Tag: Jaydon Hood

Young guys leading the charge for Michigan football front seven

The #Michigan defense is going to be stellar again this year. #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — We already know who many of the main players for Michigan football will be in 2024, especially on defense. Up front, Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant are perhaps the best defensive tackle duo in the country, while linebackers Ernest Hausmann and Jaishawn Barham have been getting a lot of publicity this offseason.

But a team is only as good as its depth, one thing the Wolverines have had in spades the past three years.

So, with that in mind, what linebackers are standing out seven practices into spring practice? Position coach Brian Jean-Mary shed some light on the topic, noting some names that have been heard from the past few years, but haven’t necessarily put their stamp on the game as of yet.

“Some of the guys that I think are playing well are Jayden Hood — he’s been here for a while, very, very talented guy that says he’s been waiting for his opportunity. I think he’s taken advantage of it right now,” Jean-Mary said. “Micah Pollard I think fits in that category, too. An older guy, a talented guy who hasn’t played as much as he’d like to but is doing a solid job for us. You’ve got Christian Boivin who has been a great special teams player, he’s doing an excellent job for us there as one of the older guys.

“Some of the younger guys I feel like have an opportunity and we want to see more from and I think they’re gonna have a chance will be Jason Hewlett, Semaj Bridgeman, and Hayden Moore have done a good job for us but, obviously, this back half of spring as far as depth chart goes, we’re going to have to see which one of those guys are going to separate themselves.

“Obviously, the young kids, Cole Sullivan and Jeremiah Beasley — guys that should be in high school and they’re getting quality reps at spring practice — very, very excited about those two guys. I think they’re going to be two high-end guys that are going to continue the tradition that we’ve had here of solid linebackers that are very, very productive. Been very, very happy with those guys.”

What’s more, the linebackers are better when those in front of them are solid at their jobs. And Jean-Mary sees a lot of depth emerging there, as well.

Without wanting to step on the toes of new defensive line coach Lou Esposito, Jean-Mary is excited about one name that seems to keep emerging all spring, as well as another who has gotten a ton of mentions.

“I know guys that stood out so far in the front have been Enow Etta, has done a really, really good job,” Jean-Mary said. “TJ Guy has stepped up and done a really good job. Those are just two guys — like I said, I don’t want to steal the thunder from the D-line coach. As a linebacker coach and sitting back and listening to Coach Wink in the room, those are two guys who seem to be having a really, really good spring.”

Brian Jean-Mary excited about the younger group of Michigan football linebackers

The linebacker room is much improved since Jean-Mary was last at #Michigan. #GoBlue

As new Michigan football defensive coordinator Wink Martindale has waxed ecstatic about how bright the middle of the defense is with the established players — going from the interior defensive line to the linebackers to the safeties — there will be some smaller challenges in the very middle.

The Wolverines lost the linebacker duo of Junior Colson and Mike Barrett to the NFL draft but they have a solid combination coming in to replace them in junior Ernest Hausmann and Maryland transfer Jaishawn Barham. New position coach Brian Jean-Mary is very excited to work with them, but like any defense, the maize and blue are going to need production from beyond just the starters.

Speaking to Jon Jansen on the In the Trenches Podcast, Jean-Mary broke down the players he feels are most ready to step in behind the expected starting tandem of Hausmann and Barham, noting two familiar names who have a ton of potential and have flashed but haven’t yet made names of themselves on the field.

“I can go through names, we’ve already talked about Ernest and we talked about Jaishawn, but I think Jimmy Rolder who has got some good snaps, has played in some games last year, I think he’s got a chance to be a very, very productive player,” Jean-Mary said. “Like what I’ve seen from him. We have another veteran in the room in Jaydon Hood who has patiently waited his time. I think he’s got a chance to really help us next year because he does have the experience and he’s been in some critical situations in some games, too. Those two guys are some of the older guys that played a little bit last year.”

Of course, the room is much deeper than that, and it’s continued to get deeper throughout the past few years.

For a while, the linebacker room had been bereft of elite talent, but now we’ve gotten to a point where we start to forget about four-stars and high three-stars because they’ve had to wait their turns behind players such as Colson and Barrett.

Jean-Mary went on to discuss the rest of the room, noting that there’s a lot of talent that he predicts could find themselves getting major playing time this season. Much of it will depend on spring ball and fall camp, but he likes a lot of the potential of his inherited group.

