Linebacker depth was a concern for some Michigan football fans going into the 2024 season, but after fall camp, those worries have largely dissipated. There’s plenty of optimism surrounding Michigan’s defense as they head into the new season, despite losing some key starters from last year’s national championship team. Notable departures include Mike Sainristil, Kris Jenkins, Rod Moore (due to injury), Josh Wallace, Junior Colson, Jaylen Harrell, Michael Barrett, and Braiden McGregor.
Michigan also lost both of its starting linebackers. The good news is that Ernest Hausmann, who served as the third linebacker last season, will now step up as a starter alongside Jaishawn Barham. Barham, who has earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors in the past two seasons with Maryland, has been impressive since spring ball, and no significant drop-off is expected despite replacing two NFL draft picks. The combination of Barnham and Hausmann is expected to be as strong as any tandem in the Big Ten. While there were initial concerns about depth when Hausmann was the No. 3 linebacker, it’s challenging to navigate an entire season relying on just two linebackers.
This is where Jimmy Rolder comes into the picture. The former four-star recruit had a solid first season but was sidelined by injury for most of last year, playing in just six games. There were doubts about whether he would be ready to take on the No. 3 role, but a recent report from Chris Balas indicates that Rolder has been “making plays all over,” alleviating those concerns.
At 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, the former blue-chip prospect appeared in just five games last season after playing in 14 as a freshman in 2022. Now that Rolder is back to full health, his production is expected to increase significantly. What was once a major question heading into fall camp now seems to have a positive answer.
