Name: Zeke Berry
Height: 5'11″
Weight: 192 lbs.
High school: Concord (CA) De La Salle
Position: Safety
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #10
Last year: I ranked Berry #79 and said he would be a backup safety (LINK). He played in two games and made 1 tackle for loss.
TTB Rating: 82
Zeke Berry flipped from Arizona to Michigan in the 2022 class. An athletic safety prospect, he was a player who could have played corner or safety. It appears that Michigan settled on safety, at least for the time being, and he got a couple cracks at playing last season. Fortunately, Michigan had solid depth at the position, which allowed Berry to maintain his redshirt.
He will get a chance to contribute a little more in 2023. R.J. Moten transferred to Florida once it became apparent that he couldn't put a stranglehold on a starting job, leaving Rod Moore and Makari Paige to start at safety. Other contenders to play this season include Quinton Johnson, Keon Sabb, and Berry. I think Berry is probably the most athletic of the three, but Johnson is more experienced and Sabb has the size advantage, while Berry is still pretty small at 5'11" and 192 lbs. (down from a listed 6'0", 195 last year). Johnson should be gone after this season, and there's some talk that Moore might leave for the NFL, so it will be important for the coaching staff to get some experience for Berry and Sabb, who should both have a great opportunity to play in 2024.
Prediction: Backup safety
3rd safety is one of my biggest worries coming into the season. Mostly for 2024 to be fair, but i'd really like to see Barry or sabb show something this year.
ReplyDeleteI've heard some people talking up Quinton Johnson. After all, he did play over R.J. Moten in the TCU game. Then again, he had a big mistake that cost the defense a huge play. But he's gone after 2023, anyway, so hopefully he can contribute something this year.
DeleteI give Johnson some grace. It was one play vs an excellent player. But he's a veteran who hasn't shown much before and won't be back next year. so I'd really like to see the sophomores push past him.
DeleteThe moten situation is weird. Maybe he was sulking about getting passed by Paige. He was working as a line backer before tcu. Odd for a starter to be in late in the year like that. I'm skeptical it was really as simple as Johnson suddenly surging ahead of moten. Something happened.
I like that he's developing, and has not been rushed to failure. Hopefully he's one of those we get a year & some change (w/o the young blunders), before going pro
ReplyDeleteAgree. Safety is a tough spot for freshman to contribute.
Delete