For our Position Breakdown series, we will look at each position group for Michigan Football as we head toward fall camp.
How does the current depth chart shake out? What are the storylines or things you should watch heading into the spring and, eventually, the season? What's the X factor, whether it's a player, coach, or situation, that could change how the group looks?
Let's talk the back end of the secondary
POSITION BREAKDOWN SERIES
Wide Reciever
Tight End
Offensive Line
Defensive Tackle
Linebacker
Cornerback
Safety
DEPTH CHART
WHAT'S THE STORY?
This group has drastically from what we saw at the start of spring.
Rod Moore suffered a torn ACL during spring practices, and while recovery appears to be going well there is no timetable on whether he can or will return later this fall. Michigan was able to make two big additions in the spring portal transfer window with Tennesee transfer Wesley Walker and Michigan State transfer Jaden Mangham.
One of my favorite stories of the Harbaugh era returns for another year, Makari Paige. This will be the third straight year Paige has started. Paige remains a reliable backend piece that is solid in coverage, gets occasional pass breakups, and gets the big play-preventing tackles, 41 last season, 5th on the team.
Michigan's only portal loss was in the winter with Keon Sabb going to Alabama. But the surprising return of Quinten Johnson adds some quality experience to the room.
As good as Sabb was last season, Johnson was also a surprise. Johnson and Sabb played nearly identical snaps, had similar tackle and pass rush numbers, but Sabb had the edge with two interceptions. Still, Paige and Johnson make for a talented veteran group on a defense filled with a lot of young stars. Johnson typically rotated with Paige, so it will be interesting to see if that continues or if the two both start.
Sabb's leaving has also opened the door for Brandyn Hillman. A late addition to the 2023 class, Hillman brings many of the same skills at Sabb. A physical safety who can impact the game at all levels, impact the run game, and is above average in coverage. With the incoming transfers it may be more difficult, but Hillman could have a sophomore breakout season like Sabb last year.
X FACTOR
Zeke Berry could get looks at safety, but the talk continues to be him starting at nickel. at worst rotating with Ja'Den McBurrows.
Michigan knows what it has with Paige and Johnson, but the game-changer could come from the two spring transfers.
I like Walker a lot, but for me, the pick is going to be Jaden Mangham.
The storyline of the former Spartan trading in his green for blue is good enough, but Mangham has star potential. He was the best secondary player in one of the country's worst defenses. Now, that may sound like a bad thing, but we've seen in the past what happens when Michigan imports talented secondary players into a group filled with other talented secondary players. Their game steps up.
Mangham had 53 tackles last season and 4 interceptions to go along with 3 pass deflections. He can impact the run game and make plays in coverage. While Michigan uses their safeties interchangeably, Paige, Johnson, and Walker are all similar players in my mind, a better fit for the Free Safety that often goes high in Cover 1. Mangham is the closest to Moore because he can provide over-the-top help, line up in man, get in the box, and is versatile across the field and boundary. Playing alongside Will Johnson and Makari Paige and getting pass-rush help from Michigan's dominant front 7 will elevate Mangham's game to another level.
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