The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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34 THE WOLVERINE FEBRUARY 2022 BY ANTHONY BROOME DEPARTING Josh Ross The longtime stalwart at linebacker had a chance to come back for a sixth year but elected to take his talents to the pro level. The Wolverines will miss their level-headed captain and one of the un- sung heroes of the defense. He wrapped up his career with 242 stops. David Ojabo Ojabo exploded in his third year on campus with 11 sacks and five forced fumbles playing on the other side of Aidan Hutchinson. ESPN's Todd McShay ranks him the No. 11 overall prospect in April's NFL Draft regardless of position. Anthony Solomon The former four-star recruit in the 2019 class was brought in to play vi- per in Don Brown's defense but stuck it out for a year after the scheme change to Mike Macdonald's system. He will transfer to Arizona. RETURNING Redshirt junior Michael Barrett The new defense forced him out of his viper role to inside linebacker. Michigan found ways to use him as a sub-package defender late in the season as a cure to its up-tempo substitution woes. Barrett is also a key cog on special teams. Redshirt sophomore Joey Velazquez The dual-sport athlete (baseball) played in six games in 2021 and recorded a tackle. He is an important scout team player for the Wolverines. Sophomore Nikhai Hill-Green He started at inside linebacker next to Josh Ross to begin the season but then was surpassed by rookie Junior Colson. The former On3 Consensus four-star prospect and Colson project to fill both inside 'backer spots in 2022. Sophomore Kalel Mullings The four-star recruit in the 2020 class appeared in every game as a reserve this past season. He finished the year with 11 total tackles. Sophomore Junior Colson Colson is a player with a bright future in Ann Arbor and a candi- date to make a big leap next season. The Freshman All-American had 61 total tackles and a fumble recovery in his first year with the program. Sophomore Jaylen Harrell Michigan will need a big leap from Harrell as a rush linebacker with Ojabo departing. He would often spell Ojabo when teams went into run-heavy, jumbo packages. Harrell was an On3 Consensus four-star re- cruit in the 2020 class. Redshirt freshman Jayden Hood The four-star signee in the 2021 class played in two games this season for the Wolverines. Hood earned Scout Team Defensive Player of the Week honors for helping prep the team for Indiana. Redshirt freshman Tyler McLaurin McLaurin's only action of the season came against Northern Illinois. He was a three-star prospect and the No. 495 player in the 2021 class, per the On3 Consensus. NEWCOMERS Freshman Jimmy Rolder Despite being a late riser as a prospect, the Chicago native is the highest-ranked newcomer at the position. The On3 Con- sensus rates Rolder as a four-star recruit and the No. 259 player in the country. Freshman Micah Pollard Pollard is a three-star prospect and the No. 612 player in the country. At 6-3, 200 pounds, the Jacksonville, Fla., product will likely need time to add weight before seeing the field. Freshman Deuce Spurlock Listed as an athlete in the On3 data- base, Spurlock is a player Michigan is excited about at 6-2, 220 pounds. Some believe the three-star prospect was un- der-recruited and has a chance to be a diamond in the rough. LINEBACKERS 2022 LOOK AHEAD 2022 ANALYSIS U-M has a young linebacker room that will continue to come into its own in the second year of Mike Macdon- ald's defense. Colson and Hill-Green flashed potential this year, with the former showing traits that could make him a star. He was on Ross' hip at all times, and that wisdom should help. The concerns in this room are los- ing Ross and, to an even bigger extent, Ojabo. The third-year rush linebacker notched 11 sacks in 2021 and there is not someone waiting in the wings to replace him. His departure and how the Wolverines address that likely comes via heavy skill development with the players on the roster, along with an ex- ploration of the transfer portal. The inside linebacker room was not all that deep with Ross, so his departure compounds that. The hope is that Col- son and Hill-Green can fill those shoes, but there is a huge drop-off in experi- ence behind them. Each player needs to improve in pass coverage, as well. The staff is high on Rolder, but he is not the same caliber of prospect Colson was as a true freshman. At least not yet. Position coach George Helow has his work cut out for him. Like the line, bringing in an experienced body or two could help round out the room. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL