Name: Jaishawn Barham
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 248 lbs.
High school: Baltimore (MD) St. Frances
Position: Linebacker
Class: Junior
Jersey number: #1
Last year: Barham played for Maryland. He started eleven games and made 37 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 interception, and 1 pass breakup.
TTB Rating: N/A
You might remember Jaishawn Barham from when Michigan recruited him as a 4-star linebacker out of Baltimore (MD) St. Frances back in the 2022 class.
You might also remember Jaishawn Barham from when he picked off J.J. McCarthy in the red zone of Michigan's narrow escape against the Terps in 2023.
Michigan opponents are going to remember Barham for living in their backfield in 2024.
Barham escaped Maryland after two years of playing for his home state Terrapins. It's one thing to play in your home area, but when it becomes apparent that toppling the likes of Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State is going to be tough even when the program reaches its peak, that has to be frustrating. Meanwhile, Michigan lost its top two linebackers and leading tacklers from 2023 to the NFL draft with both Junior Colson and Michael Barrett getting picked.
So there was an opening for a linebacker alongside Nebraska transfer Ernest Hausmann, who was the #3 tackler for the Wolverines last year. In steps Barham, who has earned rave reviews from all parties. Offensive line coach Grant Newsome called Barham the most gifted second-level athlete in his time at Michigan, and Newsome has been with the Wolverines through the Devin Bush era, a guy who could blitz and fly sideline to sideline. Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale has praised Barham for his physicality, athleticism, and versatility.
I think we can expect to see Barham used as both an inside linebacker and an edge rusher in 2024. He's fast enough and big enough to be an edge guy (he's taller and heavier than starting outside linebacker Josaiah Stewart), but he's also athletic enough and instinctive enough to roam the middle. If Barham lives up to the hype, he could be an exciting chess piece for the Wolverines to use in a variety of ways.
Prediction: Starting middle linebacker; 65 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 interception
Whoa Thunder. Playing catchup is always a bitch. Ain't it.
ReplyDeleteI started expecting this based on trajectory two weeks ago ... planned my work day for content briefs
DeleteExcellent output Thunder!
When I saw he was coming on I thought he was going to be too big for linebacker and would move to edge. But apparently he's got the athleticism to pull it off. What a get. The hype for a newcomer is something else! I'm excited to watch him play. Should be unleashed behind our DL.
ReplyDeleteThe starting front 6 maybe the best we've had going into a season that I can remember.
Will be used like Lawrence Taylor back in the day with the Giants who ran a 3-4 Defense with LT coming in off the edge. Love the number.
ReplyDeleteJaishawn Barham's name is Alex Orji?
ReplyDelete