“Really excited about some of the younger kids,” Jean-Mary said. “I think Christian Boivin is a high-level special teams guy that I really think he’s going to carve his niche in that linebacker room. I know another guy that I think the fans will be excited about, has shown some flashes but has to be more consistent in Micah Pollard. He’s a great athlete, still trying to learn the linebacker position but you can see some of the growth just off tape and what I’ve seen these last couple of weeks watching him run around and being at meetings with him.

“I’d be remiss to mention some of the guys who haven’t played that are kind of newer to the program in Semaj Bridgeman and Jason Hewlett, two young guys who are very, very active. Very athletic. We’re going to throw them in the fire and see how they react this spring.

“We have two midyears that have a chance to be really, really good in Cole Sullivan and Jeremiah Beasley. We have a good group and I always try not to miss anybody. Another kid that’s been good that comes up and we’re expecting a good spring from is Hayden Moore. I think he’s got a chance to do some positive things to see if he can be one of the guys that get on the bus and help us play a high level of defense but also helps us on special teams.”

Entering third year, Michigan football LB Jaydon Hood ‘has seen the light now’

Such a good story when a guy works his way into the rotation! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — A four-star linebacker from the vaunted state of Florida coming to Michigan where there weren’t really any star linebackers at the time, you would think that Jaydon Hood would have seen the field early and often.

Yet, the recruit who boasted offers from the likes of Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Penn State, and Texas A&M quickly became an afterthought. And he remained one throughout 2022, as well.

Now Hood is getting mentioned by his teammates and coaches alike, having made a big ascent from his first two years to his junior campaign. He figures to be a part of the rotation, which says something given the talent in the room with Junior Colson and Mike Barrett returning and standout Ernest Hausmann having transferred in from Nebraska.

His new position coach, Chris Partridge, says that Hood may have been languishing on the bench, but he appears to have new life.

“Sometimes when guys don’t play early, they kind of get in this abyss, right?” Partridge said. “Especially when guys that are in front of them are coming back. And Mike Barrett, like you said, he’s been here forever. So it’s like Jaydon gets here, and it’s like, ‘Oh, Mike’s in front of me. Oh, Mike’s in front of me, again. Oh, Mike’s in front of me again.’ So they kind of get in this little like, lost area.

“I think that’s where Jaydon was, you know? And maybe the change revived him? Jaydon works really hard, he wants to be good. He wants to contribute. He just wants to be valued on the team, whether it’s special teams, whatever it is, and he’s worked for it. And he’s done a really good job. And he’s improved.”

Partridge has fresh eyes, having come back to Ann Arbor after spending four years at Ole Miss. But what he’s seen from the Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas product is a player who has connected the dots, figured things out, and has worked relentlessly to put himself in a position to get onto the field.

“Since the day I started working with him till now, he’s just improved and improved and improved,” Partridge said. “And he keeps working and keeps improving. So, really excited about him. And he’s still he knows he’s still got room to grow. But, I mean, he had a heck of a camp, he’s put together a heck of a camp. And I think he’s seen light now. I mean, this is the best way to say, to describe it.”

Fans will get an opportunity to see Hood in action on Saturday when Michigan football hosts East Carolina for the season opener. The game will kick off at noon EDT and will be streamed live on Peacock.

Four Michigan football ‘risers’ Jim Harbaugh mentioned in fall camp press conference

Watch out for these guys in 2023! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Every year during the offseason, a player goes from ‘Who’s that?’ to being a bona fide contributor. That change may happen earlier in the year, but generally cements itself during fall camp.

And this year is no different.

Jim Harbaugh met with the media on Tuesday and peppered throughout his 25-minute media availability, he singled out multiple players who have really taken their games to the next level. While did speak about more than four overall, he spent more time on four in particular.

An already established starter

Photo: Isaiah Hole

First, echoing a sentiment he made on the Big Ten Network’s fall camp series, looking at the offensive line — a group that’s bursting at the seams with talent — no player has been more impressive than Karsen Barnhart.

Barnhart was the second starter, behind Trente Jones before his injury, at right tackle last year, but Harbaugh notes that across the line in fall camp, Barnhart has been the best overall.

“I’d say, if I had to pick the best one right now so far through 12-13 days of camp, Karsen Barnhart is having the best camp so far,” Harbaugh said. “But here we are halfway through.”

Of course, LaDarius Henderson has been penciled into that position, after transferring from Arizona State. Harbaugh notes that with both tackle positions, they’re too close to call in fall camp and the competition will likely go into the season.

