The Michigan Wolverines had a big hole to fill coming into the 2025 with the departure of cornerback Will Johnson leaving for the Arizona Cardinals and Aamir Hall running out of college eligibility. The positives
were they had two rising stars returning in Jyiare Hill and Zeke Berry, but they lost Berry quickly to an injury in the second week against Oklahoma.
However, when their number was called, Michigan has already seen some true freshmen suit up this season and perform at a high level to keep the Central Michigan and Nebraska wide receivers in check. Most notably, cornerback Jayden Sanders, who has really stepped up in the absence of Berry.
Sanders was a two-way player in high school, making 27 tackles, 15 pass breakups and three interceptions on defense to go along with 46 catches, 750 yards and seven touchdowns on offense as a senior last fall. When his number was called against New Mexico, and again against the Sooners, he made the most of the opportunity.
“I don’t know how the coaches feel, but I feel like every time I stepped on the field I was trying to get my 100 percent and show them that I was ready to be the guy that they needed,” Sanders said on Tuesday night. “…I didn’t know how many snaps I was gonna play, but I did know that it was a chance. They say you have to be ready at any time in the room, so I was just pointing at myself to be ready.”
Sanders made six tackles as a backup through the first two games, and then had a massive day in his second start against Nebraska, where he recorded eight tackles and a pass breakup against a solid Huskers offense.
Sanders’ emergence has been noteworthy, not just for how he stepped in for an injured teammate, but how it paved the way to allow his fellow freshmen teammates to see an increase in opportunities alongside him. Shamari Earls and Elijah Dotson have also seen significant playing time over the last few weeks.
“To watch a guy like Jayden Sanders – you don’t even notice him, but you notice him make plays,” head coach Sherrone Moore said. “I credit the staff on what they’ve done with a bunch of young players, especially in the back end … and then on defense (as a whole), it’s a bevy of guys because a lot of those guys have played, but like Elijah Dotson, he’s played, he made some plays (as well).”
Dotson was a high school teammate of quarterback Bryce Underwood before coming to Ann Arbor, and he has also put on a show through the first four games. While not in a starting role, Dotson made his presence felt against Central Michigan by registering his first collegiate interception. A game later against Nebraska, Dotson made four tackles in a backup role, making it difficult for the coaches to keep him off the field.
Part of the credit goes to the veterans around the freshmen in the secondary, specifically cornerback Jyiare Hill and safety Rod Moore. The other piece of credit goes to the “next man up” mentality the entire team has, practicing like it’s a real game with the expectation that anyone could be called upon at any time.
“If any younger guy messes up, (Jyaire Hill) is there to correct you,” Sanders said. “He’s there to let you know what you did wrong and just show you what you did right. He’s a good leader on the field.
“(And) I feel like (Rod Moore) is the most helpful. If anything, Rod is a coach himself, and he helps all the other guys and the major guys get the job done.”
No matter where any individual player stands on the depth chart, everyone appears to be strongly bonded with one another. The veterans are ready to mentor the next guy that is looking to contribute, and the younger guys are ready to soak up all the knowledge possible.
True leadership is hard to come by, but for Sanders, Earls and Dotson, it is a major reason why they are succeeding on the field at such an early point in their career.
