Why Maryland Transfer Linebacker Jaishawn Barham Could Be Michigan's Next First-Round Defender

The buzz around Michigan Wolverines linebacker Jaishawn Barham has showed no signs of slowing down. Ever since his arrival as a transfer in December, Barham has the Wolverines abuzz with his on-field ability.

In practice, Barham has shown off with his physicality, attacking and out-muscling the offense routinely.

Max Bredeson, a fullback/tight end/pseudo-OL and team captain of the Wolverines, had a case as the toughest player on Michigan's roster. That was, at least, until Barham showed up.

According to Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore, Bredeson said Barham was the "hardest dude he's ever hit" and was built like a wall. Considering Bredeson has been putting defenders on the turf for four years now and has squared off with plenty of NFL-caliber talents, that's high praise.

Playing at both linebacker and EDGE at Maryland, Barham's physicality saw him lead the Terrapins in pressures and sacks in 2022 and tied for third place in 2023 (while playing off-ball linebacker).

On film, it's obvious why he was such a coveted transfer for this Wolverines coaching staff in the offseason.

Barham plays with a physical edge that fits his massive frame perfectly. He's unafraid to take on pullers and get involved in the scrum at the line of scrimmage. It helps that he sheds blockers well at the point of attack, and there are moments on film where he jolts opposing linemen enough to stop them in their tracks while pulling.

What caught my eye initially was his impressive pursuit ability in the open field. Barham covers ground in a hurry and has NFL-caliber twitch to click and close on rushing lanes and avoid opposing blockers.

Barham has the tools, but it's obvious that he's still putting it all together as a linebacker. There are times when he misdiagnoses a run and will end up taking himself out of the play by flowing downhill too quickly.

I'd also like to see Barham's tackling improve, particularly in the open field. Barham's ability to break down and hit elusive ball carriers in space needs to improve with the Wolverines. Last season, Barham posted a 37.5%(!) missed tackle rate on passing plays. Standout Michigan linebacker Junior Colson? Just 7.9%.

Reminiscent of a former first-round pick

Barham's athleticism has drawn lofty comparisons from Michigan's coaching staff. Michigan's offensive line coach, Grant Newsome, called Barham the "most physically gifted second-level defender" he's seen at Michigan.

Bush was 5'11 and 234 pounds. Barham comes in quite a big bigger than that at 6'3, 248 pounds. However, Bush isn't the former first-round pick I think of when I watch Barham.

When I watch Barham, I'm instantly reminded of former first-round pick Kenneth Murray. While that may not enthuse many fans, remember that Murray is a steady run defender and is a team captain for the Titans. It's not his fault he initially landed with Brandon Staley.

The comparison stems from their body type and play style. Barham lined up off-ball and on the line of scrimmage interchangeably, similar to how Oklahoma used to deploy Murray.

Line them up side-by-side and the similarities are close. Murray tested at the Combine at 6'2, 241 pounds, so Barham is even bigger than he is. While at 241 pounds, Murray very casually posted a 4.52 40-yard dash, a 38-inch vertical, and a 129" vertical jump. I see a similar athlete in Barham.

Both Barham and Murray are unafraid to fly up and close in the run game, taking on blockers to stuff the run. They are also both tremendous blitzers, demonstrating explosiveness off the edge and control to flatten to the quarterback.

Given his traits, it's not a surprise that Barham had such tremendous production after the quarterback. Add onto that Wink Martindale's exotic (and maybe excessive) blitz packages, Barham will be harassing quarterbacks week in and week out.

Their usage in coverage is pretty similar as well. Both were primarily spot droppers (dropping to specific landmarks in zone coverages) but offer impressive range in open space. While neither is known for their coverage ability, they can certainly get by and can be helped by scheme. Under Wink Martindale, I'd expect Barham to be spot-dropping frequently, given how often he calls Cover 3.

Related: Promising Young Defensive Stars Have Drawn Rave Reviews from Michigan Wolverines Coaching Staff

Barham and ascending linebacker Ernest Hausmann should form a tremendous 1-2 punch at linebacker for the Wolverines this season. If Barham can take that next step mentally at linebacker this season, he should be a strong contender to skyrocket up NFL Draft boards.