The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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PLAYER BIOS ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ MARCH 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 51 STATISTICS Year Tackles Sacks INT 2023 120 5 1 2022 108 0 0 2021 65 0 0 Year Rush Yds. TD 2023 86 893 14 2022 106 1,223 27 HONORS • Invited to Under Armour All-America Game. • Two- me Associated Press Divisions 1-2 All- State selec on (2022-23). • Selected to the Detroit Free Press Dream Team as both a junior and senior (2022-23). • Belleville appeared in three straight state championship games from 2021-23, winning the Division I tle his sophomore and junior campaigns and going 40-2 in three seasons. RECRUITMENT • Commi ed to Michigan June 28, 2023. • Chose the Wolverines over offers from Michi- gan State, Kentucky, Missouri, Pi , Tennessee, Colorado, Louisville and others. • Primary recruiter was former U-M linebackers coach Chris Partridge. DID YOU KNOW? • Played running back in addi on to linebacker and was a team captain as a senior. • Also competed in track for Belleville. • Son of Will McMichael and Peggy Carr- McMichael. • Mother was the 1989 Michigan Miss Basketball award winner and a 1991 na onal champion at Tennessee. • Brother, Maliq Carr, played ght end at Michi- gan State and Purdue. • Born March 15, 2006. THEY SAID IT Belleville High School head coach Calvin Nor- man: "He'll be a great fit at Michigan because he's a physical kid. He's fast, gets to the ball and always comes up with a sure tackle. … As he con nues to grow and learn the system, I think he'll fit right in." JEREMIAH BEASLEY LINEBACKER 6-1 • 210 BELLEVILLE HIGH BELLEVILLE, MICH. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 399 36 9 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 34 13 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 26 6 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 19 9 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 15 9 INDUSTRY BY CLAYTON SAYFIE Before even officially enrolling early at Michigan, Jeremiah Beasley was one of a handful of signees to join the Wolverines for practices while they prepared for the Rose Bowl against Alabama and national championship game versus Washington. He wore No. 23 — after sporting No. 1 at Belleville — and drew some comparisons to sixth-year senior Michael Barrett, an All-Big Ten standout who will likely be drafted to the NFL this spring. Beasley sees himself in a similar mold to Barrett. "The role that I want to play is kind of like Mike Barrett," Beasley explained. "I want to start off as a Will [weakside line- backer] and hopefully work my way to Mike [middle] after about two to three years. But Will is the position I'll be start- ing at." The 6-1, 210-pounder is well-built, and he's also fast. Similar to Barrett play- ing quarterback in high school, Beasley was a star running back and set Belleville's career rushing yards record. Beasley has been impressed with Mich- igan's linebackers over the years, a reason why he made his commitment last sum- mer. "I feel like what I can bring to the table is to be a three-down linebacker — being able to come down and hit but also being able to come down and cover the best slot receiver that a team has to offer," Beasley said. "[The U-M linebackers] are all really intelligent, down-to-earth guys. They don't have any attitude problems; they all work together and play physical football, and they fill their gaps. I don't think they have any missed assignments." Belleville (Mich.) High, where Beasley won two state championships, is only an 18-mile drive from The Big House. He grew up playing with several Wolverines — including junior cornerback Will John- son and fellow signee Jacob Oden, a safety who also enrolled early — so he had some built-in connections. He was also wel- comed by others upon arrival. "It was great for me," Beasley said of participating in practices. "I came in a little nervous as the new guy on the block, but everyone welcomed me, even the big players. [Quarterback] J.J. [McCarthy] talked to me for about five minutes, just telling me about himself and everything. I played with some of them or they played for my dad in high school. It was good just coming in and being welcomed by everybody. People were coming up to me — it wasn't even me approaching people. They were asking my name, how I'm do- ing, telling me if I needed anything to just let them know. It feels like family." Beasley is also excited to stay and play in the Detroit area. "It means a lot to be able to represent where I'm from, represent the people who helped me develop and get to where I'm at right now," he said. He said his hopes for the coming years are to become the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Big Ten Linebacker of the Year, along with helping the Wolverines become "the best Michigan football team that we can be." Beasley earned a 4.0 GPA or higher each year of high school and wants fans to know that they're getting "a real intel- ligent kid football-wise and outside of football." ❑ Linebacker Jeremiah Beasley Is Fast, Physical And Smart In his last two seasons at Belleville (Mich.) High, Beasley racked up 228 tackles at line- backer and also rushed for 2,116 yards and 41 touchdowns. PHOTO BY ZACH LIBBY 2024 Projection Beasley looked the part while par cipa ng in Michigan's pre-Rose Bowl and na onal championship game prac ces, easily one of the most physically impressive players with a big upper body among his classmates who enrolled early. The Wolverines' linebacker room features a few players with experience, but he has the capability to push for two-deep status on the depth chart as a freshman.