The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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LINEBACKERS 96 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2024 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY CHRIS BALAS G reat college football programs don't rebuild — they reload. That's the cli- ché, anyway, as it pertains to the best of the best over the years, usually used in reference to the SEC schools and their dominance since the College Football Playoff's inception in 2014. The confer- ence has captured six of the 10 titles, led by Alabama's three in eight appearances, and its teams usually do it by replacing star players with other standouts. Michigan crashed the party this year to give the Big Ten its second CFP title, and the Wolverines hope to follow the same script to get back to the playoff in 2024. It's looking pretty good at line- backer, where juniors and projected starters Ernest Hausmann (6-2, 237) and Maryland transfer Jaishawn Barham (6-3, 248) seem to have what it takes to replace Junior Colson and Michael Barrett. Colson starts his NFL career in 2024 in Los Angeles with Jim Harbaugh's Char- gers, while Barrett will get his shot with the Carolina Panthers. The two played huge roles in leading the Wolverines' elite defense, one that helped claim the team's first national championship since 1997. "The challenge before we started spring practice was, we lost two big-time linebackers, two of the better lineback- ers to come out of Michigan in the last two decades in Michael Barrett and Ju- nior Colson," first-year linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary (poached from Tennes- see for a second stint — he coached at U-M in 2020) said this spring. "I was an admirer from afar. I watched closely be- cause of having a personal relationship with both. "I thought they played at as high a level as linebackers as any group in the coun- try. We know the bar was set high, and that was the challenge coming in. I feel like the guys are trying to get to that level. Obviously, we're not there yet." Starters Could Be The Big Ten's Best Combo Nor were they expected to be in the spring. By the April 20 spring game, how- ever, both Hausmann and Barham had made significant progress, each dem- onstrating many of the traits that made Colson and Barrett so good together. Athleticism, skill set, intangibles, and instincts … they've both got them all, and now they'll be on display in the middle of the Michigan defense. Hausmann was the third man in the ro- NEXT MEN UP Linebacker Corps Is Talented, But Top Heavy Ernest Hausmann was the third man in the linebacker rotation last year and has yet to start a game for Michigan, but he still finished No. 3 on the team in tackles with 46, including 2 for loss. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER