Michigan LB Ernest Hausmann on Jaishawn Barham: 'He fit right in with this defense'
Two straight years, Michigan Wolverines football dipped into the NCAA transfer portal to pick up an inside linebacker. Junior Ernest Hausmann (Nebraska) made an impact last season, serving in a backup role but finishing third on the team with 46 tackles. This year, it’s Jaishawn Barham‘s (Maryland) turn to step into an even bigger role. Junior Colson and Michael Barrett, the Wolverines’ two starters from last season, have moved onto the NFL, and Barham is projected to start alongside Hausmann.
“It’s really awesome,” Hausmann said of lining up next to Barham. “Fall camp has been really fun. Playing with him, it’s a certain switch that flips once you understand the defense.
“It kinda took off from spring, developed and then toward the end of it, you could finally see it clicking and clicking. Now you see it with camp, each and every day he’s starting to understand more and more and more. It’s really fun to play with him.”
At 6-foot-3, 248 pounds, Barham is big, fast and physical. Those three traits are perfect for a Michigan defender.
“The thing that impresses me the most with Jaishawn is the way he plays,” Hausmann noted. “There’s a certain physicality, a certain standard that he sets for himself.
“He fit right in with this defense, how tough he plays. And I think that’s one thing that I’m most impressed about, and then the way he’s picked up the defense, as well.
“He’s being open to absorbing knowledge. I’ve taken it upon myself, and this team as well, making sure everyone on this field is ready to play game one. He’s been very open to that, and it’s been awesome.”
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Hausmann ranked 16th on the defense with 338 snaps last season. He had the opportunity to learn the system and culture at Michigan and feels ready for more in 2024.
“Last year was a tremendous year. Obviously, winning the national championship, but being able to learn under so many great people, great leadership here at Michigan with the players and coaching staff and anyone here on the staff here at Michigan,” Hausmann said. “It’s one of those things where you don’t really know how it’s going to play out, but with the amount of talent here at Michigan and the ability to just absorb, be a sponge, absorb any knowledge I can really prepared me for this year.
“I’ve been preparing since I came to Michigan from the portal, so it’s obviously a different role, different expectations with that role. Obviously, there’s a big thing always with that leadership role with being the MIKE linebacker here at Michigan. Being able to communicate, being that field general for people to count on and understand where people are lining up and stuff like that. So different roles, and I’m looking forward to it.”
With in-helmet communication being new to college football this season, one Michigan defender will wear the green dot on his helmet and receive the play calls and instruction from the defensive coordinator. While Hausmann said Michigan hasn’t determined which starter will have that role, head coach Sherrone Moore did say at Big Ten Media Days that he jokingly yelled at Hausmann through the headset during a spring practice. It appears it’s a possibility that Hausmann will earn that responsibility.
“We’ve practiced it since we’ve been in camp,” Hausmann said. “It’s been really cool just to see and get the reps at it. Obviously, it’s gonna be a little different with how we communicate, but it’s a really cool thing that the NCAA has given us the ability to do. I’m looking forward to using it.”
