Michigan’s cornerback play left something to be desired for much of the 2024 campaign. With an injury to Will Johnson and some players shuffling spots, the inconsistency left Michigan vulnerable through the air at times. Things got better by season’s end, as Wink Martindale grew more accustomed to calling a college game and players were settled into their roles.

With a new season upon us, Michigan will be forced to adjust once again. Like many positions on the roster, the cornerback group will have plenty of new and old players in the mix. Undoubtedly the biggest development is Will Johnson’s departure for the NFL, but as crazy as it may sound, Michigan’s defense might have been playing its best at the end of the year while Johnson was sidelined.

With new talent in the fold and some returning players seeking to take the next steps in their development this spring, there should be some optimism for Michigan’s cornerbacks heading into the summer and fall. Today though, we’ll take a look at where things stand as we enter spring ball, and which names should be on your radar.

Players to Know

Returning players: Ja’Den McBurrows (RS SR), Rod Moore* (RS SR), Zeke Berry (RS JR), Jyaire Hill (RS SO), Jo’Ziah Edmond (SO)

Incoming transfers: Caleb Anderson (Sixth year), Tevis Metcalf (SO)

Incoming freshmen: Shamari Earls, Jordan Young* (Jayden Sanders did not enroll early)

*Rod Moore and Jordan Young could both be candidates to earn snaps at nickel, despite being listed as safeties on Michigan’s roster.

What to Watch

Inconsistency was the major theme in Michigan’s cornerback room last season. There were plenty of highs, but also plenty of lows, some of which cost Michigan games. The games against Oregon and Washington stand out the most, as the secondary was picked on heavily, contributing to its standing as the No. 58 defense nationally in passing yards allowed per game. Furthermore, the group’s inability to tackle consistently left it giving away yards after the catch like it was Halloween candy.

Hill was among the up-and-down contributors. He played to a 77.3 PFF coverage grade, broke up eight passes and recorded one interception, but was also vulnerable to missed tackles and struggled against top tier receivers. The coming months will be big for Hill, who enters the spring as the top corner on the depth chart, but needs to refine his game to be more than the rotational player he was at the end of 2024.

Berry was the opposite of Hill last year, as he stepped his play up as the season went along. He started the season as Michigan’s starting nickel, but proved to be a liability at that spot. He shifted to the boundary after Johnson went down, where he thrived. He’ll start the spring on the boundary, and should start there in the fall, too.

Additional candidates to play on the outside are newcomers Caleb Anderson and Shamari Earls. Anderson, a sixth-year, has some familiarity with LaMar Morgan from their time at Louisiana. He’s dealt with injuries over the years, but his 6-foot-3 frame and experience should be an asset.

Meanwhile, Earls is a highly-ranked four-star recruit from Virginia who brings both size (6-foot-2) and athleticism to the table. He could be a candidate to jump into Michigan’s rotation by midseason if all goes well for him.

The wild card is Edmond, who could be poised for a larger role in 2025. In his limited experience as a true freshman, he earned a PFF coverage grade of 63.9. Fans should be on the lookout for him this spring, as he could be the third man in the rotation when it’s all said and done.

Michigan has a bevy of options to choose from at nickel, but the interesting option is Rod Moore, who is returning after an ACL injury kept him out all of last season. Moore has exclusively played safety during his college career, but could move to nickel with Michigan having plenty of depth at safety as of right now. The Wolverines had success last season by moving safety Makari Paige to nickel late in the year.

Incoming freshman Jordan Young is in a similar boat, as he played mostly safety in high school but could develop into a nickel. Him being on campus for spring ball should give him a jumpstart in developing there.

Ja’Den McBurrows and Tevis Metcalf could also play nickel. McBurrows was the favorite last offseason before eventually being passed over by Zeke Berry. McBurrows is also coming off a season-ending injury, which occurred against USC in September. Meanwhile, Metcalf transferred from Arkansas with his brother, T.J., but only played 14 defensive snaps as a true freshman a season ago.

Overall, Michigan’s cornerback room might not have the big names it’s had in recent memory, but it does have plenty of depth, as well as some newcomers and potential role changes that can raise the ceiling of the group. By having guys gain more experience in their roles this spring, there’s a good chance the Wolverines can pick up right where they left off at the end of 2024.