The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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AUGUST 2023 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 21 ❱ MICHIGAN FOOTBALL — a graduate with one year of eligibility remaining — in June. According to co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Steve Clinkscale, Wallace already has impressed during his short time in Ann Arbor. "Josh Wallace is going to do a really good job for us," Clinkscale said on the "In The Trenches" podcast. "He's been able to adapt right away. He's very will- ing to learn what's going on. I'm excited about him." Sophomore Will Johnson, a preseason first-team All-Big Ten pick by Pro Foot- ball Focus, opened five games a year ago and is all but certain to play the bulk of the snaps at cornerback this fall. But it's "wide open" as to who will be the starter alongside Johnson on the outside and graduate Mike Sainristil at nickel back. Sophomore Amorion Walker, a con- verted wide receiver, made strides in the spring but was up and down. Head coach Jim Harbaugh said before the Wolver- ines landed Wallace that Walker would most likely be the guy opposite Johnson, and Clinkscale noted that some struggles were to be expected. "I feel he's right where he needs to be," Clinkscale said. "He had a pretty solid beginning of spring, had a little bit of a roller coaster up and down … now he's fighting his way back up. "That's what you need to do. As a cor- ner, it shouldn't be all rosy." Junior Ja'Den McBurrows, who missed all of last season with an injury, sopho- more Myles Pollard, graduate Keshaun Harris, a walk-on, and freshman Jyaire Hill are all in the mix. Sainristil, a returning captain who made a seamless transition from wide- out before the 2022 campaign, can do it all, though, Clinkscale noted, including playing outside cornerback if needed. "The game has slowed down for him, which was already not too fast," Clink- scale said. "I've seen him grow more as a leader, not just holding people account- able, because by his nature and work ethic he's always going to hold you ac- countable. … This is his last go-around and he knows he can't do this by him- self." From the sounds of it, he won't have to. — Clayton Sayfie 'DOMINANT' PASS RUSHER EMERGING ON THE EDGE Michigan is tasked with replacing the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year for a second straight season, with Mike Morris winning the award in 2022 and Aidan Hutchinson doing so in 2021. But position coach Mike Elston believes the Wolverines have plenty of reinforce- ments at the edge position. "On the boundary, with [senior] Jay- len Harrell and [junior] transfer Josaiah Stewart, we've got guys like those two that are going to be really, really good pass rushers for us," Elston said on the "In The Trenches" podcast. At 6-1, 237 pounds, Stewart recorded 16 sacks in two seasons at Coastal Caro- lina before joining U-M this past winter. He's undersized for his position but fluid enough to both rush the passer and drop in coverage, per Elston. "The athleticism of Josaiah will show up there," he noted. "He's as dominant a pass rusher as we have. He's not only got speed, but he's also got some power, too. Even though he's a little bit on the shorter side than those other guys in terms of length, he makes up for it with versatility in his moves and his skill set that he uses." Stewart and Harrell primarily play on the boundary side, while senior Braiden McGregor and sophomore Derrick Moore play on the field side. "We love the way they play," Elston said. "They're very smart, aggressive, great pass rushers. They can do all the jobs we ask that field end to do." — Clayton Sayfie OFFENSE Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. QB 9 J.J. McCarthy* 6-3 196 Jr. 13 Jack Tuttle 6-4 212 Gr. or 16 Davis Warren 6-2 195 Jr. RB 2 Blake Corum* 5-8 210 Sr. 7 Donovan Edwards 6-1 204 Jr. WR 6 Cornelius Johnson* 6-3 208 Gr. 0 Darrius Clemons 6-3 214 So. Slot 8 Tyler Morris 5-11 185 So. 82 Fredrick Moore 6-1 176 Fr. or 80 Eamonn Dennis 5-10 184 Sr. WR 14 Roman Wilson 6-0 185 Jr. 81 Peyton O'Leary 6-3 195 Jr. TE 18 Colston Loveland 6-5 237 So. or 89 A.J. Barner 6-6 250 Sr. LT — LaDarius Henderson 6-5 310 Gr. 78 Myles Hinton 6-6 320 Sr. LG 77 Trevor Keegan* 6-6 305 Gr. 58 Giovanni El-Hadi 6-5 317 Jr. C 60 Drake Nugent 6-2 306 Gr. 62 Raheem Anderson 6-3 320 Jr. or 51 Greg Crippen 6-4 301 Jr. RG 65 Zak Zinter* 6-6 315 Sr. 74 Reece Atteberry 6-5 315 Sr. RT 52 Karsen Barnhart* 6-5 308 Gr. 53 Trente Jones 6-4 311 Gr. DEFENSE Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Edge 17 Braiden McGregor 6-6 261 Sr. 8 Derrick Moore 6-3 279 So. DE 94 Kris Jenkins* 6-3 309 Sr. 26 Rayshaun Benny 6-4 292 Jr. DT 55 Mason Graham 6-3 317 So. 26 Rayshaun Benny 6-4 292 Jr. NT 78 Kenneth Grant 6-3 356 So. 99 Cam Goode 6-2 323 Gr. Edge 32 Jaylen Harrell* 6-4 246 Sr. 5 Josaiah Stewart 6-1 237 Jr. Mike 25 Junior Colson* 6-2 235 Jr. 15 Ernest Hausmann 6-2 228 So. Will 23 Michael Barrett* 6-0 233 Gr. 30 Jimmy Rolder 6-2 228 So. NB 0 Mike Sainristil* 5-10 182 Gr. 9 Rod Moore 6-0 185 Jr. CB 2 Will Johnson* 6-2 194 So. 20 Jyaire Hill 6-2 171 Fr. or 24 Myles Pollard 6-1 191 So. SS 7 Makari Paige 6-4 200 Sr. 10 Zeke Berry 5-11 197 So. FS 9 Rod Moore* 6-0 185 Jr. 28 Quinten Johnson 5-11 202 Gr. or 3 Keon Sabb 6-1 208 So. CB — Josh Wallace 6-0 190 Gr. 1 Amorion Walker 6-3 180 So. or 1 Ja'Den McBurrows 5-11 206 Jr. THE WOLVERINE'S PRESEASON 2023 PROJECTED DEPTH CHART SPECIAL TEAMS Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. PK — James Turner 6-0 205 Gr. 19 Tommy Doman 6-4 208 Jr. P 19 Tommy Doman 6-4 208 Jr. — Hudson Hollenbeck 6-3 195 So. LS 49 William Wagner* 6-2 258 Gr. 45 Greg Tarr* 6-2 216 Sr. Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. KR 14 Roman Wilson 6-0 185 Sr. 24 Cole Cabana 6-0 180 Fr. PR 14 Roman Wilson 6-0 185 Sr. 12 Semaj Morgan 5-10 180 Fr. * Returning starters