Name: Jaishawn Barham
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 243 lbs.
High school: Baltimore (MD) St. Frances
Position: Linebacker
Class: Senior
Jersey number: #1
Last year: I ranked Barham #7 and said he would be a starting middle linebacker with 65 tackles, 4 sacks, and 1 interception (LINK). He started all thirteen games and made 66 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 pass breakups, and 5 quarterback hurries.
TTB Rating: N/A
After playing two seasons at Maryland, Barham transferred to Michigan for the 2024 season and immediately stepped into a starting role. Consistently discussed as perhaps the most imposing defender for the Wolverines, he had some troubles adjusting to Michigan's defense. There were some missed reads and his coverage was questionable, but as the year went along, he and the entire defense improved as they got used to new defensive coordinator Wink Martindale. By the time the season ended, that unit was clicking and only allowed 49 points over the final four games, which included three top-11 teams in Indiana, Ohio State, and Alabama.
Barham probably shouldn't be as low as #13, but I couldn't justify ranking him higher in importance because the guys ahead of him in the countdown don't have backups approximating their level. In the case of inside linebacker, Michigan has basically a third starter in Jimmy Rolder and then another guy that everyone raves about in Cole Sullivan. Add in fifth year senior Jaydon Hood and Georgia transfer Troy Bowles, and Michigan has a lot of depth. The talk is that Barham will be used in a variety of ways this year, including rushing off the edge, but Michigan has four solid guys on the edge, too. Barham should be fun to watch in year two wearing a winged helmet.
Prediction: Starting weakside linebacker; 60 tackles, 3 sacks
Another name in the LB class to be aware of is Michigan LB Jaishawn Barham. Has the athleticism and length to not only be an impactful off ball LB, but also a disruptive blizter pic.twitter.com/oYVYSSKCzX
— Joe DeLeone (@joedeleone) May 8, 2025
Agree on this ranking. LB is stacked!
ReplyDeleteNot long ago, I had hoped for Hood; maaaybe he can play, but he's not gettin on the field much with this LB room
Barham is a star but yeah for the ranking you gotta consider the depth. It feels like Michigan built up the room anticipating departures that never happened. Not a bad place to be.
ReplyDeleteAnother fun player to watch because of his physicality.