A linebacker who had been buried on the depth chart

Photo: Isaiah Hole

A four-star recruit from talent-rich Florida and high school powerhouse Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas, Jaydon Hood was starting to become an afterthought, quite similar to his former high school teammate at the same position, Anthony Solomon.

Solomon ended up transferring to Arizona, and with first-year linebacker Jimmy Rolder having appeared to surpassed him on the depth chart, the now-college junior in Hood was in danger of not seeing the field at all.

But, as Harbaugh spoke about the defensive front seven on Tuesday, he sang Hood’s praises, noting that he’s made arguably the biggest jump from last year to this year.

“The guy who I’d say who’s asserted himself the most is Jaydon Hood,” Harbaugh said. “As far as where he was last year to where he is now, he is really getting right there in the mix. Special teams and defensively.”

Whether or not that equates to playing time is another story. Rolder still exists, and then there’s the anticipated trio of Junior Colson, Ernest Hausmann, and Michael Barrett. But if Hood comes on strong, that really bolsters a linebacking corps that’s been steadily rising.

TWO MORE on the NEXT PAGE!

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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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Roundup: Meet Michigan football’s 2021 recruiting class

A full roundup of recruiting evaluations, facts, stats, film and everything else covering Michigan football’s signed 2021 class.

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It wasn’t a perfect signing day for Michigan football, as there were a few unhappy surprises, and a big great one — as well as a couple of smaller ones — so it was mostly good for the Wolverines. It took a minute for the letters of intent to start rolling in, but once they did, they came in with regularity.

We scoured the main sites for breakdowns and intel on all of Michigan football’s newest members, including the new bios from the program itself. Here’s everything you need to know about Michigan football’s 2021 recruiting class, in order of their signing.

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Dominick Giudice

From MGoBlue.com:

Prep
• Attended Mater Dei High School (2021) coached by Dino Mangiero
• Helped Mater Dei finish as the state runner-up after reaching the championship game as a junior
• Played all along the defensive line and offensive tackle in high school
• Selected to the Mater Dei Prep All-Decade Team (2010-19) on defense

Key Statistics
• Credited with 46 tackles, seven tackles for loss, six sacks and 42 quarterback pressures as a senior
• Totaled 43 tackles for loss and 24 sacks as a junior – total was No. 1 in New Jersey and ranked 11th nationally

Honors and Rankings
• Earned a 247Sports Composite ranking of three stars; the No. 1,958 overall player nationally, the No. 100 weakside defensive end and the No. 42 player in the state of New Jersey
• Three-star prospect according to 247Sports; the No. 111 defensive end nationally and the No. 43 player in the state of New Jersey
• Rated as a three-star prospect by ESPN, the No. 179 defensive end and the No. 35 player in the state of New Jersey
• Rivals.com two-star prospect
• First team All-New Jersey Defensive pick by USA Today as a senior
• Named the division’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year as a senior; first team defense All-Division selection
• Earned Jersey Sports Zone All-Zone Team as a junior and senior

Personal
• Dominick Giudice was born Sept. 12, 2002
• Son of Anthony and Maryann Giudice

The Wolverine’s EJ Holland:

He plays with a relentless motor and has shown improvement with the way he uses his hands. Giudice doesn’t bend all that well, and a clear lack of athleticism prevents him from going higher in my ranking. He also needs to work on his get off. Giudice fits the cliché billing as a lunch pail recruit with a chip on his shoulder. Overall, you’re getting a big, strong, mean kid that lacks athleticism but will be the hardest worker in the room.

Maize N Brew:

Giudice has said that the coaches plan to play him at the anchor position, which I agree matches his skillset the best right now. He doesn’t have the athleticism to be a pure pass rusher on the weakside, but can definitely take on tight ends and clog up running lanes. However, I think that eventually he’ll pack on 20 or 30 more pounds and slide inside to be a three-tech, where his pass rush skills will be more valuable.

Wolverine Digest:

2021 Outlook: Giudice is an underrated recruit, but does have some upside. At 6-4, 250 pounds, he has the type of frame and athletic ability that will serve him well at the defensive end position. He’s also been described as a kid who is moving fast at all times, making it difficult for offensive lineman to keep him in check. It’s unlikely that Guidice will become an impact player in year one, but the upside is definitely there for him to become one at some point.

Next: Michigan’s tight end of the future

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National Signing Day: Michigan Wolverines sign Jaydon Hood

A signature expected in February on signing day proper, the Florida linebacker surprised by signing early.

