The No. 23 Michigan football team’s linebacker room has one interception, one pass breakup, one forced fumble and three solo tackles for loss through the first two games. None of those stats, however, come from the room’s primary starters.
Senior Ernest Hausmann and junior Jaishawn Barham are the starters in the Wolverines’ linebacker room — but senior Jimmy Rolder and sophomore Cole Sullivan are the two players responsible for all those aforementioned stats.
Michigan’s linebacker room essentially has four starters that it can play interchangeably.
“You don’t blink when any of those guys are in there, whether it’s Ernest and Jaishawn or Jimmy and Cole,” Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore said Monday. “… It’s been awesome to watch those guys play.”
After a targeting call against New Mexico forced Barham to the sidelines for the first half of the game against then-No. 18 Oklahoma, that depth was on display as Rolder was awarded the start. Although he’s not part of the starting pair, Michigan was confident that there would be very little dip in production with either him or Sullivan on the field.
“We know what type of player Jaishawn is and what he brings to the table, but we were very, very confident in Jimmy and Cole that they would be able to step in and play at our level of defense and play winning defense for us,” Michigan linebacker coach Jean-Mary said Wednesday.
In the first two weeks, Hausmann led the team with 19 tackles. His presence both on and off the field have separated him as the leader of the defense. Barham tallied the third-most tackles against the Sooners, despite sitting out the first half. Sullivan had an interception in Week 1 and also recovered a muffed punt on special teams that led to a field goal against Oklahoma. Rolder has had steady production of four and six tackles in the first two games, respectively, and added a tackle for loss against the Lobos.
While each of the four may have different skill sets and play differently, each has had a positive impact on the game for the Wolverines.
In addition to the four starting-caliber players, Michigan rotates junior Troy Bowles and freshman Chase Taylor in to add even more depth to the group, and have them gain experience through special teams reps.
“To watch a guy like Troy Bowles get in there and special teams and make plays, and a young Chase Taylor, that group is really deep,” Moore said. “(Jean-Mary) has done an excellent job of developing those guys. They’re as deep as you can see in college football.”
After transferring from Georgia, what Bowles might have been seen as a frustrating situation — playing behind four players in the depth chart — only motivated him. And he proved his worth and showcased additional depth for the Wolverines as he recorded two tackles for loss against New Mexico in his first game with Michigan.
“Troy is just climbing,” Jean-Mary said. “Every week he’s gotten better and better. You see the trust that he’s built with the special team staff. … And I think the playing time is going to continue to increase.”
The Wolverines’ coaches definitely have their hands full trying to balance the playing time and opportunities afforded to each linebacker while also producing the most success on Saturdays. But with the ebbs and flows of the college football season, Michigan having that depth — and relying on it — establishes a strong foundation for the rest of the defense.
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