Michael Barrett Shares Which Two Michigan Linebackers Have Impressed Him So Far

Michael Barrett is entering his sixth year on campus with Michigan. Barrett came to the Wolverines back in 2018 as a quarterback recruit. After re-earning his starting role back last season -- after starting in 2020 -- Barrett is ready to go in year six. 

Barrett was one of the players the media had a chance to speak to on Monday afternoon. One of the first things the Michigan linebacker had to say was he doesn't 'feel too old' with all the youth on the team. 

“I don’t feel too old,” the sixth-year linebacker told the media. “You know, the young guys come in kind of keep my youth I feel like. I feel like the energy just around the room around the building is high. Everyone’s been ready to get after it. Our depth in the room has just been a positive and I’ve been helping everyone just learn as we go.”

Michigan has a good depth problem at linebacker this season. Junior Colson and Barrett both return as the incumbent starters. But the Wolverines also brought in Nebraska transfer Ernest Hausmann, plus all the talented, young linebackers on the team. 

Both Jaydon Hood and Ernest Hausmann have impressed Barrett during fall camp so far. Hood, a junior, has appeared in four games during his two years on campus and has made four tackles. Hood came to Michigan out of Florida, and Barrett says he is coming along fast. 

"Jaydon Hood -- I feel like he's made a bigger step up from last year," said Barett. "He's coming along pretty fast, learning and being able to help us step into that next spot. Ernest [Hausmann], like I said, he's coming along fast. He's really impressed me by how fast he's been able to pick it up -- moving around be being comfortable."

While Hood may find some playing time in 2023, the four linebackers that are set to see substantial playing time are Colson, