The Wolverine

2021 Michigan Football Preview

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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[ L I N E B A C K E R S ] 106 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2021 FOOTBALL PREVIEW PLAYER BIOS POSITION COACH Mike Macdonald is in his first year as Michigan's defensive co- ordinator, having joined the pro- gram after working for Jim Har- baugh's brother, John, with the Baltimore Ravens. Macdonald coached lineback- ers during his last three seasons in Baltimore (2018- 20), after working with defensive backs in 2017. He served as a defensive assistant in 2015 and 2016, and a defensive intern in 2014. Baltimore finished in the top 10 in scoring de- fense during six of Macdonald's seven years, in- cluding ranking second in the league in both 2018 and 2020. The Ravens' defense allowed the fewest yards in the NFL during the 2018 season and fin- ished in the top eight in six of his seven campaigns. He coached at least one Pro Bowl performer in five consecutive seasons with the Ravens, with line- backers Matthew Judon (2019-20) and C.J. Mosley (2018), and safety Eric Weddle (2016-17) all having received the recognition. Prior to making the leap to the NFL ranks, Mac- donald worked under former head coach Mark Richt at Georgia, his alma mater, for four years (2010-13). He began his time on the staff while he was an undergraduate, assisting with linebackers as a stu- dent assistant in 2010, before he earned his bach- elor's degree in finance. While pursuing — and eventually collecting — his master's degree in sport management, Macdonald worked with safeties and in quality control as a graduate assistant. While receiving guidance from Macdonald, line- backer Ramik Wilson was tabbed as first-team All- SEC after recording a conference-leading 133 tack- les and 11 stops for loss in 2013. In 2012, the Bulldogs ranked eighth nationally in passing defense and 18th in scoring defense, after they slotted fifth in total defense in 2011. Macdonald got his coaching start at nearby Cedar Shoals High School during his college years in 2008 and 2009, and was named the program's Coach of the Year following his first season with the team. George Helow is entering his first season in Ann Arbor, having just served as Maryland's special teams coordinator/inside line- backers coach during the 2020 season. Helow has been a part of successful programs throughout his career, including two national championship squads at Alabama (2012) and Florida State (2013). Prior to working at Maryland, Helow spent four seasons at Colorado State (2016-19). There, he coached the safeties during his final two seasons after working with the outside linebackers as a de- fensive quality control coach and graduate assistant during his first two campaigns. Helow guided a secondary that allowed just 181.6 yards per game in 2019, which checked in as the seventh-best mark in the country and topped the Mountain West Conference. Safeties Jamal Hicks, a first-team All-MWC honoree, and Logan Stewart combined for 193 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions for the Rams. In Helow's first season overseeing the safeties, three of the defensive backs ranked among the top five in tackles on the team in 2018. Helow spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons at Georgia, serving as a graduate assistant and work- ing with the safeties while earning his master's degree, after winning the national title as a defen- sive graduate assistant for Florida State in 2013. He got his coaching start at Alabama, where he was an intern in the weight room during the spring and summer before working as a defensive intern for coordinator Kirby Smart during the fall of 2012. The Crimson Tide allowed just 10.9 points per game during the year and beat Notre Dame in the BCS National Championship Game. A walk-on at Ole Miss from 2006-10, Helow saw success on special teams as a collegiate player in the SEC. He played in all 38 games during his final three seasons, led the Rebels in special teams tackles during the 2010 campaign and was nomi- nated for the Burlsworth Trophy, an award handed out annually to the nation's most outstanding college football player who began their career as a walk-on. RETURNING PLAYERS MICHAEL BARRETT • LB R-So. • Valdosta, Ga. Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 227 • Started all six games during the 2020 campaign, and re- corded 44 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one quarter- back hurry and one forced fumble. • Appeared in 12 games and made seven tackles during the 2019 season, seeing snaps on defense in two contests while also being a major con- tributor on special teams. • Completed a 25-yard first-down pass to Daxton Hill on a fake punt that led to a touchdown drive against Army. • Saw snaps in two games as a freshman, primarily on special teams. • Was a dual-threat quarterback in his prep career, totaling more than 2,500 yards and 38 scores on the ground, while also throwing for more than 4,000 yards and 43 touchdowns in his last two seasons. • Named to the Class 7A All-State first team and tabbed the 7A Offensive Player of the Year as a senior by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. • Regarded by Rivals as a three-star talent and the No. 69 player in Georgia. NIKHAI HILL-GREEN • LB Fr. • Baltimore Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 225 • Appeared in three games on special teams during his fresh- man season in 2020. • Enrolled early in January 2020. • Finalist for the 2019 High School Butkus Award, which is given to the nation's top prep line- backer. • Rated as a three-star prospect, the No. 19 player in Maryland and the No. 21 inside linebacker in the country by Rivals. KALEL MULLINGS • LB Fr. • West Roxbury, Mass. Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 233 • Saw action in all six games in 2020, playing special teams in all of them and linebacker in four, and made one tackle and broke up one pass. • Selected as the Gatorade Player of the Year in Massachusetts for 2019, and participated in the 2020 All-American Bowl and the Polynesian Bowl. ROSTER No. Name Ht. Wt. Year Elig. Hometown (High School) 23 Michael Barrett 6-0 227 Sr. So. Valdosta, Ga. (Lowndes) 25 Junior Colson 6-2 230 Fr. Fr. Brentwood, Tenn. (Ravenwood) 41 Nikhai Hill-Green 6-1 225 So. Fr. Baltimore (St. Frances Academy) — Jaydon Hood 6-1 212 Fr. Fr. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (St. Thomas Aquinas) 32 Nolan Knight* 6-3 205 Jr. Fr. Northville, Mich. (Northville) — Tyler McLaurin 6-2 220 Fr. Fr. Bolingbrook, Ill. (Bolingbrook) 26 Kalel Mullings 6-1 233 So. Fr. West Roxbury, Mass. (Milton Academy) 50 Jerome Nichols* 6-1 218 So. Fr. Belleville, Mich. (Renaissance) 55 David Ojabo 6-5 250 Jr. Fr. Aberdeen, Scotland (Blair Academy [N.J.]) 12 Josh Ross 6-2 230 5th Jr. Southfield, Mich. (St. Mary's) 10 Anthony Solomon 6-1 212 Jr. So. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (St. Thomas Aquinas) 29 Joey Velazquez 6-0 224 So. Fr. Columbus, Ohio (St. Frances DeSales) 37 Edward Warinner* 6-0 224 Sr. So. Powell, Ohio (Olentangy Liberty) * Walk-on

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