Name: Ernest Hausmann
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 235 lbs.
High school: Columbus (NE) Columbus
Position: Linebacker
Class: Junior
Jersey number: #15
Last year: I ranked Hausmann #31 and said he would be a backup linebacker (LINK). He made 46 tackles and 2 tackles for loss.
TTB Rating: N/A
Hausmann is a Nebraska transfer who Michigan was lucky to stumble into after he played his freshman year at Nebraska. With a couple solid linebackers on the roster and then some big question marks, the Wolverines needed an heir apparent to Michael Barrett and Junior Colson. In stepped Hausmann, a good-sized player who had good athleticism and got to play quite a bit under the bright lights already. He could step in as a backup in 2023 without too much pressure, and that's exactly what he did. Backing up both Barrett and Colson, he finished third on the team in tackles behind those two starting linebackers.
So this year it just makes sense that Hausmann steps in to fill their shoes. I was impressed last year with how well Hausmann moved, and he looked even bigger than his listed 237 pounds (down to 235 this year). Hausmann will be the starter at weakside linebacker (Barrett's position) while Maryland transfer Jaishawn Barham comes in to play the MIKE spot. It should be one of the better linebacker units in the conference. Wink Martindale recently said it would be either Hausmann or safety Makari Paige with the "green dot" (in-helmet communications), so that shows how much the defense is going to depend on Hausmann.
Prediction: Starting weakside linebacker; 60 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 interception
And he can hit! Starters at LB look great
ReplyDeleteHausmann got the headset. That's a big sign. Rolder should be a good backup so I could argue for a lower rank, but if he's going to be the leader of the defense as a junior, that's an important development.
ReplyDeleteCaptain next year?
How does the in-helmet communications work with substitutions in the NFL? If Hausman goes out does someone else get it?
Delete