Ernest Hausmann – Syndication Server

Previewing the Michigan defense ahead of Oregon’s Week 10 matchup

Michigan’s defense has kept the Wolverines in games and they expect more of the same against Oregon.

With all of the troubles the Michigan Wolverines have had on offense, they still have a 5-3 overall record thanks to a stingy defense.

In a statistical anomaly, the defense has given up the same number of points (172) as its offense has scored this season. Oregon is hoping to change that around on Saturday.

In order to do so, the Ducks are going to have to find a way to run the ball consistently, something the Wolverines haven’t allowed very much of in 2024.

Michigan has allowed just 1,001 yards on the ground to opponents (101 ypg). They’re led by linebacker Ernest Hausmann with his team-leading 56 tackles. He also has 4.5 tackles for loss, an interception, and a forced fumble. He a junior playing full-time for the first time in his career.

Along the line, Josaiah Stewart leads Michigan with 11 tackles for loss with his 27 total tackles. He also had 6.5 sacks and six quarterback hurries. Suffice it to say, Stewart is in the opponents’ backfield a lot.

Makari Paige is Michigan’s top player in the secondary. The 6-foot-4 corner is a long defender that can make it tough on shorter wideouts. He has 33 tackles, an interception, and two pass breakups. lineman Mason Graham. He has 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

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Final 2024 Michigan football preseason position analysis: Linebackers

There’s a lot of promise at this position and the rotation looks deep. #GoBlue

Primer

Another position where we know who the starters are but have some questions about the rotation. Jaishawn Barham (a transfer from Maryland) could oddly be the best player on the field, which says a lot with DT Mason Graham, DT Kenneth Grant, and CB Will Johnson also being on the same defense. Ernest Hausmann was a rotational player last year after transferring from Nebraska but could be an upgrade at mike over Junior Colson — also speaking to his talent. But will the rotation be solid?

Projected starters: Jaishawn Barham, Ernest Hausmann
Rotation: Jimmy Rolder, Jaydon Hood, Cole Sullivan

Position outlook

Barham is an athletic freak and probably the most hyped player in all of fall camp. Hausmann is solid and should be incredible as a starter. So then the questions trickle down to the backups. Rolder would have played more in rotation last year if it wasn’t for injury plus the addition of Hausmann. Hood has long yearned to be a strong rotational player but has been intermittent in his progress. Sullivan is a true freshman, but could figure into the rotation even in year one, bolstered by the fact that he enrolled early. Micah Pollard should not be forgotten and he could see ample playing time as well.

Ernest Hausmann reacts to return to Nebraska, where he spent his first year

That had to be awkward. #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The moment that linebacker Ernest Hausmann chose to play for Michigan football after spending his first year at Nebraska, he knew he would have to face the music in Lincoln.

That’s because the former Husker defender traveled to Ann Arbor for his first taste of the Big Ten matchup, thus, what were friendly confines a year ago at Memorial Stadium would now be hostile territory.

All said, Hausmann relishes his year with Nebraska, but he feels fortunate to be with his 5-0 Michigan Wolverines.

“It felt great. It’s one of those things when I chose Michigan, I knew this game would come,” Hausmann said. “I saw the schedule come out, and I knew it was one of the games that we look forward to all year. So it’s one of those things that you dream of as a player, just to know nothing — my experience my first year of college football, what that place did for me, and it meant a lot. And I had a lot of great memories there. And just development as a player and as a person itself. And a lot of great people there, met great people that have done a lot to support me in my football career. And it’s one of those things that you look for, to go back, to go back there in a winged helmet — it’s to do your business.”

It took some time before Hausmann heard his name called over the public address system — in large part due to the overwhelming ability of the Michigan defensive line. But late in the game, even though many fans had cleared the stadium, when Hausmann first registered a tackle, there were a smattering of boos, along with some Husker faithful exclaiming, ‘Traitor!’

It’s not something that the Michigan sophomore noticed, but it was certainly anticipated. And he has no hard feelings about those who didn’t continue to cheer for him with his new team.

“During the game, you’re really locked in. You’re gonna have tunnel vision so you really don’t hear the outside noise,” Hausmann said. “You’re just focused on the next play type of thing. I knew that was gonna come throughout the week of preparation, throughout the year, I knew that’s gonna come eventually. But all I can do is smile as a player.

“It’s one of the things that, for me, I think about that you’re almost like, you almost make it, and now you have people on their side, you know, trying to boo you or spit back, you feel like, OK, you’ve done something to earn some respect in that way. But those fans over there, they’ve done a great job supporting me when I was at Nebraska. It’s a bittersweet love, it’s one of those things that comes with a price, playing football.”

