How Jaishawn Barham has fit into Michigan's LB unit this spring: 'We threw him in on the deep end'

Michigan Wolverines football has a pair of junior linebackers with ample experience in Ernest Hausmann and Jaishawn Barham. Hausmann rotated in as the Maize and Blue’s third linebacker behind Junior Colson and Michael Barrett in 2023, while Barham was a starter at Maryland before transferring in.

Hausmann — a 6-foot-2, 237-pounder — finished third on the Michigan defense with 46 tackles last season, playing 338 defensive snaps. With Colson and Barrett off to the NFL, he’s taken a huge step forward as both a player and a leader, new linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary said Monday afternoon at Glick Fieldhouse.

“The main guy has been Ernest Hausmann, who’s kind of taken over that leadership role,” Jean-Mary said of the Michigan linebackers. “The one thing that I always was appreciative in watching as a linebacker coach was their ability to make adjustments [last season]. And then coming in and watching the games, the way that they played the game — obviously, very, very physical and productive. But their ability to adjust to things on the fly was as good as any group I’ve seen, both as coaches and evaluating as a coach. That’s the challenge that these guys have.

“Ernest Hausmann has been great so far, and we’ve gotta get a couple other guys in the room to kind of reach that level.”

Barham is right there next to Hausmann, running with the starters, Jean-Mary said. The 6-foot-3, 248-pounder been trying to fully grasp Michigan’s defensive system during spring practices.

“Jaishawn is a super talented young man,” Jean-Mary said. “Obviously, he’s got some Big Ten experience from playing at Maryland. The biggest thing — and it kind of goes back to the culture piece — he fits us as a young man and the way he goes about his day-to-day as a professional.

“The biggest thing is trying to learn the defense. We’ve kind of thrown him in. We didn’t throw him on the shallow end; we threw him in on the deep end. He’s been running with the first team, and he’s got a standard that he knows he’s gotta live up to. He’s done a good job.”

Barham is more quiet by nature — not as vocal as Hausmann — but Michigan is imploring him to make strides in his communication, which is key for the position.

“We want him to be more vocal as a linebacker, because that’s the standard that’s been set here, but he’s working toward it,” Jean-Mary said. “He’s working toward it. He’s not the most outgoing kid — which there’s nothing wrong with that — but for us to reach the levels that we need to reach, we just need him to communicate more and be a little bit more open that way.

“But watching him run around these first couple practices, I think he’s got a chance to be a really, really good football player here.”

Barham made 23 starts over two seasons at Maryland, including posting 37 tackles with 3 for loss and 3 sacks in 2023.

Brian Jean-Mary breaks down Michigan linebacker depth

Michigan is working to build depth at linebacker. Senior Jaydon Hood and juniors Jimmy Rolder and Micah Pollard have been around for a while, know the defense and have earned some playing time in games. Jean-Mary mentioned Hood and Pollard at the top of the list when it comes to players behind Hausmann and Barham. The lack of a Rolder mention was likely an oversight, though, with Jean-Mary having spoken positively about him last month, saying he “has the chance to be a very, very productive player.”

“Some of the guys that I think are playing well are Jaydon Hood — he’s been here for a while,” Jean-Mary said. “A very, very talented guy who says he’s been waiting for his opportunity. And I think he’s taking advantage of it right now. Micah Pollard fits in that category, too — an older guy, talented guy, hasn’t played as much as he’d like to but is doing a solid job for us.”

Jean-Mary went on to talk about more Michigan linebackers down the depth chart.

“You gotta put [senior] Christian Boivin, who’s been a great special teams player,” Jean-Mary continued. “He’s doing an excellent job for us there as one of the older guys.

“But some of the younger guys that I feel like have an opportunity — and we want to see more from but are going to have a chance — would be [sophomores] Jason Hewlett, Semaj Bridgeman and then obviously Hayden Moore. They’ve all done a good job for us, but obviously this back half of spring, as far as the depth chart goes, we’ll have to see which one of those guys separates himself.

“And then obviously the young kids — [freshman early enrollees] Cole Sullivan and Jeremiah Beasley — guys that should be in high school and they’re getting quality reps at spring practice. I’m very, very excited about those guys. I think they’re both going to be high-end guys that are going to continue the tradition that we’ve had here of solid linebackers that are very, very productive. I’ve been very happy with those guys.”