's going to do well at that position." The key for Barrett is to be able to play fast without overthinking, and Ross be- lieves he has the skill set to do it. He's been in the program for three full years now and picks things up quickly. "He's an athlete," Ross praised. "He was an offensive guy when he was recruited, and one of the things he's always done well for me is show his athleticism. "He's also more physical than you would think, and he showed that last year. It surprised me at times with how he was locking tight ends out and moving people. That's what this game is about, especially from the linebacker position. It's about moving people. He definitely shown signs of doing that, and he'll work on getting stronger and increasing his tools to be able to be successful." Behind Ross and Barrett are a pair of freshmen with incredible upside, but very little experience. Second-year frosh Nikhai Hill-Green (6-1, 225) played three games on special teams, assisting on one tackle, but will need to contribute more in 2021. He's got that ability, according to Ross, and might have shown it last year had there been more practice time. He was "locked in" from the moment he arrived Under new defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, the viper position that redshirt sopho- more Michael Barrett started all six games at last season is no longer — but his excellent athleticism could still make for a productive inside linebacker. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL WOLVERINES NEED A BIG YEAR FROM JOSH ROSS Brothers tend to be hard on each other, espe- cially when it comes to sports. James and Josh Ross are no different, having grown up five years apart with the same love for football — and for Michigan. As a graduate assistant, former U-M linebacker James Ross had the opportunity to work with his brother. He knows what he has to offer, and he expects to see it this year, albeit from afar while he begins his career as a position coach at Hope College in Holland, Mich. "My expectations are through the roof," James admitted. "The conversations we have are daily. My wife asked last year, 'Why are you and your brother always talking? You see each other every day!' "I used to say, 'Just because we see each other doesn't mean we're talking. He's just debriefing me on his day.' Now it's even worse because I don't see him anymore, so we're talking all the time." James' message to his younger brother has been to use the skills with which he's been gifted and do it consistently. He was born to play the game and has shown signs of greatness, but now it's time to take it to another level in his fifth year (though he's still only a redshirt junior in eligibil- ity due to last year's free COVID season). "My message now is the same as when I was on the staff — just be the same guy every day," he said. "His personality and leadership are in- fectious. "You don't have to be a 'rah rah' guy to be a leader. You've just got to be consistent. You've got to have the same type of intensity, effort and enthusiasm day to day. Guys gravitate to that." From what he's heard, James added, younger brother had a great spring, and Josh told him his body is in the best shape it's ever been. His speed, where he is mentally, all of it is starting to come together. It needs to if U-M is going to reach its lofty goals on defense. "Being somewhere for four years, you start to think of it in a different way," James Ross said. "It becomes a game within a game. There are little innuendos in a game where you can be better, that you can study more. "He's got that going for himself, and it defi- nitely helps he's got a coach [in coordinator Mike Macdonald] that's been in the league so he can master his craft from that LB position." He's got all the resources — now he just needs to do it, James concluded. He's excited to see it all come to fruition this fall, even if he's watching from the other side of the state. — Chris Balas