The Michigan Wolverines are primed for a much-improved secondary in 2026 with a team laden with experience and talent. One constant throughout the last several years is Zeke Berry, a fifth-year senior who has been a contributor since the Wolverines won the national championship in 2023. Heading into his final season, Berry has the chance to be an All-Big Ten performer and a potential NFL Draft pick come next April.
The story so far
A highly ranked high school prospect, Berry was a four-star recruit and ranked No.
65 overall by 247Sports. The pitch was for Berry to be the next Daxton Hill, a former five-star prospect who played all over the secondary.
After redshirting as a true freshman, that scenario began to play out for Berry in 2023. Mostly a special teams contributor, Berry also began to see some snaps in the defensive backfield in the many blowout wins that happened that season on Michigan’s path to a national title.
The 2024 season was Berry’s long-awaited breakout. Playing in all 13 games, Berry started as the nickel, but eventually moved to outside corner because of the early season-ending injury to Will Johnson. He had two interceptions, including a pick in the season-opener against Fresno State. His versatility immediately paid dividends, but after the injury to Johnson, his role as an outside corner was all but solidified.
That’s where he started 11 games a season ago and was arguably the team’s top cornerback. He dealt with a couple of injuries, but still finished with 33 tackles, 11 PBU’s and a diving interception against USC.
Berry was named an All-Big Ten Second Team selection by the media, and a Third Team performer by the coaches for his efforts.
Following the fiasco that was the ending to the Sherrone Moore era in Ann Arbor, Berry entered the transfer portal to evaluate his options. Ultimately, he decided to return to the Big House for his fifth and final season. Berry was voted by teammates as one of the 11 members of the spring leadership council.
Outlook for 2026
It’s Berry’s third defensive coordinator in five years at Michigan as Jay Hill now takes over following the hiring of Kyle Whittingham. There’s quite a bit of competition in the secondary unit. That didn’t stop Whittingham from mentioning that the secondary was a “little thin” in a conversation with alum Rich Eisen at the end of July.
That came as a bit of a surprise to many, with Berry and Jyaire Hill returning as the starters at outside corner, Utah-transfer Smith Snowden coming in to likely be a starter this season, and veterans Rod Moore and Mason Curtis at the safety position.
It’s even a little more surprising as Jay Hill mentioned in his press conference on Wednesday that he believes he has three starting-caliber players at the nickel slot – including the three corners mentioned above based on matchups.
“Those three guys — I’ve never had three interchangeable guys that are so different at that position,” Hill said. “It’s a fun luxury to have, and I’m kind of excited to see how I can come up with how we do it.”
Berry will be looked to as a leader of this group as the fall season quickly approaches. He and Rod Moore have as much experience as any Michigan player on the roster. They’ll set the tone not only for the secondary, but also the entire defense in 2026, and Jay Hill will have several potential star veterans to lean on in his first season heading the unit in Ann Arbor.
