The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1536962
D E F E N S I V E B A C K S 110 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2025 FOOTBALL PREVIEW making 8 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. • Was on a Kankakee High team that went 8-3 his senior season and was part of a Class 5A Illinois state runner-up squad as a junior. • Racked up 42 tackles his senior season with 5 tackles for loss to go with 2 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 3 interceptions. • An all-state performer in track and field as a long jumper. As a sprinter, was part of two state championship-winning relays (4x100, 4x400). • Four-star prospect, No. 166 player and No. 20 cornerback in the country, and No. 2 player in Illinois, per On3 Industry Ranking. Year GP/GS Tkls. TFL PBU INT 2023 4/0 8 1.5 0 0 2024 12/9 35 5.5 9 1 Total 16/9 43 7 9 1 BRANDYN HILLMAN • S Jr. • Portsmouth, Va. Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 200 • Saw action in 12 contests and made 21 tackles with 1.5 for loss and 1 sack along with 2 pass breakups in 2024. • Appeared in nine games at defensive back and on special teams as a freshman, making 2 tackles in 2023. • A 1,000-yard passer and rusher in both his junior and senior seasons at Church- land High, throwing for 1,312 yards and 11 touchdowns, with 1,236 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns, in 2022. • Four-star prospect, No. 207 overall player and No. 6 athlete in the nation, and No. 5 player in Virginia, per the On3 Industry Ranking. Year GP/GS Tkls. TFL PBU INT 2023 9/0 2 0 0 0 2024 12/0 21 1.5 2 0 Total 21/0 23 1.5 2 0 JEREMIAH LOWE • CB So. • Lexington, Ky. Ht.: 5-11 • Wt.: 177 • Did not see game action as a freshman in 2024. • Attended Frederick Dou- glass High School, leading team to 8-5 record with appearance in Class 6A semifinal game as a senior in 2023. • Named first-team all-state by the Louisville Courier Journal after recording 25 tackles with 1 tackle for loss, 1 forced fumble and 1 interception. • Helped team to 15-0 season and the Ken- tucky 5A state title in 2022 and a state run- ner-up finish in 2021. • On3 Industry Ranking of three stars, No. 128 cornerback in the country and No. 9 player in Kentucky. JADEN MANGHAM • S Sr. • Beverly Hills, Mich. Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 185 • Competed in the season- opener against Fresno State but missed the remainder of the 2024 campaign with injury, preserving his redshirt. • Spent first two collegiate seasons at Michi- gan State. • Recorded 53 total tackles, a team-high 4 interceptions, 3 passes defended and 1 fum- ble recovery in 2023 with 11 appearances and 10 starts. • 2023 All-Big Ten honorable mention (coaches and media) for MSU. • Made 9 appearances and 2 starts as a fresh- man in 2022, tallying 20 tackles. • Attended Groves High School. • Four-star recruit, No. 301 overall player and No 8 athlete nationally, and No. 8 prospect in Michigan, per On3 Industry Ranking. Year GP-GS Tkls. TFL PBU INT 2022* 9/2 20 0 0 0 2023* 11/10 53 1 3 4 2024 1/0 0 0 0 0 Totals 21/12 73 1 3 4 * at Michigan State ROD MOORE • S Gr. • Dayton, Ohio Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 198 • Missed the entire 2024 sea- son after tearing his ACL in March 2024. • Appeared in 12 games with 11 starts in 2023, making 38 tackles (1 for loss), 2 interceptions, 5 passes defended and a quarterback hurry. • A third-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and honorable mention pick by the media in 2023. • Competed in all 14 games with 13 starts in 2022, tallying 71 tackles (most among U-M defensive backs), 1.5 tackles for loss, a half-sack, 7 pass breakups and a team-best 4 interceptions. • Recognized as All-Big Ten honorable men- tion by the media as a sophomore. • Appeared in 11 games in 2021 with four starts at safety and tallied 32 tackles and 1 pass breakup. Junior TJ Metcalf, a transfer from Arkansas, is the likely starter at nickel but may also see time at safety this fall. Last season, he notched 57 tackles and 3 interceptions while starting 11 of 12 games for the Razorbacks. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL