The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1473191
THE WOLVERINE 2022 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 111 [ D E F E N S I V E B AC K S ] R.J. MOTEN • S Jr. • Delran, N.J. Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 221 • Started five games and saw time at safety in all 14 in 2021, while also contribut- ing on special teams. • Tallied 34 tackles, 3 pass breakups, 1 intercep- tion and 1 quarterback hurry. • Made one special teams appearance in 2020. • Played in the All-American Bowl and was the East squad's second-leading tackler with 4 stops. • Finished his prep career with 3,500 all-purpose yards, 41 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. • The On3 Consensus rated him as a four-star recruit, the No. 6 player in New Jersey and the No. 19 safety in the land. Year GP/GS Tkls. TFL PBU INT 2020 1/0 0 0 0 0 2021 14/5 34 0 3 1 Totals 15/5 34 0 3 1 MAKARI PAIGE • S Jr. • West Bloomfield, Mich. Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 192 • Saw action in nine games at safety and on special teams in 2021, posting 2 tackles. • Participated in all six games on defense and special teams in 2020, record- ing 6 tackles. • Enrolled early at U-M in January 2020. • In 2019, was a Detroit News and Detroit Free Press Dream Team member. • Tabbed as an Associated Press Division 1-2 All- State first-team selection as a senior. • Listed as a four-star talent, the No. 6 player in Michigan, and the No. 19 safety and No. 223 player in the country by the On3 Consensus. JALEN PERRY • CB Sr. • Dacula, Ga. Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 187 • Participated in eight outings on special teams, includ- ing four games at defensive back, in 2021. • Recorded 3 tackles on the year. • Saw time in three games on special teams and two contests on defense in 2020, making 1 tackle. • Did not participate in any contests his fresh- man campaign after enrolling early. • Named first-team All-State by USA Today and second-team All-State by the Atlanta Journal Constitution as a senior. • Regarded by the On3 Consensus as a four-star talent, and the No. 24 cornerback and No. 237 overall prospect in the land. DJ TURNER • CB Sr. • Suwanee, Ga. Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 181 • S ta r te d e i g ht o f h i s 1 4 games at cornerback and also played special teams in 2021, racking up 33 tackles, including 1 stop for loss, 7 pass breakups and 2 interceptions. • Earned All-Big Ten honorable mention honors from the coaches and media. • Led all Big Ten cornerbacks with an 83.3 over- all coverage grade from Pro Football Focus in 2021, and had the second-best grade in press coverage (89.6) by a Big Ten corner since 2016. • Played in four games on special teams and one on defense during the 2020 season. • Appeared in four games on special teams in 2019. • Ranked by the On3 Consensus as a four-star talent and the No. 37 cornerback in the na- tion. Year GP/GS Tkls. TFL PBU INT 2019 4/0 0 0 0 0 2020 4/0 0 0 0 0 2021 14/8 33 1 7 2 Totals 22/8 33 1 7 2 NEWCOMERS ZEKE BERRY • S Fr. • Pittsburg, Calif. Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 195 • N a m e d a n A l l - A m e r i ca n Bowl honoree but could not play in the contest; selected as the Defensive Player of the Year by the bowl. • Participated in the Polynesian Bowl following his senior campaign. • First-team selection for MaxPreps California All-State team as a senior and a second-team honoree as a junior. • Made 35 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 interception and 2 forced fumbles as senior. • Ranked a four-star recruit, the No. 147 overall player, 11th-best safety and No. 10 prospect in California by the On3 Consensus. DAMANI DENT • S Fr. • Jacksonville, Fla. Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 190 • Led his team with 63 tackles and 4 interceptions, adding 8 pass breakups, as a senior. Also caught 7 passes for 113 yards and 1 touchdown. • Registered 58 stops and 3 picks during his junior year while also grabbing 17 receptions for 327 yards and 2 TDs. • Rated a three-star prospect and the No. 62 safety in the country on the On3 Consensus. WILL JOHNSON • CB Fr. • Detroit Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 190 • Enrolled at U-M in January. • 2021 Michigan Player of the Year by the Detroit News. • Semifinalist for the Maxwell Club High School Defensive Player of the Year award. • Two-time Detroit Free Press and Detroit News Dream Team member. • Played in the Under Armour All-American Game as a senior and recorded 2 tackles. • Registered 45 tackles, including 3.5 behind the line of scrimmage, 1 interception and 1 sack, while also recording 1,302 all-purpose yards during his prep senior campaign. • Tabbed a five-star prospect, the No. 18 overall player and the second-best cornerback nation- ally, and the top prospect in Michigan by the On3 Consensus. KODY JONES • S Fr. • Memphis, Tenn. Ht.: 5-11 • Wt.: 175 • Enrolled early at U-M in Janu- ary 2022. • Named a Class 6 first-team All-State selection by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association and Ten- nessee Football Coaches Association. • Selected to play in the 2021 Auto Zone Liberty Bowl High School All-Star game in Memphis. • Regarded as a four-star recruit, the No. 274 overall player and No. 29 cornerback in the country, and the 10th-best recruit in Tennessee by the On3 Consensus. MYLES POLLARD • CB Fr. • Brentwood, Tenn. Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 185 • Tabbed as first-team 6A All- State by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association as a se- nior. • Made 35 tackles, including 3 for loss, and added 4 pass breakups as a junior. • Slotted as a three-star recruit and the No. 63 cornerback in the nation by the On3 Consensus. KEON SABB • S Fr. • Glassboro, N.J. Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 200 • Enrolled early at U-M in Janu- ary 2022. • Played in the Under Armour All-American Game as a senior. • Second-team all-purpose player for the Max- Preps Junior All-America squad in 2020. • Ranked as a four-star talent, the No. 89 overall player and eighth-best safety, and the No. 14 prospect in Florida by the On3 Consensus.