The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1542067
22 THE WOLVERINE ❱ JANUARY 2026 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE B ack in the Jim Harbaugh days, reporters would leave press con- ferences with a list of around 20 players on each side of the foot- ball that were "starters." Not all of them could actually take the first snap, but point taken: The Wolverines, in some years more than others, had a lot of depth and starting-caliber players. Senior linebacker Jimmy Rolder has been in that bucket for multiple sea- sons, described by the coaching staff as a 'third starter,' but really a second-stringer who earned ro- tational playing time. He ranked third on the team in linebacker snaps in 2022, played in only four regular-season games to redshirt while battling injuries in 2023, was third again in 2024 and came into the 2025 campaign with a similar role. Things changed in the third game of the year, a 63-3 win over Central Michigan. The Wo lve r i n e s m ove d s e n i o r Jaishawn Barham from start- ing linebacker to edge rusher, meaning Rolder was in the first group alongside class- mate Ernest Hausmann. He was finally a starter, and became one of the team's very best defen- sive players, ending up as one of two players on the unit to earn at least second- team All-Big Ten honors by both the coaches and media. "Coming from the spring, I was like the Rolder is Michigan's leading tackler with 69 stops this season, and he's added 7 stops for loss and 2 sacks, while also contributing 2 pass breakups, 2 quarterback hurries, a fumble recovery and an interception. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL 'JUST ELITE' Senior Linebacker Jimmy Rolder Stuck It Out, Now He's Standing Out