The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1545685
D E F E N S I V E B A C K S THE WOLVERINE 2026 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 111 • Did not see game action in 2024 or 2025. • Hauled in 38 catches for 909 yards and 9 touchdowns as a senior at Chicago Kenwood Academy. Also had 3 return TDs on special teams in 2023. • Illinois 7A All-State pick as a senior. • Selected to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in 2023. • Spent his first three seasons at Bolingbrook, where he scored 13 touchdowns as a junior. • A four-star recruit, the No. 347 overall player and No. 53 wide receiver in the country, along with the ninth-best player in Illinois, per the Rivals Industry Ranking. KAINOA WINSTON • S So. • Washington, D.C. Ht.: 5-11 • Wt.: 204 • Played in one game as a freshman, preserving his redshirt. • Recorded 2 tackles in 2025. • Gatorade Player of the Year in Washington, D.C., in 2024. • Selected to the Navy All-American Bowl. • A four-star recruit, Winston checked in as the No. 91 overall player and No. 9 safety in the country, earning status as the top prospect in Washington, D.C., per the Rivals Industry Ranking. JORDAN YOUNG • S So. • Monroe, N.C. Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 195 • Appeared in 10 games with 15 tackles and 3 passes de- fended in 2025. • Totaled 38 tackles, 14 pass breakups and 6 interceptions as a senior for Monroe (N.C.) High. • Selected to the Navy All-American Bowl. • Slotted as a four-star prospect, the No. 148 overall recruit and No. 13 safety in the coun- try, and No. 6 player in North Carolina, ac- cording to the Rivals Industry Ranking. NEWCOMERS CHRIS BRACY • S Sr. • Mobile, Ala. Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 195 • Transferred from Memphis in January 2026. • Spent two seasons at UAB prior to Memphis. • Appeared in 31 games during his career with 11 starts, totaling 116 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions and 3 passes defended between both schools. • Made 13 game appearances with 11 starts in 2025 at Memphis with 81 tackles, 9.5 tack- les for loss, 10 passes defended along with an interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery. • Played in four games at UAB in 2024 with two starts, 18 tackles recorded with 2 passes defended. • Played in 11 games at UAB in 2023 with 17 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and an interception. • Three-star recruit in 2023 class, the No. 1,962 overall player and No. 170 safety in the land, and the No. 75 player in Alabama, per Rivals Industry Ranking. Year GP/GS Tkls. TFL PBU INT 2023 11/0 17 0.5 0 1 2024 4/2 18 0 2 0 2025 13/11 81 9.5 10 1 Total 28/13 116 10 12 2 JORDAN DECK • S Fr. • Little Elm, Texas Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 190 • Enrolled early at U-M in Janu- ary 2026. • Attended Lone Star High. • Posted 106 tackles with 12 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 2 passes defended and an interception returned for a 96-yard touchdown in 2025. • Made 111 tackles with 21 passes defended between sophomore and junior seasons. • Also lettered in track and field (sprints and jumps). • Honorable mention all-state honoree in 2024. • Four-star prospect, No. 399 overall player, No. 31 safety in 2026 class, according to Rivals Industry Ranking. ERNEST NUNLEY • S Fr. • Carson, Calif. Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 180 • Enrolled early at U-M in Janu- ary 2026. • Signed with Cal in December 2025 before entering transfer portal. • Attended Western High after three seasons at Narbonne. • Had 57 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 2 passes defended and 5 intercep- tions in 2025. • 2025 Division 4 All-CIF honoree. • Also lettered in track and field (sprints). • Three-star prospect, No. 1,043 overall, No. 97 safety, No 82 player in California, according to Rivals Industry Ranking. SMITH SNOWDEN • CB Sr. • Lehi, Utah Ht.: 5-10 • Wt.: 185 • Transferred from Utah. • Appeared in 36 games over three seasons with the Utes, making 24 starts • Started all 13 games in 2025, making 37 tack- les with 2 tackles for loss, 11 passes defended and 2 interceptions. • Also started two games at running back and wide receiver, catching 13 passes for 57 yards and rushing 8 times for 40 yards and a touch- down. • Earned second-team All-Big 12 honors. • Attended Skyridge High, helping program to 6A state championship in 2022. • Four-star prospect, No. 328 overall player, No. 37 cornerback and No. 4 player in Utah in 2023 class, per Rival Industry Ranking. Year GP/GS Tkls. TFL PBU INT 2023* 11/0 7 0 0 0 2024* 12/11 48 4 10 2 2025* 13/13 37 2 11 2 Total 36/24 92 6 21 4 * at Utah TAYLOR TATUM • S Jr. • Longview, Texas Ht.: 5-10 • Wt.: 212 • Transferred from Oklahoma in January 2026. • Changed positions from run- ning back to safety after ar- riving at U-M. • Appeared in 12 games over two seasons with three starts, rushing 57 times for 277 yards and 3 touchdowns along with 5 catches for 41 yards and a touchdown. • Played in one game in 2025, preserving red- shirt. • Made 11 game appearances as a true fresh- man. • Also played baseball. • Attended Longview High, becoming pro- gram's all-time leader in rushing touchdowns (53). • Named to the 2024 Navy All-American Bowl. • Four-star recruit, No. 40 overall player and No. 1 running back in 2024 class, per Rivals Industry Ranking. JAMARION VINCENT • CB Fr. • Waco, Texas Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 170 • Enrolled early at U-M in Jan- uary 2026. • Attended Waco Connally High. • Recorded 34 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, forced fumble, fumble recovery touchdown, 11 passes defended and 2 interceptions in 2025. • Also caught 54 passes for 839 yards and 12 touchdowns. • 34 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, fumble recovery and 9 passes defended with an interception in 2024. • Also played quarterback for two seasons. • No. 150 overall player, No. 19 cornerback, No. 22 player in Texas, according to Rivals Industry Ranking.