Redshirt tracker: Thirteen Michigan freshmen have seen game action
Save for a few speed bumps, Michigan Wolverines football cruised through its 3-0 non-conference start, beating East Carolina (30-3), UNLV (35-7) and Bowling Green (31-6) before Big Ten play begins this Saturday against Rutgers. And while Michigan returned the fifth-most production in the nation from a team that won the Big Ten and made the College Football Playoff last season, several freshmen have gotten their opportunity to contribute.
For a few, too, it’s easy to project they’ll continue to earn playing time going forward, even if the rotation is tightened up a bit as the competition heats up.
Michigan has seen 13 of its 25 true freshmen take the field in games this fall, led by some wide receivers and defensive backs. Wideouts Fredrick Moore (3 games, 62 snaps) and Karmello English (3 games, 34 snaps) are leading the way on offense, while cornerbacks DJ Waller Jr. (3 games, 51 snaps) and Jyaire Hill (3 games, 51 snaps) and safety Brandyn Hillman (3 games, 40 snaps) are pacing the freshmen on defense.
Moore has 2 catches for 18 yards, playing the most offensive snaps among Michigan freshman (36). English doesn’t have any receptions, but he has returned 1 punt for 8 yards. Classmate Semaj Morgan hauled in a 35-yard reception on a free play after UNLV jumped offsides in the fourth quarter.
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Waller and Hill have impressed at cornerback. The Wolverines have been short-handed at the position — down sophomore Will Johnson for most of the young season — but each have risen into the two-deep. Both have 7 tackles, with Hill also possessing 1.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. Waller’s 69.6 PFF coverage grade ranks third on the Michigan defense among those with 3-plus coverage snaps. Hill has a 65.1 rating. Hillman has recorded 2 tackles from his safety spot.
Twelve of the 13 Michigan freshmen who have played in games have seen time on either offense or defense. EDGE Aymeric Koumba, meanwhile, has only played on defense, according to PFF.
Seven freshmen have appeared in three games, meaning they can only play in one more while still preserving their redshirt for this season. If they participate in five or more outings, their redshirt will have been burned.
Here’s a look at the Michigan freshmen who have seen game action so far:
| Player | Games | Offense / Defense Snaps |
| WR Fredrick Moore | 3 | 62 |
| CB DJ Waller Jr. | 3 | 51 |
| CB Jyaire Hill | 3 | 49 |
| S Brandyn Hillman | 3 | 40 |
| WR Karmello English | 3 | 34 |
| DL Trey Pierce | 3 | 28 |
| WR Semaj Morgan | 3 | 25 |
| DL Cameron Brandt | 2 | 23 |
| CB Cameron Calhoun | 2 | 15 |
| EDGE Enow Etta | 3 | 11 |
| RB Benjamin Hall | 1 | 2 |
| RB Cole Cabana | 1 | 2 |
| EDGE Aymeric Koumba | 1 | 1 |
