When Michigan lost safety Rod Moore for the entirety of the 2024 season in March, it was a devastating blow—not just for Moore, but also for a secondary that was suddenly in turmoil.
Coming off a national championship, Michigan’s secondary was expected to be a strong point in 2024. Despite the departure of the versatile Mike Sainristil to the NFL, the core of a unit that ranked third nationally in opposing passer rating was set to return. This included junior cornerback Will Johnson, alongside safeties Moore, Makari Paige, and Keon Sabb. This quartet provided new Michigan defensive backs coach Lamar Morgan with a solid foundation.
However, just months after the title game, half of this group was out of commission. Moore was injured, and Sabb had transferred to Alabama.
While Johnson and Paige remained key pieces, the Wolverines turned to the transfer portal to reinforce their secondary. They have been successful in this endeavor.
On Friday morning, Michigan secured its second transfer commitment in a little over twelve hours when three-star safety and Louisville transfer Wesley Walker committed to the Wolverines. Walker, who started for Tennessee last season, had transferred to Louisville in the offseason. Michigan managed to fend off LSU and USC, among others, to land Walker, who was impressed during his visit to Ann Arbor last week.
The addition of Walker followed the commitment of FCS All-American cornerback Aamir Hall from Albany on Thursday evening. Hall is seen by the coaching staff as an ideal replacement for Josh Wallace, a transfer from UMass last season.
The staff is also pursuing another defensive back, with former in-state star and Michigan State safety Jaden Mangham at the top of their list.
Sophomore Jyaire Hill, who showed promise as a true freshman last season, will compete for the cornerback spot opposite Johnson that Wallace previously occupied. Senior Ja’Den McBurrows, known for his tackling ability, is expected to get the first shot at Sainristil’s old job.
Safety also has internal options, with sophomore Brandyn Hillman, who played in nine games as a true freshman, showing great promise.
Although spring transfers often miss valuable practice time and need to acclimate during the summer, the recent additions of Walker and Hall have bolstered Michigan’s secondary, transforming it from a unit dependent on hopeful projections to one with proven production.
