The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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LINEBACKERS THE WOLVERINE 2024 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 99 said. "But you've got fall camp [coming], and it's a whole different animal. "There are no position battles that are done right now … everybody's compet- ing all the time. You can't keep anybody comfortable." Two returnees behind the starters have the inside track to emerge, both Moore and Martindale indicated in June. "I feel like we've got a good nucleus of guys behind them that can really chal- lenge them and push them, so I'm super excited about those guys," Moore said. "Jaydon Hood is one; Jimmy Rolder, as well. And then you've got a bunch of young guys that haven't really played, and you've got to see. "So, those are the main two right now behind them, but we'll see what happens." The Wolverines don't have a lot of gimmes on the schedule like last year, so there won't be as many opportunities for the starters to take breathers unless they have reliable backups. That's cre- ated opportunity for a guy like Hood (6-1, 225), one who has been labeled an "up and comer" for years. He's likely going to have to play more after notching 17 total tackles in his first three seasons, 13 in 2023. "When he's in the game, he's going to hit something," Martindale said. "What- ever moves, he hits. To me, I see him, and I know what his strengths are. I don't want to tell everybody else we're getting ready to play what his strengths are, but I know his strengths. He's going to be fun to watch, as well." Rolder (6-2, 233), meanwhile, has great upside and plenty of talent Mar- tindale said — they just need to find ways to keep him on the field. He re- portedly sat out portions of spring with injury after missing a lot of time last year. He played in only six games last year, notching 5 tackles. "Jimmy Rolder has got NFL talent as far as how he can run, body type and ev- erything else," Martindale noted. "We just need to keep him healthy." Behind them, junior Micah Pollard (6- 2, 221), sophomore Jason Hewlett (6-2, 224) and freshman early enrollee Cole Sullivan (6-3, 215) will push for time, while true freshman Zach Ludwig (6-2, 210) of South Park, Pa., will also give it a shot. Pollard is the most experienced, having made 7 tackles a year ago. Heading into summer, though, the big four were penciled in as the rotation, with the coaches excited about their po- tential. ❑ [FYI] ❱ Brian Jean-Mary has guided 11 players to be- come NFL Draft picks in his coaching career: Louisville defensive backs Calvin Pryor (2014, first round) and Johnny Patrick (2011, third round), Louisville defensive ends Marcus Smith (2014, first round), Lorenzo Mauldin (2015, third round) and Greg Scruggs (2012, seventh round), Michigan linebacker Cameron McGrone (2021, fifth round), Texas linebacker Jordan Hicks (2015, third round), Louisville linebackers Preston Brown (2014, third round) and Deion- trez Mount (2015, sixth round), and Georgia Tech linebackers Gerris Wilkinson (2005, third round) and Philip Wheeler (2008, third round). ❱ Defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale has a background coaching linebackers at sev- eral spots in his career, including in 2000-03 when he was Jack Harbaugh's defensive coordi- nator and inside linebackers coach at Western Kentucky. He was an all-state linebacker at Trotwood-Madison High School before playing safety and linebacker at Defiance College. ❱ Ernest Hausmann was Michigan's third-best tackler last season, grading out at 85.8, accord- ing to Pro Football Focus. His 68.5 overall grade was 328th among 777 eligible linebackers. ❱ Jaishawn Barham recorded an overall PFF grade of 66.2 last season at Maryland with a 75.1 mark as a run defender and 70.8 mark as a tackler. He also brings value to the room as a pass rusher, grading out at 75.6 in 83 rush snaps with 21 pressures and 3 sacks. He started 23 games for Maryland over the past two seasons. U-M's Single-Season Tackle Leaders Player Tackles Year Ron Simpkins 174 1977 Mike Boren 171 1982 Ron Simpkins 168 1978 Andy Cannavino 168 1980 Paul Girgash 157 1982 Calvin O'Neal 153 1976 Mike Boren 152 1981 Calvin O'Neal 151 1975 Andy Cannavino 151 1979 Ron Simpkins 150 1979 ❱ ❱ X-FACTOR X-FACTOR The starters are likely locked in with Ernest Hausmann and Jaishawn Barham, but there should be plenty of good competition for spots on the two-deep. While senior Jaydon Hood and junior Jimmy Rolder have waited their turn, freshman COLE SULLIVAN is a staff favor- ite who could work himself into an early role with continued physical development. It would not be surprising to many in the building if he saw the field early — and often — in 2024. PHOTO BY ZACH LIBBY