The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1503142
[ L I N E B A C K E R S ] 98 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2023 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BIOS POSITION COACH Chris Partridge is back at Michi- gan after three seasons serving as the Ole Miss co-defensive co- ordinator and safeties coach. He previously spent four years as a U-M assistant coach, coordinating special teams and coaching line- backers (2016-17) and safeties (2018-19). He became the Wolverines' director of player per- sonnel in 2015 after head coach Jim Harbaugh hired him from Paramus (N.J.) Catholic, where he was a high school head man from 2010-14 and assistant head coach/defensive coordinator from 2003-04. In between his two stops at Paramus, he coached defensive line and defensive backs, respectively, at Lafayette College and The Citadel, while serving as special teams coordinator at both schools. Under his tutelage during his first stint in Ann Ar- bor, seven Wolverine defenders earned nine All-Big Ten honors, including two first-team accolades. That list included Jabrill Peppers, who finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2016. RETURNING PLAYERS MICHAEL BARRETT • LB Gr. • Valdosta, Ga. Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 233 • Competed in 14 games with 13 starts in 2022, racking up 72 tackles, 5 stops for loss, 3.5 sacks, 3 pass breakups, 2 interceptions and 2 quarterback hurries. Both interceptions came at Rutgers Nov. 5. Matched his career high with 11 tackles at Ohio State, followed by 10 against Purdue in the Big Ten Championship Game. • Named third-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and earned an honorable mention nod from the media. • Appeared in all 14 games on special teams and 11 at linebacker with one start in 2021. Notched 20 tackles, 1.5 stops for loss, 1 sack, 1 pass breakup and 1 quarterback hurry. • Started all six games during the 2020 campaign, and recorded 44 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 quarterback hurry and 1 forced fumble. • Appeared in 12 games and made 7 tackles dur- ing the 2019 season, seeing snaps on defense in two contests while also being a major contribu- tor on special teams. • Saw snaps in two games as a freshman in 2018, retaining his redshirt. • Regarded by the On3 Industry Ranking as a three- star talent and the No. 73 player in Georgia. Year GP/GS Tkls. TFL Sacks INT 2018 2/0 0 0 0 0 2019 12/0 7 0 0 0 2020 6/6 44 2 1 0 2021 14/1 20 1.5 1 0 2022 14/13 72 5 3.5 2 Totals 48/20 143 8.5 5.5 2 JUNIOR COLSON • LB Jr. • Brentwood, Tenn. Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 235 • Led the team with 101 tack- les, adding 6 for loss, 2 sacks and 1 pass breakup while starting all 14 games. Made a career-high 15 tackles against Purdue in the Big Ten Championship Game. • Named second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and third team by the media. • Registered 61 tackles, the fourth-most on the team, a half-sack, 2 pass breakups, 3 quarter- back hurries and 1 fumble recovery during his freshman campaign in 2021. Played in all 14 contests and started seven of the last eight games. • Tabbed as a Freshman All-American by On3, the Maxwell Football Club and the Football Writers Association of America. • Named a semifinalist for the 2020 Butkus Award, handed out to the nation's top high school linebacker. • Selected to participate in the 2020 All-American Bowl. • Checked in as a four-star prospect, and the No. 11 linebacker and No. 91 overall player in the nation on the On3 Industry Ranking. Year GP/GS Tkls. TFL Sacks INT 2021 14/7 61 0.5 0.5 0 2022 14/14 101 6 2 0 Totals 28/21 162 6.5 2.5 0 JAYDON HOOD • LB Jr. • Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 217 • Competed in three games and recorded 3 tackles and 1 pass breakup in 2022, with all of those stats coming against Hawai'i. • Appeared in one game at linebacker in 2021, versus Northern Illinois, retaining his redshirt year. Recorded 1 tackle. • Landed on MaxPreps' All-Florida second-team defense as a senior and earned an invite to the 2021 Under Armour All-American Game. Coordinator Jesse Minter enters his second season at the helm of the U-M defense 'excited' about the linebacking corps. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL