The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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L I N E B A C K E R S 98 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2025 FOOTBALL PREVIEW to be a major part in the rotation, possibly start in a couple games. We're thrilled to have him." The Wolverines picked up junior line- backer Troy Bowles through the transfer portal in the offseason. But injury kept the former Georgia linebacker — who appeared in seven games with the Bull- dogs, making 5 tackles — off the field during spring ball. That set him back in his acclimation to Michigan's defensive system. "We knew coming in that he had to get a little cleanup surgery, and we told him we weren't going to rush him back," Jean-Mary said. "That was our big sell- ing point with him. We knew what type of player he was and what we were in- heriting. "We assured him that once he got healthy, he'd have every opportunity to earn playing time. He's been great in the meetings. He's been a full participant in the weight room and some of the condi- tioning stuff. He just hasn't gone 11-on- 11 football yet." Jean-Mary assured that Bowles will be ready for fall camp. Beyond that, he's looking at one advanced underclassman and several young linebackers making their way through the developmental stages for the Wolverines. Sophomore Cole Sullivan made his mark as a freshman, becoming Michi- gan's Rookie of the Year on special teams and appearing in 12 games. He got into the game at linebacker against North- western, making a pair of tackles. Now, he's advanced to the point of getting to the cusp of those who can be counted on when the linebacking begins in earnest. "What I saw from him last year was just a big, raw, athletic kid," Jean-Mary said. "He had to learn the position, but you saw some of what the future would look like for him once he got it. We knew once that happened, we had a chance to have a really good football player. But you never know how quickly that's going to happen. "That page really turned this spring. He's become one of the guys that we're going to be counting on to be a major contributor. "He's had some practices where I would say he's one of the better guys on the field. He's really transformed his Now a sophomore, Cole Sullivan was Michigan's Rookie of the Year on special teams in 2024. He played in 12 games, burning his redshirt and making 4 tackles. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN [FYI] ❱ Seniors Ernest Hausmann (89) and Jaishawn Barham (66) were involved with either solo or assisted tackles on 155 of the team's 744 total stops in 2024 (20.8 percent). ❱ Barham ranks No. 3 among all returning Power Four linebackers with a missed tackle rate of 5.9 percent, according to Pro Football Focus. Only Baylor's Keaton Thomas (4.6 percent) and Notre Dame's Drayk Bowen (5.7 percent) had a better rating among players with a minimum of 500 snaps played a year ago. ❱ Senior Jimmy Rolder has quietly logged 31 appearances and 378 defensive snaps during the last three seasons, playing a significant role off the bench while also missing time with injury. The Chicago Marist product has totaled 45 tackles, including 2 behind the line of scrimmage, and has been in big-time games against the likes of Alabama, Ohio State, USC, Texas and Or- egon. He has two years of eligibility remaining beginning this season since he preserved his redshirt while dealing with nagging injuries. ❱ Sophomore Cole Sullivan ranked sixth on the team with 154 special teams snaps last sea- son, appearing in 12 games and burning his redshirt. He saw action on the kick return, kick coverage, punt return and punt coverage units, in addition to registering 14 defensive snaps. ❱ Freshman Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng earned a four-star rating and was the nation's No. 233 overall prospect in the 2025 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. He's U-M's first four-star, top-250 recruit at linebacker since Rolder in 2022 (No. 175 overall). The last one before Rolder was Junior Colson (No. 90). ❱ Barham ranks No. 3 among all returning Power Four linebackers with a missed tackle rate of 5.9 percent, according to Pro Football Focus. Only Baylor's Keaton Thomas (4.6 percent) and Notre Dame's Drayk Bowen (5.7 percent) had a better rating among players with a minimum of 500 snaps played.