The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546232
14 THE WOLVERINE ❱ SEPTEMBER 2026 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS ❱ Student-Athlete Of The Month Football Graduate Student Zeke Berry Any time a program goes through an upheaval and leadership transition, all eyes look to the veterans in the room to keep things together. However, some- times those veterans have to consider their futures as well. U-M football graduate defensive back Zeke Berry, who has returned for a fifth and final collegiate season, fits into that category. Berry briefly considered en- tering the transfer portal after Sherrone Moore's firing in December but decided to stick around under new head coach Kyle Whittingham. Berry's career began as a young player learning his way on U-M teams competing for Big Ten championships and national titles in 2022 and has ma- tured to where he is now the "old man" in the building. "I feel old now, and getting older," Berry said on Aug. 7. "But it's nice to be the old head in the room, giving some young guys some tips and things to help me throughout camp or what- ever it is." Berry, who majored in communica- tion and media in U-M's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, has twice earned All-Big Ten honors (sec- ond team, media; third team, coaches, 2025; honorable mention, coaches, 2024). He has appeared in 37 games with 23 starts for the Wolverines. That sort of experience invites extra eyeballs and attention from the pro- gram's younger players, a leadership position Berry has embraced heading into the 2026 season. "[I feel it] a little bit," Berry said. "Es- pecially with the young guys that just came in. I feel like they're reaching out to me a little bit more to make sure that they're getting things right. I feel they're relying on me a little bit more, so that's a good thing." Berry and his Wolverines teammates have also taken on the challenge of being more account- able physically, as Whittingham said this summer that there were major gains with the weight room and nutrition. Berry has served as an example for his teammates on the field, but also in that category, where he says that his composition and discipline have never been better. "I do my body scan with our nutritionist, and this is the best that my body has ever been," Berry said. "My muscle mass is up, I got my water distribution — I've been getting a lot stronger, with our new straps, new staff. So I feel like it's really gone up. It's just more time in the weight room." Ending on a high note is what every collegiate player strives for, and Berry has ridden the roller coaster along with his teammates over the last few seasons. But five years and 37 games in, Berry is not the same player he was when he was chasing a role. He's now the one the room looks to as a leader. — Anthony Broome MICHIGAN'S TOP PERFORMERS Football Junior Jake Guarnera: T h e P o n te Ve d ra Beach, Fla., native made the cut for the Rimington Trophy wa tc h l i s t , wh i c h at season's end will b e h a n d e d o u t to the most outstanding center in the nation. Guarnera started 10 games at right guard last season but has switched to the middle of the line to play center this season. Men's Soccer Senior Matthew Fisher: The Roch- ester, Mich., native was named All-Big Te n s e c o n d - te a m in 2025, starting 19 matches and logging 1,487 minutes. Head- ing into this fall, he's been tabbed as a United Soccer Coaches Defender to Watch. Fisher anchored a defense that allowed less than 1 goal per match and 19 goals overall last year. Women's Soccer Junior Ellie Fife: The defender was one of three Wol- verines to be selected as Big Ten Players to watch, along with junior forward Ella Jablinskey and senior defender Campbell Jewell. An Ann Arbor native who began her career at Vanderbilt, Fife led the Wolverines with 1,492 minutes played and com- pleted the full 90 minutes of play 14 times last season. Football Senior John Henry Daley: A Utah trans- fer, Daley was named to the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is pre- sented annually to the best defender in col- lege football. The Alpine, Utah, native led the Utes with 11.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss in 11 games a season ago, earning All-America first-team honors by Walter Camp Football. — Clayton Sayfie Graduate defensive back Zeke Berry has matured into a leader on and off the field for the Wolverines. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL