WATCH: Brian Jean-Mary provides Michigan spring practice updates
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines football linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary met with the media Monday morning. Watch video from his session with reporters below.
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Linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary
Jean-Mary described how Michigan senior linebacker Jaishawn Barham improved throughout the course of last season and the steps he’s taken this fall.
“Last year, just playing within the framework of what we do on defense,” Jean-Mary said. “We always say this is probably the most unselfish defense in the country. We do a lot to set up other players on the team, and that takes a certain type of person. We feel like we have those type of guys on this defense.
“I think he’s grown in that to know when we all are successful, then the individual will be successful also. Not that he was selfish — I don’t want to make it seem like that’s what I’m saying. I’m saying working within the framework of the defense and not feeling like you have to over do it to try to go make a play. Just work within what we’re doing.
“And the improvement that we’ve seen this spring, obviously we think he’s a dynamic blitzer and a guy that can really get after the quarterback and rush the passer. And you’ve seen the growth of him as a stack linebacker and how he communicates with the rest of the guys on defense.”
Sophomore Cole Sullivan has also improved his game and will have a bigger role on the Michigan defense this fall.
“What I saw from him last year was just a raw, athletic kid,” the Michigan assistant said. “The previous place I was at, we even looked at him as a tight end, because he was that athletic in space and was such a big, athletic kid.
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“Last year, he had to kinda learn the position, but you saw some of what the future will look like for him once he got it. And you knew once that happened, you had a chance to have a really good football player. But you never know how quick that’s gonna happen.
“What we’ve seen this spring: That page has really turned. He’s turned into one of the guys that we’re going to be counting on to be a major contributor on defense. He’s had some practices where I would say he’s one of the better guys on the field.
“He’s really transformed his body, if you guys see him now, as far as just the physical part of it. You can’t teach the length that he has, and the athleticism that he has is really, really eye-popping sometimes.
“The thing that you see with him is, because of his size, he can be that hybrid guy that can play stack and line up on the edge and rush the passer, which he’s done a little bit this spring. You can see that growth with such a young kid and the potential he has to do that.
“We’re thrilled to have him here. He’s gonna be a really good football player in the maize and blue.”
