Sherrone Moore discusses transfer DBs: Thoughts on Jaden Mangham, Wesley Walker, Aamir Hall
DETROIT – Michigan Wolverines football head coach Sherrone Moore spoke to reporters at the Sound Mind Sound Body camp at Wayne State and discussed the program’s efforts in the transfer portal, which in recent weeks is headlined by four additions to the secondary.
Michigan added former Michigan State safety Jaden Mangham, former Tennessee safety Wesley Walker and cornerbacks Aamir Hall (Albany) and Ricky Johnson III (UNLV).
Mangham was the one that raised the most eyebrows given he spent the first two years of his career in East Lansing. Last season, he was named honorable mention All-Big Ten by the coaches and media and led the team in interceptions with four, playing a total of 606 snaps on defense. He posted a 69.6 overall grade on Pro Football Focus last season with a 64.8 coverage grade and an 82.7 mark as a run defender.
Mangham’s addition was essentially a swap with the Spartans, who landed former U-M linebacker Semaj Bridgeman out of the portal hours later.
Both players are getting the opportunities they hoped for, but it should not do much to change the rivalry.
“We’re happy we got Jaden,” Moore said. “He was a really good player, an All-Big Ten player, so super stoked for him. And, excited for Semaj — he got an opportunity like he wanted, so good for him and all the blessings for him. But, I think the rivalries are still alive and just respected all of them but they’re still alive.”
Walker (6-1, 200) played three seasons at Georgia Tech before transferring to Tennessee, where he spent two years. He’s started 25 of the 46 games in which he’s appeared. He’s notched 184 tackles in his career with 12 break-ups, three forced fumbles, a sack, and an interception. He registered 89 tackles, six break-ups, two sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception with the Volunteers.
“[He brings] experience,” the Michigan head coach said. “The dude loves to tackle and hit and is a really good cover guy. I think he hasn’t let up a touchdown in his career. So he’s just a dude and then he’s a leader. You go back and look him up, all the media days, he was there. Anytime they had media with the players, he was doing it. So that’s a pretty cool thing that somebody else was doing that. That’s what we try to bring to the program, guys like that.”
Hall was an FCS All-American last season at Albany with 57 total tackles, five interceptions and 13 passes defended along with a forced fumble. His play was elite, grading out as an 85.7 overall on Pro Football Focus with an 88.3 coverage grade. Some have compared him to Josh Wallace, who was a starter for Michigan last year out of the portal.
Moore sees the comparisons.
“His personality is just like Josh’s,” Moore said. “Just a very humble man. Great kid. The first thing he said when I talked to him was, ‘Coach, I just want to help you win another championship.’ When you have kids like that that come in the building, it means a lot. So he gets it. He’s a great human being, great family. So super stoked and ready for him to impact our team.”
