2022 Season Countdown: #51 Ja'Den McBurrows

 

Ja'Den McBurrows (image via MGoBlue)

Name: Ja'Den McBurrows
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 197 lbs.
High school: Fort Lauderdale (FL) Saint Thomas Aquinas
Position: Cornerback
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #1
Last year: I ranked McBurrows #72 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He played in four games and made 2 tackles with 1 pass breakup.
TTB Rating: 73

McBurrows got hyped up by some insiders going into the 2021 season as a guy who could make an immediate contribution. Fortunately for Michigan, he was not needed in a very large capacity because the Wolverines got good performances from Vincent Gray and D.J. Turner II. But it was probably a good sign that he played in four games, which is more than a lot of freshman corners - including more than Gray or Turner played in their freshman years. Unfortunately for McBurrows, he ended the season by having knee surgery and missed some time to develop.

The 2022 season might be a pivotal one for McBurrows. If he carves out notable playing time with the guys around him, that probably bodes well for his talent and his future. If he falls behind freshmen like Will Johnson, Myles Pollard, and/or Kody Jones, that could spell trouble for him going forward. I've heard enough buzz about McBurrows that I think he can play at this level, but it will be a good battle for playing time over the next couple years.

Prediction: Backup cornerback