Answering three frequently asked questions about the Michigan safeties

Michigan safeties coach Jay Harbaugh is in his first year with the position group, having coached several other positions in addition to being an outstanding special teams leader. Harbaugh has some outstanding returning starters in junior RJ Moten and sophomore Rod Moore, but what about depth? And can the freshmen contribute?

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Harbaugh address those concerns and more in his press conference today:

Is the Makari Paige hype real? The Michigan junior is making a move

As head coach Jim Harbaugh said in his Monday presser, they essentially have three starters in Moten, Moore, and Paige. Paige has had good camps in the past, but it hasn’t translated to the field. Sometimes it’s been a good spring followed by a rough fall camp — at other times, a good fall, but poor game performance. 

Paige has been outstanding all year, and there is confidence that he’s turned the corner. Playing “hurt” (not injured) seems to have been an issue. 

“He practiced really well in spring, fall camp,” Jay Harbaugh said. “He Just practiced well, was always available, even when his body maybe didn’t feel 100 percent. That’s been great. He’s made a lot of plays on the ball interceptions-wise, strips, fumble recoveries, that kind of thing. He has shown up in that regard, just producing.”

He’s also “very, very smart,” the Michigan assistant added, excellent in meetings and “super attentive.”

“His voice has grown, too, just as a leader of young guys,” Harbaugh added. “He’s helping teach them. You hear him a little bit more. He’s really put himself in position to be a very good player for us.”

What is grad student Quentin Johnson‘s role after a nice spring?

The former four-star and Under Armour All-American hasn’t played a lot in the Michigan secondary, but he has shown up on special teams. He played in all 14 games in that role a season a year ago, and Jay Harbaugh called him on of the team’s top three special teams players overall (probably not counting the elite kickers). 

Johnson had a very good spring and was outstanding in the spring game, too. He’s battling with veteran and former walk-on Cade Kolesar at safety — Jim Harbaugh has called Kolesar the top Michigan special teams player — but he could see more time this year. 

“He’s right there in that top group, probably the fourth or fifth safety,” Jay Harbaugh said. “He is a guy who we would trust to go in the game and execute. He has good guys ahead of him. 

“He’s probably a top three special teams player for us. He’s really proven himself over the years. He plays on pretty much everything, has great game experience, and has really shown he’s a trustworthy guy. So, he’s a very important player for us, and we’re excited for him to have a great year.”

That he isn’t among the top three speaks to the depth on defense. 

How are the highly touted Michigan freshmen faring?

Zeke Berry and Keon Sabb are two highly rated Michigan freshmen with a lot of promise. In past years, they might have been needed immediately. Again — the depth on this team will likely keep them behind several others, though they could earn their way on to special teams. 

Jay Harbaugh noted it’s not easy to learn everything about a defense in year one. It’s very difficult, in fact. But he’s seen enough to expect both guys will be great players at Michigan — eventually. 

“Those guys are coming on a lot,” he said. “It’s a lot as a freshman. It’s just so much new stuff. New techniques, new calls, the pace of everything …  the expectation of what a practice rep should look like. All this stuff. 

“It’s hard, but both those guys are doing really well. Once they learn and know what to do, they flash and you say, ‘oh, wow! Okay — this guy is going to be good.’ Whether it be a great break on a ball, taking a great angle, a great tackle or that kind of thing. Both those guys are going to be really good, and they are right on track.”

Showing again just how good this (to complement last year’s outstanding group) Michigan recruiting class was.