The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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FEBRUARY 2022 THE WOLVERINE 35 BY ANTHONY BROOME DEPARTING Brad Hawkins An alternate captain and third-team All-Big Ten honoree in 2021, Hawkins' experience and leadership will be missed at safety. He made 60 tackles, forced two fumbles and had one fumble recovery in his final season. Vincent Gray Gray put in four quality years with the program and emerged as a big piece the last two seasons, starting every game. He was a third-team All-Big Ten selec- tion by the media for his play this year. Daxton Hill A wearer of many hats in his three seasons, the former five-star recruit declared early for the 2022 NFL Draft at the season's end. He played safety, nickel and boundary cornerback during his time in Ann Arbor, and was a first- team All-Big Ten honoree in 2021. George Johnson Johnson never rounded into being a major contributor. He recently an- nounced he'll play at UMass, where he'll reunite with former U-M defensive co- ordinator Don Brown, who is now the head coach. Darion Green-Warren Despite being a recruiting win, the former four-star prospect and Cali- fornia native never saw game action at Michigan. He announced his transfer to Nevada shortly after entering the portal. Andre Seldon The four-star recruit and Belleville native played in only two games in two seasons at Michigan. He announced his transfer to New Mexico State on Jan. 13. RETURNING Redshirt junior German Green Unlike his twin brother, the other Green has been more of a scout team and special teams contributor for the Wol- verines. Major advancement is needed this offseason to crack the rotation with so many young pieces on the way. Redshirt sophomore Quinten Johnson Johnson has played a scout team and special teams role during his time in Ann Arbor. He recorded three tackles in 2021. Redshirt sophomore DJ Turner One of Michigan's breakout players on defense in 2021, he came on halfway through the year and made seven starts. His play down the stretch earned him honorable mention All-Big Ten honors and he will enter the offseason as CB1 on the roster. Redshirt sophomore Jalen Perry The four-star recruit and No. 241 over- all player in the 2019 class has played in 12 games during his college career, bouncing between cornerback and safety. Sophomore RJ Moten Expect Moten's role to expand with both starters moving on. He recorded 34 total tackles and grabbed his first career interception at Michigan State. Sophomore Rod Moore Moore developed into a key piece of the safety rotation by the end of his true freshman season. He finished the year with 32 tackles and will be in line for a bigger role in 2022. Sophomore Makari Paige The West Bloomfield native has played in 16 games over the past two years. He recorded a pair of tackles during the 2021 campaign. 2022 LOOK AHEAD DEFENSIVE BACKS Redshirt junior Gemon Green Green was a breakout player in 2020 and earned a starting job opposite Gray, which he carried into 2021. He was supplanted by Turner in the starting role halfway through the season, but could earn his job back in 2022. 2022 ANALYSIS Youth and athleticism were major points of emphasis during the 2022 recruiting cycle at defensive back. Michigan now has it in waves. John- son, Sabb and Berry could affect the two-deep depth chart the moment they step on campus. Adding that to a secondary with 2021 breakout pieces in Turner, Moore and Moten could be a nice blend for the roster. Throw in a few more emerging de- fenders elsewhere and it is not hard to imagine this turning into a prom- ising position group. The problem that Michigan has here is similar to the other levels of the defense. There just is not a ton of proven depth and experience on the roster right now. Ron Bellamy and Steve Clinkscale were able to squeeze every drop of potential out of this room in 2021 but were aided by a historically great pass rush. Ev- eryone is going to have to be a little bit better than they were this season, which could be a tough ask. As we have stated at the other po- sition groups, help in the transfer portal would not be the worst thing in the world. It does not have to be a plug-and-play starter, although that would be helpful. An experienced depth piece would do. But unlike the front seven, throwing young players into the fire in 2022 might not be the worst thing for the long-term out- look of the secondary. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN