Name: Jimmy Rolder
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 240 lbs.
High school: Orland Park (IL) Marist
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #30
Last year: I ranked Rolder #39 and said he would be a backup linebacker (LINK). He played in six games and made 5 tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss.
TTB Rating: 81
Rolder took a unique path in 2023 by redshirting during his second year. Nagged a little bit by injury, the coaching staff purposefully had him play in fewer than four regular season games so he could take a redshirt and preserve that year of eligibility. (Post-season games don't count against the four-game limit for redshirts.) So when Rolder did play last year, he seemed a little bit rusty and maybe even looked like he had taken a small step back from 2022.
But this year Rolder is seven pounds heavier and almost certain to be in the rotation at linebacker. Michigan did bring in one of Maryland's best players in linebacker Jaishawn Barham to start at middle linebacker, and #3 linebacker Ernest Hausmann will step in at WILL to replace Michael Barrett. Rolder will probably take the Hausmann role from last year and play a significant amount at both spots, but Jaydon Hood is also in competition to play.
Prediction: Backup linebacker
Hasn't been able to stay healthy and now carrying more weight. If he isn't lb3 and getting meaningful snaps it'll get late early.
ReplyDelete