Hausmann will next take the field when the Wolverines travel to Minneapolis to face Minnesota in Week 6.

Michigan football position grades after Week 1

The Wolverines looked good on both sides of the ball. #GoBlue

Michigan football, as expected, took care of business against East Carolina on Saturday with a 30-3 victory to kick off the 2023 campaign. J.J. McCarthy looked comfortable and in control of the offense. The junior quarterback completed the game with 26 of 30 passes for 280 yards. McCarthy and Roman Wilson connected for three touchdowns on Saturday. The Pirates were able to slow down the run by selling out and loading the box.

Defensively, the Wolverines looked really solid as well, only giving up 235 yards of total offense to East Carolina — which mostly came during garbage time. Michigan’s defense played a clean game with only one penalty called against the Wolverines. The Pirates were able to get on the board with a field goal as time expired but were not a threat to score the entire game.

With Week 1 in the books let’s grade the performance of the position groups.

Michigan’s defensive line ability should provide opportunities for linebackers

This defense is absolutely STACKED! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Ernest Hausmann is excited about the possibilities with his new team. Not just because Michigan football is expected to be much better than the team he transferred from, Nebraska, but because some of the talent ahead of him on the field should provide significant opportunities to wreak havoc.

One of the purported strengths of the Michigan football team in 2023 is the interior defensive line, led by senior Kris Jenkins, who has earned some early first-round NFL projections. Hausmann sees plenty of future instances where offenses will do everything in their power to stop Jenkins, Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Cam Goode, and Rayshaun Benny from penetrating, which will, in turn, open up gaps for him and the fellow linebackers to make plays.

“With our incredible interior line, it’s our job to get them on the double teams,” Hausmann said. We know that offenses obviously are gonna counter with them, they need to double them because we know that a one-on-one on them, our D-line is gonna win that battle. So in return, we know that, obviously, the offensive line is gonna double them, so it’s our job to make sure we get them off the double teams, and in any way possible.

“So, that’s kind of how we just work hand in hand in that, and just make sure that we get them other double teams, and we know where they’re going to try to win and all these other things, so we can be a successful defense.”

Certainly, there will be offensive packages that will work to negate the defensive line throughout the season. The run-pass option has become more popular in college football, and if a lineman or a linebacker is too honed in on the run, a quarterback can pass it instead.

For Hausmann, his study of the intricacies of the game he feels will help because there will be moments where offenses provide a punch, so it will be particularly up to the linebackers to be smart and provide the counter-punch.

“That’s one of the things about being linebackers that I love is that we take charge of the defense, we have to make sure that we make everything right,” Hausmann said. “Like I said before, we give them the freedom to do sometimes what they need to do to be successful, right? They’re gonna cause havoc, they’re gonna get tight with the ball. And with that, we know how offenses are going to try to combat that with their aggression and be able to play them. So we should just understand that and be able to make them right and fit the gaps that they might go into when they’re not in there.”

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ESPN ranks three Michigan football players among best college football newcomers

Should be more, TBH. #GoBlue

Michigan football may not have a wealth of instant impact players in the 2023 recruiting class who will burst onto the scene as true freshmen this year. But the Wolverines certainly made up for it with a targeted transfer class.

ESPN ranked the top 50 newcomers across college football in 2023 ($), and three incoming Michigan players made the cut — all three were transfers.

One such player broke into the top 10, presumed starting left tackle in LaDarius Henderson.

9. OL LaDarius Henderson

Transferred from Arizona State to Michigan

Henderson started all 13 games last season for Arizona State at left guard, but will likely compete at right tackle at Michigan. The Wolverines have won the Joe Moore Award for the best offensive line the past two seasons but are looking to fill a few open starting spots upfront for 2023. Henderson has a realistic shot at starting on the right side and brings a wealth of experience. At 6-foot-5, 310 pounds, Henderson could be one of a few transfer linemen to make an impact for the Wolverines.

Henderson, who was unable to participate in spring ball, certainly will have challenges. There are established tackles on the roster he’ll have to supplant in order to win the starting job.

The next was, at one point, 247Sports’ top player in the transfer portal, and while he also has a fall camp battle, he’ll see the field early and often.

17. LB Ernest Hausmann

Transferred from Nebraska to Michigan

Hausmann was a three-star prospect in the 2022 class. He made an immediate impact on the team, playing in every game last season with seven starts. Hausmann finished with 54 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss and a sack in his breakout campaign. The Wolverines have a set starter in Junior Colson, but Hausmann will likely compete for the other starting job with Michael Barrett. If Hausmann builds on the freshman season he had at Nebraska, he should see significant playing time.

The last player isn’t getting as much publicity as some others, though he’s a bit underrated to begin with.

