The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1523593
LINEBACKERS THE WOLVERINE 2024 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 101 MICAH POLLARD • LB Jr. • Jacksonville, Fla. Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 221 • Suited up for 15 games on spe- cial teams with four linebacker appearances, recording 7 tack- les in 2023. • Appeared in 12 games on special teams in 2022, playing linebacker in four. Recorded 8 total tack- les. Earned U-M Freshman of the Game honors on special teams twice. • Racked up 70 tackles, 16 stops for loss and 7 sacks during his prep senior season, leading Bartram Trail to a 9-3 record and an 8A, Region 1 division title. • Rated as a three-star prospect and the No. 51 linebacker in the country, per On3. Year GP/GS Tkls. TFL Sacks INT 2022 12/0 8 0 0 0 2023 15/0 7 0 0 0 Totals 27/0 15 0 0 0 JIMMY ROLDER • LB Jr. • Orland Park, Ill. Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 233 • Appeared in 6 games, making 5 tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss in 2023. Played in four regular- season contests, preserving redshirt status. • Played in 13 games and notched 14 tackles as a freshman at U-M in 2022. • Named U-M's Rookie of the Year on special teams in 2022. • Earned five U-M Freshman of the Game honors — three on special teams and two on defense. • Named a semifinalist for the high school Dick Butkus Award, which is presented to the nation's top prep linebacker. • Selected to the Class 8A All-State team by the Illinois Coaches Association in 2021. • Tallied 115 tackles, 13 stops for loss, 4 intercep- tions and 2 forced fumbles as a senior. • Tabbed as a four-star recruit, and the No. 60 overall player and eighth-best linebacker in the country by On3. Year GP/GS Tkls. TFL Sacks INT 2022 13/0 14 0 0 0 2023 6/0 5 0.5 0 0 Total 19/0 19 0.5 0 0 NEWCOMERS JAISHAWN BARHAM • LB Jr. • District Heights, Md. Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 248 • Transferred from Maryland fol- lowing the 2023 season. • Started in all 11 of his appear- ances last year, totaling 37 tack- les with 3 tackles for loss and 3 sacks, 1 intercep- tion, 1 pass defended and 3 quarterback hurries. • Earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition (coaches) in 2023. • Appeared in 12 games with 12 starts as a true freshman in 2022 with 58 tackles (most among Big Ten freshmen), 6.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 1 pass defended, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery. • Freshman All-American by College Football News. • Attended St. Frances Academy in Baltimore. • 2022 Polynesian Bowl participant, winning De- fensive MVP. • On3 Industry Ranking of four stars, No. 145 player nationally, No. 11 linebacker and No. 3 player in Maryland. Year GP/GS Tkls. TFL Sacks INT 2022* 12/12 58 6.5 4 0 2023* 11/11 37 3 3 1 Total 23/23 95 9.5 7 1 * at Maryland ZACH LUDWIG • LB Fr. • South Park, Pa. Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 210 • Attended South Park High School, recording 53 tackles with 3 tackles for loss and a sack in 2023. • Two-way contributor also played quarterback. • 2023 PrepStar All-Eastern Re- gion selection. • N e p h e w o f f o r m e r U - M strength coach Ben Herbert. • Three-star prospect, No. 170 linebacker and No. 47 player in Pennsylvania, according to On3 Industry Ranking. COLE SULLIVAN • LB Fr. • Pittsburgh, Pa. Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 215 • Enrolled in January 2024 and participated in spring football. • Attended Central Catholic High School, reaching state playoffs with 10-2 record as a senior. • Racked up 105 tackles with 7 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries in 2023, also blocked 3 punts. • 2023 PrepStar All-Eastern Region selection. • Two-time Pennsylvania News Class 6A All-State (2022-23). • Four-star prospect, No. 289 overall player, No. 21 linebacker and No. 5 player in Pennsylvania, ac- cording to On3 Industry Ranking. Junior Micah Pollard recorded 7 tackles in 2023 while suiting up for 15 games on special teams and mak- ing four appearances at linebacker. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTGRAPHY