Jesse Minter sees ‘unbelievable’ progress from linebacker group

Michigan has quite the blend of old and new faces in its linebacker room this year. There are some big names coming back and some impressive newcomers, and Jesse Minter said that group has made some big progress this spring.

Minter joined the In The Trenches podcast with Jon Jansen and spoke highly of the linebackers this year. Junior Colson and Michael Barrett are both back, bringing a high level of experience with them. Add in a new linebackers coach in Chris Partridge, and Minter said the Wolverines have a recipe for a big leap.

“I’ve seen unbelievable progress from that group throughout spring,” Minter said. “We also have a new position coach there in Chris Partridge, who I think has just done an unbelievable job with those guys. Junior has as high of a ceiling of anybody on our defense. We’ve had a lot of talks about that. So I think I think it’s time for him to become not just like, ‘Oh, he’s a good player and he flies around and he makes some plays,’ but he needs to become the guy that everybody knows who he is, where he is, that he can wreck the game. He’s capable of doing that. I’m confident that he’ll continue to progress to that standpoint.

“Michael Barrett is [a] tremendous return for us to have an experienced player that has made a lot of big plays. He’s played all over the field throughout his career, which I think has made him a better linebacker. So very excited to have him back.”

Jesse Minter: Ernest Haussman making strong impression after transfer, Nikhai Hill-Green coming back from injury

Michigan dove into the transfer portal this year and landed Nebraska transfer Ernest Hausmann. Hausmann had 54 tackles last year, including 10 tackles and a sack when the Cornhuskers played the Wolverines in Ann Arbor. Minter said that type of experience at The Big House is huge as Hausmann tries to make an impression in the linebacker room, and he’ll have a chance to push others at the position.

“Ernest Hausmann is a great pickup,” Minter said. “And a difference there is like in our stadium, he’s made big plays. He’s played in a game there. He’s played in a lot of the Big Ten venues. Played at a high level at Nebraska. Couldn’t be happier about the addition of him. I think No. 1, like Junior and Mike as incumbent starters, they feel him. He’s right behind them. He’s not slowing down.

“It makes those guys have to play better, have to study more, have to do everything they have to do to keep their job. And it makes Ernest — who’s a really, really good addition just from a mentality [standpoint] — he’s chasing, and he’s not going to back down either.”

Getting Nikhai Hill-Green back is also big for Michigan, Minter said. Although he’s still trying to get back to 100% after missing the 2022 season with a “soft tissue injury,” Minter is seeing some good things from Hill-Green.

“The return of Nikhai is huge. I thought he progressed well this spring. He’s still got I think, I think, not necessarily like to get healthy, but just to regain all the way back to where he was and surpass where he was. He knows he’s got a lot of work to do still. But the fact that he was able to make it through and get reps and kind of provide the value that we know he provides. Those four, I feel really good about. “

Multiple Michigan linebackers will compete for the fifth spot

With so much confidence in the first four positions, Minter said there are multiple linebackers competing for the fifth spot. He listed some names who could make a run at it, but pointed out the good problem Michigan has this year at linebacker.

There’s a lot of depth at the position, and it creates competition that could have an effect on the entire room.

“There’s Jimmy Rolder, Micah Pollard, Jaydon Hood. Those guys are all developing, progressing, trying to get to that, ‘OK, who’s going to be the fifth guy? Who can we give some snaps to?'” Minter said. “Tremendous competition. Just overall, I would say a weakness of ours last year — not the way Junior and Mike played, but the lack of depth at that position throughout the course of the year. Truth be told, it probably came back to bite us late in the year. Those guys got a little bit banged up.

“I don’t think we were full strength when we needed to be. So really excited to be able to play a role guys in there a little bit more, take a few snaps off the top couple and see if we can’t play really, really well at that position.”