When Michigan’s season kicks off on August 31, it’s going to look a bit different than last year. Not only because Jim Harbaugh is gone and Sherrone Moore is now in charge, but because the Wolverines lost a ton of talent after winning a national title last season. But Michigan also returns a ton of talent and Moore and Co. did a great job at replenishing the losses via the transfer portal. In recent days Michigan added four defensive backs to a room where depth was needed after losing Keon Sabb, Cam Calhoun, and DJ Waller Jr. to the portal. Plus, the Wolverines lost Mike Sainristil and Josh Wallace to the NFL Draft, and the Wolverines are without starting safety Rod Moore for a while as he heals from an injury.
The combination of Sainristil, Wallace, Moore, Sabb, Will Johnson, and Makari Paige made up the best secondary in the country when you look at analytics. The Wolverines had the top-ranked coverage grade in football with a 92.7. Michigan allowed just 157 yards per game through the air — which ranked second in the nation behind Ohio State who gave up 145.9 yards.
Although the Wolverines return Johnson and Paige from the starting unit, Michigan will look much different at the back of the defense. Michigan has to fill Moore’s absence until he’s ready to return. The Wolverines will need to find a new starting nickel to replace Sainristil and find someone to start alongside Johnson on the outside. So with the losses Michigan suffered, is there a reason to panic about the secondary?
Let’s look and see just how many snaps Michigan lost from losing guys to either the draft, the portal, or to injury.
Michigan secondary losses from 2023 (2023 snap counts per PFF):
Josh Wallace – 616 snaps (No. 3 on the defense)
- 2023 stats: 15 games, 33 tackles, two TFLs, and four PBUs
- 2023 PFF Grades: Defense (86.5), Run defense (87.8), Coverage (84.9)
Mike Sainristil – 684 snaps (No. 1 on the defense)
- 2023 stats: 15 games, 44 tackles, four TFLs, one sack, six PBUs, and six INTs
- 2023 PFF Grades: Defense (81.4), Run defense (65.0), Coverage (85.0)
Keon Sabb – 360 snaps
- 2023 stats: 14 games, 28 tackles, 0.5 TFLs, 0.5 sacks, five PBUs, and two INTs
- 2023 PFF Grades: Defense (82.4), Run defense (80.4), Coverage (82.6)
Rod Moore – 500 snaps
- 2023 stats: 12 games, 38 tackles, one TFL, three PBUs, and two INTs
- 2023 PFF Grades: Defense (71.3), Run defense (77.8), Coverage (68.0)
That’s 2,160 snaps Michigan could be without in 2024 although, Moore is expected to return at some point in 2024.
That’s not only a ton of production that is lost, but a ton of snaps to fill. Even a rotational piece like Sabb — who played a ton of football when Moore was out early in the year — played the 14th most of any defensive Wolverine. Sabb, who transferred to Alabama, was the third-best secondary player against the run. Michigan could surely use Sabb in Moore’s absence in 2024.
Outside of Sabb, Wallace and Sainristil were as good as they come. Wallace was the best run-defender on the team (tied with Mason Graham) and second in coverage. Sainristil was the best coverage player the Wolverines had in 2023.
So how can Michigan fill the voids? Here are some players who realistically could start for the Wolverines in 2024. The first group are players who played for Michigan in 2023, the second group will be the four transfers the Wolverines recently brought in.