Though his 2022 wasn’t nearly as impressive as his 2021, Josaiah Stewart is another player who figures to be key in the rotation.

24. Edge Josaiah Stewart

Transferred from Coastal Carolina to Michigan

At 6-foot-1, 245 pounds, Stewart is a little undersized, but he has a ton of speed off the edge. He had 36 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and 5 quarterback hurries last season at Coastal Carolina. The Wolverines lost Mike Morris, who led the team in tackles for loss last season, to the NFL. The defense returns Jaylen Harrell, who was second on the team in tackles for loss, and a few others. But Stewart’s ability to get to the quarterback makes him an asset and his versatility will get him onto the field this season.

There are some notable absences. The first would be center Drake Nugent, who is on the Rimington Trophy watch list and graded higher by PFF than last year’s winner, Olusegun Oluwatimi. Also, cornerback Josh Wallace is the leading candidate for a starting role opposite Will Johnson, and tight end AJ Barner figures perfectly into the scheme Michigan runs offensively.

Either way, the Wolverines were smart about who they targeted in the portal and it should make up for having a lot of developmental prospects in the freshman class.

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Two linebackers impressing Michigan football veteran in fall camp

This group is getting to be exciting! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — After being somewhere between questionable and a liability for years and years, Michigan football now appears to have a linebacker corps that’s deep and primed to impress in 2023.

Former position coach George Helow definitely elevated the group and did what he could considering there were few top-flight recruits in the room. But now with Chris Partridge back coaching the position, there is more ample personnel to go along with those who have cemented themselves recently.

One player who really improved over his career is Michael Barrett. The former high school quarterback at Valdosta (Ga.) Lowndes really came into his own late last year, but there are some challenges this year given how deep the room is.

Though junior Junior Colson is considered the leader of the group, Barrett sees two others who are standing out now in fall camp.

“Jaydon Hood — I feel like he’s made a big step from last year,” Barrett said. “He’s coming along I feel — like really fast. Learning and being able to help us step into that next spot. Ernest (Hausmann) — like I said, he’s jumped coming along fast. He’s really impressed me just by how fast he’s been able to pick it up. Moving around as being comfortable in the defense already just being here, what, six months? So that’s really impressive.”

Hood is a former four-star who has really taken his time to develop, but there’s perhaps no more exciting name than Ernest Hausmann. A transfer from Nebraska entering his second year, Hausmann impressed in the spring game and is fighting Barrett for playing time.

What’s made him so good and such a formidable fall camp opponent in Barrett’s eyes? The sixth-year positional journeyman sees a young buck who has latched on quickly to what the defensive coaches are looking for.

“A quick learner, came in ready to learn, ready to work,” Barrett said. “Yeah, we push each other every day, just in our room. And in general, I feel like we just all kind of pushing each other, helping each other get better. It’s never any tension in the room, it’s always one to help the other, one be better and set up ourselves get better. So he’s just came in with just that will to learn, that grind that we’ve been looking for. And he’s definitely gonna help us a lot this year.”

Hausmann is up 17 pounds to 237 after weighing in at 220 for his freshman year in Lincoln. Expect to see him early and often throughout the year. And if Hood has come along, it will be interesting to see if he or sophomore Jimmy Rolder is one of the premier reserves who gets his name called early.

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Top five Big Ten football defensive transfers for 2023

Look for these guys to show up in a big way in the Big Ten this fall. #B1G

Welcome to college football in 2023 where the transfer portal is a key factor in building a successful and winning program. This season many big names came to the Big Ten and an intriguing number of them are on the defensive side of the football.

Evaluating transfers is a bit like evaluating recruiting, it’s not necessarily about snagging the big fish such as Sam Hartman, but making sure the guy you snag can fill a need and fit a role the team needs.

We see many schools grab transfer after transfer, and they flame out not because of their lack of talent, but because the situation was not a great fit to begin with

Here are the five incoming transfers that should check every box as a difference maker for their new team on the defensive side of the ball.

Athlon Sports names several Michigan football players in its Big Ten All-Transfer Portal Team for 2023

#Michigan may have the best transfer portal class in the Big Ten. #GoBlue

It’s well known the talent Michigan football brought in for the 2023 season via the transfer portal. The Wolverines brought in plenty of depth at positions of need and a few of the transfers are about a virtual lock to start for the maize and blue.

Athlon Sports created its Big Ten All-Transfer Portal Team for the 2023 season. There were several new Michigan players on the team.

Offensive Line:

La’Darius Henderson

Drake Nugent

Myles Hinton

The arrival of Hinton, Nugent, and Henderson is a big reason why Michigan’s offensive line should remain among the best in college football.

