‘Tremendous spring’ and possible Michigan surprise starter at safety
The Michigan secondary will need to replace three starters from last year’s Big Ten championship squad, including a pair of outstanding safeties in Dax Hill and Brad Hawkins. R.J. Moten emerged as a starter last year and “really stepped up” this spring, head coach Jim Harbaugh said after spring. Rod Moore, too, will come back from injury better than ever after working his way into the starting lineup last week.
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But one young Michigan player in particular seems to have really made a move. Third-year sophomore Makari Paige had another “tremendous spring,” Harbaugh said, and seems primed to play a lot this fall.
“He’s developed that strength you need,” Harbaugh told Jon Jansen on the In the Trenches podcast. “I’ve always pointed out though, with Makari, from his first midyear presence here when he was a freshman. Right away, Makari Paige, No. 7, this guy is going to be something.
“Then we get to the season, and it didn’t happen like I was predicting it to be. After his freshman year, he goes into his sophomore year, another really fantastic spring, pretty good fall camp and then not so much during the season. Now, there were some good players there in Daxton Hill, Brad Hawkins. And once again, even a higher level [this spring’ from Makari Paige.”
The key might be to stop saying how good he is in the spring, Harbaugh quipped. But it’s clear he likes his third year Michigan in-stater, and he’s hopeful he can put it all together this fall.
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“If he can continue and capitalize on the strength he has, the toughness he’s really developed to go along with the athleticism … he’s a smart, savvy player,” Harbaugh said. “If he can take it into fall camp, stay healthy, and should be a starter. He should be. Now the fate’s in his hands what he does with that over the summer and into fall camp. But he’s poised and once again to put himself in a position to be a really good player and a starter.”
Another pleasant surprise — Quinten Johnson. The Michigan redshirt sophomore made a big move this spring, as well.
“He really came on last year in the special teams … really came on in his desire and want to — to play and earn it and be good,” Harbaugh said. “He had a really good spring. The light comes on with, ‘hey, this stuff isn’t just handed to you. You don’t come in and say, I was a four-star, play me.’ You’ve got to be better than somebody else.
“I’ve really seen that light come on for Q.”
Giving Michigan two more options with Moten and sophomore Rod Moore, who missed spring with a shoulder injury.
Overall, there appears to be more depth here than first thought … a great spring development.