Returning Michigan players who could fill the void: (2023 snaps per PFF):
Ja’Den McBurrows (182 snaps) – projected nickel back
- 2023 stats: 11 games, seven tackles, two TFLs, and one INT
- 2023 PFF Grades: Defense (73.1), Run defense (65.2), Coverage (73.9)
Zeke Berry (42 snaps) – projected nickel back
- 2023 stats: 11 games, and three tackles
- 2023 PFF Grades: Defense (64.7), Run defense (67.7), Coverage (62.3)
Jyaire Hill (56 snaps) – cornerback
- 2023 stats: four games, eight tackles, and 1.5 TFLs
- 2023 PFF Grades: Defense (65.0), Run defense (67.1), Coverage (63.5)
Quinten Johnson (323 snaps) – safety
- 2023 stats: 15 games, 22 tackles, four PBUs, and one INT
- 2023 PFF Grades: Defense (75.5), Run defense (71.8), Coverage (79.6)
Brandyn Hillman (40 snaps) – safety
- 2023 stats: nine games and two tackles
- 2023 PFF Grades: Defense (57.8), Run defense (46.9), Coverage (66.9)
Michigan transfer portal additions who could fill the void: (2023 snaps per PFF):
Aamir Hall – (975 snaps) Albany FCS All-American corner
- 2023 stats: 15 games, 63 tackles, 0.5 TFLs, 15 PBUs, and five INTs
- 2023 PFF Grades: Defense (85.7), Run defense (78.4), Coverage (88.3)
Ricky Johnson – (522 snaps) UNLV corner
- 2023 stats: 12 games, 36 tackles, three TFLs, and seven PBUs
- 2023 PFF Grades: Defense (58.5), Run defense (70.9), Coverage (54.3)
Jaden Mangham – (606 snaps) Michigan State safety
- 2023 stats: 11 games, 53 tackles, one TFL, three PBUs, and four INTs
- 2023 PFF Grades: Defense (69.6), Run defense (82.7), Coverage (64.8)
Wesley Walker – (636 snaps) Tennessee safety
- 2023 stats: 10 games, 53 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, one sack, and two PBUs
- 2023 PFF Grades: Defense (70.5), Run defense (53.1), Coverage (75.0)
Let’s start with the corner opposite from Johnson — Wallace’s position. After spring practices it appeared to be Jyaire Hill’s to lose. Hill is entering his sophomore year, Waller Jr. transferred to Kentucky, and there weren’t a ton of options past Hill. The Illinois native didn’t play a ton as a true freshman, but he didn’t grade out super well either when he was on the field for Michigan. While he has been a player coaches and the team have been talking up, the Wolverines went out and brought in a couple of other corners that will challenge Hill for that spot in Aamir Hall and Ricky Johnson. While Johnson was a starter for UNLV he definitely didn’t grade out well for the 2023 season. His PFF grade is the worst of any player on this list and if his coverage doesn’t improve, he won’t see a ton of time on the field at Michigan while playing in the Big Ten Conference. But there is something to like about Johnson. He is a 6-foot-1 corner who is stout against the run — there is a role for him. But the true competition for the starting corner spot is the FCS All-American Aamir Hall. Hall is also 6-foot-1 and was an absolute stud at the FCS level. While he didn’t play D-1 competition, Hall was a gamer and has more than a realistic shot at starting for Michigan. He played 975 snaps last year which is an insane amount. His grades check out as well. His coverage grade is higher than any Wolverine from last year and his defensive grade is right on par with Wallace. In my opinion, it will either be Hill or Hall starting opposite of Johnson in the fall.
Moving over to nickel, this will be the biggest shoes to fill. But Michigan doesn’t need anyone to be Mike Sainristil, the Wolverines just need steady play who can attack the run and play well in coverage. The two players that have the inside track are Ja’Den McBurrows and Zeke Berry. Berry checks out as a better run defender, but McBurrows was way better in coverage than Berry. In fact, McBurrows was Sainristil’s backup in 2023. Is this a case where Michigan gives McBurrows or Berry a chance to start at the nickel, but the Wolverines might also give either Hill or Hall a chance as well?
The safety spot seemed like a shoe in for Makari Paige and Quinten Johnson to start — until Moore returns. And while Paige is locked into the starting lineup, things got interesting with the Wolverines bringing in Jaden Mangham and Wesley Walker. Johnson was really good for Michigan in 2023 and made plenty of plays — a very steady player. But after bringing in two starters, Michigan will more than likely give them a chance to start in ’24. Mangham is an intriguing player that can really attack the run and get after the ball carrier, his 82.7 run defensive grade shows that. Walker was better in coverage than Mangham and didn’t allow a touchdown in 2023, but is he better than Johnson?
There are plenty of questions that need answering. But here is the bottom line: Sherrone Moore did more than enough to make Michigan’s secondary just as good as it was last season. Yes, Michigan lost talent and lost a ton of snaps from 2023. But not only do the Wolverines bring back players who played last season for Michigan — who could start this season — Moore went out and got veterans who have played their fair share of college football. Look at Aamir Hall. Nobody knew what Josh Wallace was going to be for Michigan entering the 2023 season — he was a UMass player after all who doesn’t play the toughest of schedules. While Hall played at the FCS level, he was an All-American who has more than enough experience. It feels like Hall could be that game-changing corner for the Wolverines, but if not him, Michigan has Jyaire Hill or Ricky Johnson. The variable here is options. The Wolverines have plenty of options in their secondary room and all of these players want to play.
Michigan’s secondary is going to be good once again in 2024.
