The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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APRIL 2026 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 31 DEFENSIVE BACKS BY CHRIS BALAS RETURNING STARTERS Graduate Zeke Berry Berry was Defensive Skill Player of the Year two years ago in an honor- able mention All-Big Ten campaign and earned second-team honors from the media and third-team notice from the coaches a season ago. He started 11 games, notching 33 tackles with 11 pass breakups and 1 interception at corner. He's a veteran with a lot of experience. Graduate Rod Moore The sixth-year senior is included here, even though he's missed most of the last two years with a knee in- jury. He's on the road to recov- ery, and he has the potential to be one of the nation's best safeties when he's healthy. Expect him to be ready to compete and to have an out- standing season. He was a fixture in the secondary at Michigan before being injured prior to the 2024 season. Senior Jyaire Hill The lanky corner has appeared in 29 games with 22 starts, including 13 last season in an honorable mention All-Big Ten campaign. He registered 36 tackles, including 3 for loss and a sack, forced a fumble and broke up 6 passes, with 1 pick. He was Michigan's Defensive Skill Player of the Year and has the potential to be one of the conference's best at his position. Junior Mason Curtis The lanky (6-5, 211) safety played in 11 games a year ago with three starts and notched 34 tackles, including 2 for loss and a sack. He also broke up 2 passes and picked another. He's ver- satile enough to play some nickel if they need him to, and he could be an all-conference type with some good coaching. He shared Defensive Player of the Week honors twice last year for his performances at Northwestern and Maryland. OTHER RETURNEES Junior Jo'Ziah Edmond Edmond played in only two games at corner last season after seeing action in eight as a freshman. He's shown some good instincts and a knack for the ball in practices, though, and could be in line for more time this fall. Junior Jacob Oden Oden played in 10 games at defensive back last year, recording 3 tackles with 2 pass breakups and a pick. He'll be in the mix for more playing time this season, a big hitter with a lot of potential. Sophomore Shamari Earls Earls was banged up early in the year but still played in six games. He was highly recruited and has great potential. Sophomore Jordan Young Young played in 10 games as a frosh and also contributed on special teams, notching 15 tackles with 3 pass break- ups. He shared Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance at Northwestern, coming up with some big plays down the stretch. NEWCOMERS Senior Smith Snowden A 5-10, 185-pound corner, Snowden spent three seasons (2023-25) at Utah and played in 36 games with 24 starts. He was a second-team All-Big 12 selec- tion last year and racked up 92 tackles with 6 for loss, 4 interceptions, and 25 pass breakups in his three years. He was a huge pickup. Redshirt junior Chris Bracy The former Memphis defensive back is versatile at 6-1, 195, and started 11 of 13 games for the Tigers last year. He finished third on the team with 81 to- tal tackles (48 solo, 33 assist) and 9.5 tackles for loss (20 yards) and broke up a team-high 9 passes last year. Many believe he is vastly underrated. ANALYSIS For all the Wolverines lost here — and it was a handful to the portal, including starters Bran- dyn Hillman (Virginia) and TJ Metcalf (Tennessee) — we like the returnees even better. The biggest loss might have been sophomore Jayden Sanders to Notre Dame, and he played sparingly. If Moore comes back healthy, the Wol- verines have two defensive backs in him and corner Hill who should be among the best at their positions in the Big Ten. Sec- ondary coach Jernaro Gilford, promoted to defensive pass game coordinator last year, is the right guy to lead them. "Jernaro has proven himself as one of the top secondary coaches in the coun- try," former BYU defensive coordinator and now Michigan defensive coordinator Jay Hill told Brigham Young reporters last summer. "Last year, he helped us field one of the nation's best pass defenses and lead the country in interceptions. He absolutely deserves this opportunity. "Jernaro makes our team better every single day, and I'm proud to have him on our staff." Safety Rod Moore was a third-team All-Big Ten selection in 2023 before injuries derailed his next two seasons. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL