Michigan football has an All-American, projected top-10 pick as their top cornerback in junior Will Johnson, but who will play opposite of the future pro?
According to head coach Sherrone Moore, redshirt freshman Jyaire Hill has won the second starting cornerback (CB2) role alongside Johnson.:
“Jyaire has really taken a hold of that position and done a really good job,” Moore said during his weekly press conference on Monday afternoon. “He’s been phenomenal, tough – just a gritty dude. One of Kankakee’s finest and he’s been great, so I think it’ll be him on Saturday to line up across from Will Johnson.”
Hill appeared in just four games as a true freshman, preserving his redshirt status. The four-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class recorded eight tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in limited playing time.
Check out Sherrone Moore’s comments on the second starting cornerback position below (starting at the 12:57 mark):
Jyaire Hill will have a big opportunity this season
Will Johnson is widely projected to be an early first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. With so much NFL talent, plenty of pro scouts will be on hand to scout the Wolverines secondary. So, Hill will have the opportunity to make a statement and place himself on future draft radars.
The redshirt freshman cornerback will likely be tested in pass coverage as teams will be inclined to limit throwing against Johnson. If he is able to play well and retain the starting role throughout the season, the Kankakee native could quickly ascent up draft boards.
If Hill struggles and needs more time to develop, the Wolverines will likely turn to transfer cornerbacks Aamir Hall and Ricky Johnson. The former was an FCS All-American last season, while the latter was a starter for the UNLV Rebels.
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