Keon Sabb assesses first Michigan start, talks 'freak' freshman

Michigan Wolverines football was short-handed in the secondary to open the season versus ECU, a 30-3 U-M victory, down junior safety Rod Moore and sophomore cornerback Will Johnson. That allowed sophomore safety Keon Sabb to start alongside junior Makari Paige, who was limited himself, and he shined in his first instance of extended playing time.

Sabb notched a pass breakup on ECU’s first third down of the game, forcing a punt. That helped helped Sabb settle in, he said.

“Yeah, it definitely helped, for sure,” the 6-1, 208-pounder noted. “The older guys were talking to me before that drive like, ‘Go out there and just play free,’ and once the play came and I made the play, I just felt like I was ready.”

He had had another breakup in the second quarter, also on a third down, and totaled 5 tackles, including a team-best 3 solo stops.

Such a nice PBU by Keon Sabb in his first career start at Michigan pic.twitter.com/U1GRCr3psZ

— Clayton Sayfie (@CSayf23) September 6, 2023

“I think it went pretty good,” Sabb said of his first career start, speaking with reporters after Tuesday evening practice. “The coaches prepared me, the older guys prepared me, so it wasn’t too much of a hard transition. Just looking forward to going out there again and have the guys back.”

Sabb found out he was going to start for Michigan roughly a week before the season-opener, with defensive backs coach and co-defensive coordinator Steve Clinkscale telling him in front of the entire position group.

“I was just ready to take advantage of the opportunity,” Sabb said. “The whole camp, I was just working hard, working hard. I finally got the opportunity, so I just took advantage of it.”

Michigan veterans have mentored Sabb all offseason, including Moore, graduate defensive back Mike Sainristil and others.

“He just told me to play how I’ve been playing through camp,” Sabb said of Moore. “He said I’m a ‘player,’ so just do what I’ve been doing since I was a small kid, don’t make it too much. Just do what I’ve been doing my whole life. 

“Mike took me under his wing over this spring, some of the summer. I was just trying to be a sponge around him, because he was one of the guys, so I wanted to learn as much as I could from him at all times, how he plays man, how he does his business, his routine through game week. I was really under his wing a lot. And Rod and Makari, they basically taught me everything — how to play the position, things to look for, little tips and tricks.”

Sainristil also took graduate cornerback Josh Wallace, a UMass transfer, under his wing, and many other players. The two-time captain has time for it all, apparently.

“He’s so easy to talk to,” Sabb said. “When he comes into the room, there’s kind of like a different feel when he comes in there, especially when we have a player-led anything or the coaches aren’t there. Mike just calls the group up. You just gravitate toward him; he’s one of those guys.”

Sabb said he “wasn’t ready” for significant playing time last season, when he appeared in four games, redshirting. But he’s grown immensely since he stepped foot on campus.

“Maturity, just having that full year being able to play, learn the plays, especially learning from the older guys,” Sabb said of the difference between a year ago and now. “They taught me so much. Everything they learned from the older guys they had before them, they taught me and it just trickled down.”

Michigan held ECU to just 4.3 yards per pass, despite not generating any sacks. The pressure was there, though, with sophomore defensive tackle Kenneth Grant standing out in that area, which helps the secondary.

“The D-line and the DBs work hand in hand, so they make our job a lot easier, and we help theirs as well,” Sabb explained. “KG getting in there and getting all those rushes and stuff like that, it takes some of the pressure off the DBs. The quarterback can’t take his time, set his feet, so some of the balls are under-thrown because of the D-line.”

‘Freak’ Michigan freshman impressing

Michigan freshman safety Brandyn Hillman was a four-star recruit, the No. 137 overall player in the country per On3, and once a Notre Dame signee. He requested a release from his National Letter of Intent, though, and wound up with the Maize and Blue. He received six defensive snaps in his first collegiate game, and Sabb said he’s impressed behind the scenes with his athleticism.

“Kid’s a freak athlete. I’ve seen him on the court a couple times. Once he gets comfortable — give him some time — he’s going to be a really good player,” Sabb said of the Michigan freshman. “On the basketball court, I’ve seen him throw up some windmills, some different type of dunks that you see from some high-level players.”