LaMar Morgan identifies Michigan defensive backs who had 'breakout springs'

Michigan Wolverines football is tasked with replacing three starters from last season’s defensive backfield in cornerback Josh Wallace (NFL), nickel back Mike Sainristil and senior safety Rod Moore (injury). Junior cornerback Will Johnson and graduate safety Makari Paige are two cornerstones to build around, but there’s uncertainty as to who will take over the roles next to them.

At corner, sophomore Jyaire Hill — a 6-foot-2, 181-pounder who totaled 56 defensive snaps in four contests last season — has garnered the most mention as a standout this spring. The Wolverines also brought in Albany transfer Aamir Hall and UNLV transfer Ricky Johnson this summer, but Hill is right there in the mix.

“If you just focus on the guys that were here this spring that competed really well, Jyaire,” Michigan defensive backs coach LaMar Morgan said on the ‘In The Trenches’ podcast with Jon Jansen. “I think he’s a unique player. I think he loves football. I think he’s growing up. He has a silly personality, but it’s a good thing. He can have fun in the hallway, clown and stuff like that. His parents have done a great job with him. And then all the sudden when it’s football, he’s gonna hook it up; he’s not playing around.

“I think that’s a guy that took a big step this spring, and I’m excited this fall to see where he’s at.

“We brought in two older transfers that I haven’t seen, so I can’t compare them to the guys that we have had on our roster. So I don’t like to do that.”

RELATED
• Michigan has No. 3 overall pick in latest ESPN mock, star compared to All-Pro talent
• Three Michigan football players tabbed as preseason All-Americans by Walter Camp

Graduate Keshaun Harris, a walk-on, is back for a sixth season, and senior Ja’Den McBurrows has experience at both outside cornerback and nickel with 15 career appearances.

“We had a lot of young guys playing, with Keshaun who played a lot last year, J-Mac who played some outside last year along with nickel. Those guys did a really good job this spring.”

Morgan mentioned that Michigan was mixing and matching players at all different positions during spring practices.

“But we try to get guys playing left and right, not just field and boundary,” the coach continued. “And if you play this only nickel, like J-Mac, we try to get him to play reps outside, as well. A guy like [freshman] Jacob Oden that came in this spring, he played all over.

“We just gotta hone in a little bit at corner to see what these guys can do to help us win games, and I think it’s gonna be a combination of a lot of different players. I think that’ll be good for us.”

While speaking to the media during spring practices, Morgan singled out junior safety Zeke Berry as the leader to replace Sainristil at nickel back, and he once again named the 5-foot-11, 192-pounder as a breakout player.

“At safety, I think Zeke Berry had a really good spring,” Morgan said. “He did a lot of nickel and high safety, and I think he’s a unique player. I feel confident to say, if you look at the stats, he played 40 snaps last year, but he had a really good spring, and I’m excited about him taking the next step. We’ll be better if he takes the next step.”

Michigan had a revolving door at safety in spring practices, due to multiple injuries including to sophomore Brandyn Hillman (undisclosed) and graduate Quinten Johnson (hamstring).

“A lot of the other guys were in and out of spring,” Morgan explained. “Different people got hurt. [Junior] Kody Jones, those guys like that were kinda in and out. I haven’t seen as much of B-Hillman and Quinten and those guys. I haven’t seen as much, but I’ve watched a lot of tape on them. It’s gonna be interesting.”

Michigan added a pair of safeties through the transfer portal, too, in junior Jaden Mangham (Michigan State) and graduate Wesley Walker (Tennessee).

“I think everybody knows we brought in a couple guys, and our group has done a good job of welcoming them,” Morgan said. “I think we’ll be better when we have a highly-competitive roster. Competition always makes the best out of you, and that’s what I believe in. There aren’t going to be any favorites; we’re going to play the best guys.

“Those are probably some of the highlights. I would say those guys kinda had breakout springs. I’m excited to see them keep doing that.”