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Ratings

Stars Overall Position State
247Sports 3 – 21 69
Rivals 4 223 6 37
ESPN 4 193 5 29
247Sports Composite 4 246 14 35

Vitals

Hometown Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas
Projected Position Inside Linebacker
Height 6-foot-1
Weight 215-pounds

Recruitment

Not expected to sign on signing day, the teammate of fellow longtime fellow commit Ja’Den McBurrows surprised many by choosing to formalize his commitment to the Wolverines on Wednesday.

Hailing from elite high school St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, Hood had offers from Alabama, LSU, Miami, and Florida State. He ultimately pulled the trigger for Michigan football back in May 2020. Having never visited Ann Arbor, he made his commitment sight unseen and was expected to try to make it to campus and finalize his pledge on signing day proper.

Readiness Level

As linebackers go at Michigan, likely a year or two away from seeing the field with regularity.

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Film

Stories

Jaydon Hood commitment story

Fab Four: Selecting Michigan football’s Mount Rushmore of all-time recruits

 

WATCH: Jim Harbaugh, Don Brown do awkward cartwheels in Michigan prospect’s commitment video

Michigan got a big commitment from a 4-star linebacker. Watch the awkward moment when Jim Harbaugh does an awkward cartwheel to celebrate.

Michigan is starting to reel in some recruits and fans and coaches are getting a little giddy about it all. The Wolverines are starting to put together a pretty good recruiting class, but it pales in comparison to what Ohio State is cobbling together down Route 23.

Still though, with some recent commitments here as of late, Jim Harbaugh and company have a collection of 15 in the fold that currently ranks as the No. 6 rated class in the country according to the 247Sports Composite Team Rankings.

The most recent commit was four-star linebacker Jaydon Hood. He’s rated as the No. 11 linebacker and 298th recruit in the country according to the 247Sports Composite Ratings. He’s out of the high school football factory of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

But that’s not the news here if you’re an Ohio State fan. What’s quite funny is the commitment video Hood dropped. At first it looks like any other recruiting video with highlights and music popping in the background. Suddenly though, at the end, three Michigan coaches are shown doing some very awkward and horrible form cartwheels, with Go Blue! as the cherry on top of a mud pie. Jim Harbaugh and Don Brown are two that tried in vain to show flexibility and athleticism that just simply isn’t there.

Click on the below and watch. It is one of the most awkward things you’ll see on a commitment video.  Oh, and give yourself some room to laugh.

 

 

Michigan secures another four-star LB from SEC country

The Wolverines got their second four-star linebacker from SEC country in two days.

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Michigan looked closer to being done at 2021 linebacker recruiting on Sunday when it reeled in its third of the class in Brentwood (TN) Ravenwood four-star Junior Colson committed to the class. But could it actually get there by getting a fourth on Monday?

Colson’s pledge gave the Wolverines their first four-star recruit on the defensive side of the ball in the 2021 class, but assuredly the maize and blue were going to pull in others.

Enter Jaydon Hood, classmate of current Michigan commit in three-star cornerback Ja’Den McBurrows, as the two hail from perennial powerhouse program Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas. Considering U-M, Miami (FL), Kentucky and Minnesota among his reported 24 offers, Hood ultimately decided to continue playing with McBurrows, pledging to Michigan’s class on Memorial Day afternoon.

Like McBurrows, Hood has an incredible offer sheet, one that includes the likes of Alabama, LSU, Florida State, Penn State and Texas A&M.

He’s the Wolverines’ 15th commitment of the 2021 class, which jumps the team from eighth to sixth place in the 247Sports team rankings, over Florida and LSU.

A recent evaluation from 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins indicates more on what kind of player Michigan is getting in the four-star inside linebacker:

Just a shade under 6-foot-1. Muscles already developed in the upper half, but room to only get bigger once lifting in a college weight room. Should be able to play around 225 pounds. A high-intensity football player that’s always in chase mode. Quick to diagnoses plays and react. Combats blocks well while keeping his eyes in the backfield. A physical striker that likes to runs his feet through contact. Productive at the high school level having totaled 115 tackles as a junior. Adequate in zone coverage, but should be better in space given speed and testing profile. Will need to improve transitions and clean up how he finishes. Has a chance to develop into an impact player for a Power 5 program and could eventually have his name on all-conference lists.

Hood is rated as the No. 298 player in the country according to the 247Sports Composite, as well as the No. 11 inside linebacker nationally and 48th-best player in the state of Florida in 2021.

Watch his junior film below:

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