The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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10 THE WOLVERINE ❱ DECEMBER 2025 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg, who came to U-M from Alabama-Birmingham after passing on an NBA opportunity, is ex- cited to play at the highest level of NCAA ball. He hasn't disappointed in the early going, leading the Wolverines while dominating, at times, offensively. Lendeborg discusses his first months with the program, playing for coach Dusty May, and more in this Q&A. The Wolverine: You scored 31 points and had 12 rebounds in the first exhibition with Cincinnati, but your coach said you could have been even better. How did you respond to that? Yaxel Lendeborg: "When I heard that state- ment, in my head I was like, 'What the …? What do you mean? I thought I played great …' "[But] I love it. I just had to see where he's coming from. He expects me to be a lottery pick, a long-term NBA guy, and I'm just expecting to play basketball for as long as I can, whether it's NBA or Euro, pro, wherever. I think it's great. I've never been pushed this hard in my life, so it is something that I have to get adjusted to … buy in. I'm still trying my best to get on his standard." The Wolverine: What did you see when you watched that film? Lendeborg: "I would say probably just that there were some plays where I kind of slacked off, like giving up an offensive rebound off a free throw. That's something I never really do. Plays like that, where we could've won … we lost by two, so that play right there was the determining factor. "There were some times with rebounding where the ball went up and I didn't go get it. He expects me to be a ball-getter, and I wasn't doing my job that day." The Wolverine: Dusty wants to play with pace, and you guys are getting up and down the floor. Describe the style a bit. Lendeborg: "I knew he played a pro-style of basketball, but actually being in it is ridiculous. I've never gotten this many opportunities to take this many shots as quickly. I'm somebody that doesn't really like taking many shots. The [first] two games, I think I took 15 and 16 shots, and it felt like I took 7. It's kind of inter- esting to be involved in." The Wolverine: You nearly went to the NBA and might have been a first-round pick if you entered the draft. What feedback did you get from the scouts? Lendeborg: "The biggest thing I've heard is the defensive end and playing through con- tact. Coach Dusty is telling me every day I've got to play better through contact, so that's been something I've been focusing on, and just playing off two feet. I've made some boneheaded plays where I've played off one foot and either had a turnover or just took a dumb layup. I'm still adjust- ing in the way I can finish through contact or take the first bump. "Those are the main two things that we're hearing from scouts, and the main two things that Dusty's been telling me." The Wolverine: You almost went to St. John's a few years ago before the coaching change there. Did you feel like you had some- thing to prove in that exhibition [when you put up 25 points and 10 rebounds]? Lendeborg: "Absolutely. From the day I got that feeling [Rick] Pitino didn't want me after he got signed, instant chip on my shoulder. … "I wanted it so badly to come in and win the game, and we did that. So, I'm super happy about that." — Chris Balas Lendeborg passed on a potential NBA first-round opportunity last summer to come to Michigan and be pushed to a higher level by head coach Dusty May and his staff. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL MICHIGAN CREATING HAVOC, COULD HAVE MORE Defensive college football coaches make no bones about how many turn- overs they want to force: More. Following the Nov. 1 game against Purdue and entering a bye week, the Wolverines were ranked tied for 20th in the nation with 16 turnovers gained this season, with 11 interceptions (16th) and 5 fumble recoveries (49th). Michigan had quite the streak going with turnovers, forcing at least one in 15 consecutive games dating back to the middle of the 2024 campaign. The Wolverines caused multiple TOs in five of their first nine games this year. But the Wolverines could've had more, meaning the coaching staff isn't satisfied. Junior cornerback Jyaire Hill, for one, could've had multiple picks that he's dropped this season. "The thing with 'Sug,' I always tell guys the opportunities that you have change the narrative and the rankings and accolades that you get," Michi- gan defensive backs coach LaMar Morgan said. "You've got to catch the ones that go to you. "Sometimes in a season, if you're a corner or a safety, you only get four or five opportunities where they actually throw the ball to you and you can get your hands on it. He's been fortunate this year, he's had his hands on a lot of them. We've just got to continue to work on catching them, so we're doing JUGS [machine], in the open field doing them, up close on receivers. But we've been doing that a lot the last couple weeks." It's actually not a defensive back who leads Michigan in picks, but instead a linebacker in sophomore Cole Sullivan (3), and he's the only Wolverine with multiple interceptions. Senior linebacker Jimmy Rolder, junior nickel back TJ Metcalf, junior safety Brandyn Hillman, senior cornerback Zeke Berry, graduate edge TJ Guy, freshman cornerback Elijah Dotson, graduate safety Rod Moore and sophomore safety Jacob Oden all have 1 apiece. As far as picks and overall turnovers go, Michigan is on pace to have one of its better seasons in recent history, although the squad came up empty in the turnovers caused column at Northwestern on Nov. 15. Here's a look at how their takeaways stacked up through 10 games, compared to recent seasons: Fumble Total Pick Season Games INTs Recoveries Turnovers Sixes 2025 10 11 5 16 0 2024 13 12 6 18 2 2023 15 18 9 27 4 2022 14 14 4 18 1 2021 14 8 8 16 1 2020 6 2 1 3 0 2019 13 9 11 20 0 2018 13 11 6 17 4 2017 13 10 7 17 2 2016 13 13 6 19 3 2015 13 10 2 12 1 — Clayton Sayfie ❱ Sitting Down With Men's Basketball Graduate Student Forward Yaxel Lendeborg