Michigan brought La’Darius Henderson in from Arizona State and he is widely expected to lock down the left tackle job this fall. He started 29 games during his four-year stint with Arizona State and was a team captain last season.

The Wolverines brought over center Drake Nugent and tackle Myles Hinton from Stanford. Nugent should start for Michigan at center with Olu Oluwatimi off to the NFL. He started 24 games for Stanford at center and was a two-time All-Pac 12 honorable mention.

Myles Hinton started 16 games at right tackle for Stanford. Hinton has plenty of talent, but it’s hard seeing him pass Karsen Barnhart or Trente Jones at right tackle. Hinton has the ability to transition to guard to be added depth.

Defensive Line:

Josaiah Stewart

Stewart was brought to Ann Arbor from Coastal Carolina where he starred for two seasons. He had 12.5 sacks his freshman season which is a single-season record at Coastal Carolina. He is a two-time All-Sun Belt award winner during his two years there.

Linebacker:

Ernestt Hausmann

Hausmann flashed potential as a freshman at Nebraska last year by collecting 54 stops over 12 games. He may not start with Michael Barrett and Junior Colson returning, but look for the sophomore to see plenty of snaps for the Wolverines in ’23.

Hausmann started seven games for Nebraska last season as a true freshman. He was one of the better tacklers on the team and had his first sack against Michigan on his way to a 10-tackle day against the Wolverines. Hausmann should be an instant-impact player Day 1 for Michigan.

Kicker:

James Turner

Turner came to Michigan from Louisville and he will battle freshman Adam Samaha for the kicking job. He was a two-time All-ACC honorable mention with the Cardinals. Last season, he was 20-for-22 on field goals last season. But it will not be easy to replace All-American Jake Moody.

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The two incoming transfers set to make biggest impact for Michigan football

These two are going to be really good!

Michigan football added to its already solid transfer portal haul for the 2023 seasons when the Wolverines snagged former UMass cornerback Josh Wallace.

The Wolverines filled the voids they had entering the 2023 offseason. Michigan brought in three dynamic offensive linemen to help the two-time Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line. The maize and blue brought in leadership at the quarterback and tight end positions and a placekicker that has a chance to start.

But according to CBS Sports, Michigan brought in two transfers set to have an immediate impact in the Big Ten.

Tom Fornelli believes former Coastal Carolina edge rusher Josaiah Stewart will be one of the biggest impact players in the conference this season.

The Wolverines are coming off another Big Ten title and playoff berth, and have been a bit more proactive in the portal this offseason. Former Coastal Carolina EDGE rusher Josaiah Stewart is a name Big Ten offensive coordinators will want to familiarize themselves with as Michigan is hoping he can become its latest pass-rush specialist. Michigan lost all its most productive pass rushers from last year’s team, and Stewart brings experience and production. In 25 games with the Chanticleers, Steward had 16 sacks, 25.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles.

Stewart, now a junior, was productive for Coastal Carolina, but if he can get back to his freshman form — the Wolverines have a dynamic edge defender. Two seasons ago, Stewart was an All-Sun Belt first-team player and recorded 12.5 sacks, which ranked fifth in the country. Teams started to game plan against Stewart in his sophomore season and he recorded 3.5 sacks. With the Wolverines losing their top two sack rushers from a season ago, Michigan needs someone such as Stewart, Braiden McGregor, Jaylen Harrell or Derrick Moore to step up.

The other Michigan player Fornelli wrote is primed to have a breakout season is linebacker Ernest Hausmann.

Stewart isn’t the only impact defender the Wolverines plucked from the portal as they stayed in the Big Ten to land Ernest Hausmann from Nebraska. Hausmann fills a need at the position for Michigan. He played in 12 games as a freshman for Nebraska last season, finishing with 54 tackles, including two for a loss and a sack. The Wolverines are hopeful he can help fill the shoes of Michael Barrett. Also, while he’s not included in this list, we shouldn’t look past another Michigan transfer in offensive lineman Ladarius Henderson. Henderson comes with plenty of starting experience from his time at Arizona State and is looking to improve his draft stock with the Wolverines.

It appeared Michigan had too much depth at linebacker when Hausmann came over from Nebraska. The Wolverines return starters Junior Colson, Michael Barrett — yes he is back contrary to the excerpt — and Michigan was set to bring back Nikhai Hill-Green from injury. Sophomore Jimmy Rolder would figure to get more action this season as well. But with Hill-Green transferring to Charlotte, the addition of Hausmann is much bigger.

The Cornhuskers weren’t a good football team last season, but Hausmann getting a ton of action as a true freshman is valuable experience. His shining moment came against the Wolverines last season when he recorded 10 tackles and a sack.

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