Michigan football: A 'physical specimen' that's 'mysterious and scary' and a sophomore who has 'Daxton Hill-like ability'

When senior fullback / tight end Max Bredeson speaks, his Michigan Wolverines football teammates listen. When he talks about other football players who impress with their physicality, everyone’s ears should perk up.

Bredeson, a team captain, is considered one of the most underrated players on the team because his best traits are as a blocker. Senior running back Donovan Edwards even called Bredeson a “beast.” There aren’t many defenders who like to see Bredeson’s 44 jersey coming at them.

But there is one player on the Michigan defense that’s given Bredeson more trouble than most: junior linebacker Jaishawn Barham. The Maryland transfer is 6-foot-3, 248 pounds. He played both linebacker and EDGE for the Terrapins last season, registering 3 sacks and also shining as a cover man (highlighted by his interception against the Wolverines).

“When I see him get out of the car, I see him walking around, I have flashes of guys that I faced at the NFL level,” former Michigan All-American and professional offensive lineman Jon Jansen said on the ‘Inside Michigan Football’ radio show. “He’s an NFL-type body.”

Head coach Sherrone Moore went a step further.

“He is a physical specimen, in all types of ways, not just the way he is,” Moore said. “He’s super quiet, and so that makes him a little more mysterious and scary.

“Max Bredeson said it’s the hardest dude I’ve ever hit — and Max Bredeson likes to hit. But Max is like, ‘That dude is like a wall.’

“This guy is physical, he’s strong, he’s fast, he can play in coverage, he can play on the edge, he can play in the middle. He just brings everything.”

Moore continued to praise the Baltimore St. Frances product.

“He’s such a great kid, such a great human being,” Moore said. “His mom was at practice the other day. It was cool to meet his mom and I believe his brother or cousin. Just to see the perspective of who he is from mom to him, and to see that cuddly side come out of him when mom comes, that was cool to see too. 

“The kid is unbelievable. He’s unbelievable. He’s an unbelievable player, unbelievable teammate — and he’s been such a strength for us.”

Sherrone Moore on Michigan DB Brandyn Hillman

Michigan sophomore safety Brandyn Hillman, a former top-150 recruit in the 2023 class, was a reserve as a freshman but appears ready to burst onto the scene this season. The 6-foot, 200-pound Porstmouth, Va., native has taken reps with the first team in preseason practices.

“The guy that’s stepped up, a younger guy that’s really taken the reins is Brandyn Hillman,” Moore said. “He’s a guy that has immense talent and has some [former Michigan defensive back] Daxton Hill-like ability and fearlessness as a mover and blitzer and cover guy. Super stoked to see him.”

Sherrone Moore on emerging depth players on Michigan defensive line

Michigan’s head coach has been on the bandwagon of senior EDGE TJ Guy all offseason, praising the way he’s emerged. Guy has 2 career sacks, both of which have come in garbage time, and he’s expected to contribute much earlier in games this fall.

“The guy that jumps out the most — there are probably two or three of them — but the guy who’s probably made the biggest impact is TJ Guy,” Moore said. “He’s really stepped up and put himself at the same level as [senior] Josaiah [Stewart] and [junior] Derrick Moore.

“If he was at any other place, he’d probably be starting a lot of places. But he’s going to be a guy that’s going to make an impact.”

Moore also discussed multiple other Michigan defensive linemen who are on the rise, including sophomore tackles Enow Etta and Trey Pierce, senior tackle Ike Iwunnah and sophomore EDGE Cameron Brandt.

“Enow Etta is another guy that’s moved multiple places on the line,” Moore said. “He’s now up to 308 pounds, and you look at him, he looks like he’s 270. He’s been a guy that’s made an impact.

“Trey Pierce has finally taken those next steps.

“Ike’s been here for about three or four years; he’s been a scout team guy. This spring, he really took that next step in development, and has been that [testament] of who we are at developing and being really good. He’s taken the next steps.

“Cam Brandt has done a really good job. And then there are a couple young guys, [sophomores] Breeon Ishmail and Aymeric Koumba, both of those guys are young guys, redshirt freshman, but they’ve taken a step where, OK, maybe we could count on those guys to play.”