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Michigan Wolverines and Sherrone Moore are going to have to lean on completely revamped defensive secondary
By Travis May,
6 hours ago
When most college football fans think of the Michigan Wolverines heading into 2024 the elite defensive front led by Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, and Derrick Moore comes to mind. And when people think of the secondary, they see Will Johnson as a potential top ten overall NFL Draft pick and assume that the secondary is just as stacked as the defensive front. That might be the case when the season is completed, but right now there are major questions.
Michigan and new head coach Sherrone Moore will be looking to replace four of the top six defensive backs from a year ago. That's nearly 2200 snaps from the national championship secondary last season just between four players. Who will step up this year if Michigan wants to get back to College Football Playoff again?
Michigan Defensive Backs in Fall Camp
Projected Starting Defensive Backs
Will Johnson, Cornerback
Makari Paige, Safety
Quinten Johnson, Safety
Jyaire Hill, Cornerback
Ja'Den McBurrows, Cornerback
There's no doubt about it. Will Johnson is a verified stud who will most assuredly be an early first round NFL Draft pick next spring. He has the length, speed, flexibility, and ball skills that build the perfect outside cornerback. He will essentially take away one half of the football field by himself in 2024.
However, outside of Johnson, the secondary will need to have some major breakout performances. Now that veteran safety Rod Moore will be out for the entire season due to an ACL tear, Makari Paige will need to be the glue that holds the whole secondary together on the back end. And although Paige might not be as truly elite as Moore in tight coverage he is perhaps the best tackler on the team. Paige's physicality, consistency, and knack for limiting bit plays will be key if the defense wants to get off the field on third downs.
Quinten Johnson may be even more important than Paige though given how unproven he is at the other (likely) starting safety spot. He played just over 300 snaps last season, but he has less than 500 total snaps of any kind on defense throughout his entire (now four-year) career. However, his small sample success is incredibly promising. Johnson defended four passes last season on just 10 direct targets in coverage.
Ja'Den McBurrows will look to replace the nickel legend in Mike Sainristil (second round pick this spring). Despite not getting much credit last season McBurrows was actually the team's fourth cornerback who made some critical plays, allowing less than a 40% completion rate.
The true wildcard and key to overall defensive success on the back end this season for Michigan might just be Jyaire Hill . He played less than 60 snaps a year ago as a true freshman, but has been locked in this spring according to multiple defensive staff. Defensive backs coach LaMar Morgan specifically calls him a "unique player" with a "silly personality" that took a huge step forward this spring and should contribute in a huge way this fall. Hopefully he locks down the other half of the field opposite Johnson.
Transfer Heavy Defensive Back Depth
Ricky Johnson, CB (UNLV transfer)
Jaden Mangham, S (Michigan State transfer)
Aamir Hall, CB (Albany transfer)
Wesley Walker, S (Tennessee transfer)
Keshaun Harris, CB (returning senior)
Michigan doesn't frequently lean on big contributions from transfers, but if there are any injuries they're going to have to this season. The Wolverines seriously brought in four key transfers in their secondary, all of which could push for near starter snaps at some point given their experience.
Ricky Johnson and Aamir Hall bring extensive experience, versatility, and range to play multiple corner positions. Jaden Mangham just tallied a half dozen tackles against Michigan last season amid a breakout year for the Spartans and could play a huge role as the team's third safety. If Mangham isn't the third safety, then Wesley Walker will have no problem in that role. He's logged over 2200 snaps at both Georgia Tech and Tennessee. His veteran presence could be key.
Keshaun Harris is the lone returning senior who figures to have a significant snap total among cornerbacks, but he may have to take a back seat if Johnson and Hall are as good as advertised in fall camp.
Overall, Michigan's secondary does have a lot of new pieces, but they also bring a ton of experience if any of the younger less proven presumed starters struggle in any capacity. The Wolverines' completely revamped secondary isn't one full of household names yet, but if they take a big collective step forward together this season that might not be the case for very long.
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