The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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D E F E N S I V E B A C K S THE WOLVERINE 2026 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 109 POSITION COACHES Defensive back coaching duties will be split between Jernaro Gilford (cornerbacks) and Tyler Stockton (safeties), both entering their first seasons at U-M. Gilford spent the last 10 sea- sons coaching the cornerbacks at BYU, where he overlapped with defensive coordinator Jay Hill over the last three sea- sons. Prior to the 2025 cam- paign, he was elevated to the defensive passing game coordinator in Provo. Gilford has helped 10 players reach the NFL, including three draft picks, and helped seven players collect nine all-conference honors, including four since the 2023 season, BYU's first in the Big 12. BYU's secondary had three seasons with a top-30 ranking in passing yards allowed and four seasons with a top-30 mark in pass efficiency defense. The secondary pro- duced 15-plus interceptions and a top-20 mark in that category six times, including each of the last three years. Gilford got his start in coach- ing at Whittier College as a graduate assistant in 2012-13 before a two-year stint at Southern Utah in 2014-15 coaching the secondary. Stockton brings 12 years of experience to Ann Arbor, including eight years in a co- ordinator role. He is a three- time nominee for the Broyles Award (2020, 2022-23), given to college football's top assis- tant coach. He was named to the AFCA's 35 Under 35 list in 2021 and ESPN's 45 minority coaches under 45 list in 2022. Stockton spent the last two seasons at Boise State, where he served as a co-defensive coordinator and safe- ties coach. He previously worked at Ball State from 2019-23, where he worked his way to defensive coordinator in addition to assistant head coach duties in his final two seasons. The 2013 Notre Dame graduate started at UConn as a grad assistant in 2014-15 before working at Western Illinois from 2016-18. RETURNING PLAYERS ZEKE BERRY • CB Gr. • Pittsburg, Calif. Ht.: 5-11 • Wt.: 196 • Started 11 games with 33 tackles and 11 passes de- fended with an intercep- tion, earning All-Big Ten honors (second team, media; third team, coaches) in 2025. • Played in all 13 contests with 12 starts and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten rec- ognition in 2024. • Began the year as Michigan's nickel back but moved to outside corner in the back half of the season. • Totaled 37 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, 2 interceptions, 9 pass breakups and 2 quarter- back hurries. • Appeared in 11 games in 2023, mostly on special teams, making 3 total tackles. • Played in two games as a freshman in 2022, recording 1 tackle for loss and keeping his redshirt intact. • Named an All-American Bowl honoree and Defensive Player of the Year by the bowl. • Participated in the Polynesian Bowl following his senior campaign. • First-team selection on the MaxPreps Califor- nia All-State team as a senior and a second- team honoree as a junior. • Made 35 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 interception and 2 forced fumbles as a senior. • Listed as a four-star recruit, the No. 146 overall player and 11th-best safety nationally, and the No. 10 prospect in California by the On3 Industry Ranking. Year GP/GS Tkls. TFL PBU INT 2022 2/0 1 1 0 0 2023 11/0 3 0 0 0 2024 13/12 37 2.5 9 2 2025 11/11 33 0 11 1 Total 37/23 64 3.5 20 3 MASON CURTIS • S Jr. • Nashville, Tenn. Ht.: 6-5 • Wt.: 211 • Made 11 appearances with three starts in 2025, record- ing 34 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, a sack, 2 passes de- fended and an interception. • Appeared in nine games as a freshman in 2024, registering 8 tackles, including 1 for loss, and his first career interception, which came against Northwestern. • Switched from edge (signee) to linebacker (spring 2024) to safety (2024 season) in his first calendar year with the program. • Graduate of Ensworth High School, where he totaled 31 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 4 passes defended, 4 fumble recoveries and 2 defen- sive touchdowns as a senior. • Also lettered in basketball. • Rivals Industry Ranking of four stars, the No. 322 player and 26th-ranked linebacker na- tionally, and the ninth-best player in Ten- nessee. Year GP/GS Tkls. TFL PBU INT 2022 2/0 1 1 0 0 2023 11/0 3 0 0 0 2024 13/12 37 2.5 9 2 2025 11/11 33 0 11 1 Total 37/23 64 3.5 20 3 SHAMARI EARLS • CB So. • Chester, Va. Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 205 • Appeared in six games as a freshman. • Enrolled early at U-M in Janu- ary 2025. • Missed his senior season due to injury after totaling 25 tackles and 3 interceptions as a junior at Chester (Va.) Thomas Dale. • The four-star prospect was rated as the No. 97 player and No. 13 cornerback in the nation and the second-best prospect in Virginia, ac- cording to the Rivals Industry Ranking. JO'ZIAH EDMOND • CB Jr. • Indianapolis Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 185 • Appeared in two contests in 2025. • Saw action in eight games as a freshman, making 2 tackles in 2024. • Attended NorthWood High, helping his school reach the 2023 Class 4A state title game with 12-2 record. • A 2023 Indiana Football Coaches Association All-State selection and IndyStar Top 50 All- State defensive honoree. • Two-way prep player, making 64 tackles with 5 interceptions and a forced fumble, along with 65 catches for 505 yards and 7 touchdowns, and 204 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns on 26 carries as a senior. • Transferred to NorthWood after three seasons at Warren Central. • Rivals Industry Ranking of four stars, No. 123 player and No. 18 cornerback in the country, and No. 2 player in Indiana. QUICK FACTS Position Coaches: Jernaro Gilford (corner- backs, first year at U-M) and Tyler Stockton (safeties, first year at U-M) Returning Starters: Rod Moore (29 career starts), Zeke Berry (23), Jyaire Hill (22) Departing Starters: TJ Metcalf (23), Brandyn Hillman (12) Projected New Starters: Chris Bracy (13; 11 at Memphis, 2 at UAB) Top Reserves: Shamari Earls, Jo'Ziah Ed- mond, Jordan Young, Mason Curtis (3) Newcomers: Jordan Deck, Ernest Nunley, Jamarion Vincent Moved In: Bracy, Smith Snowden (24 starts at Utah) Moved Out: Hillman (Virginia), TJ Metcalf (Tennessee), Tevis Metcalf (Tennessee), Elijah Dotson (Missouri), Jayden Sanders (Notre Dame) Rookie Impact: None Most Improved Player: Young Best Pro Prospect: Hill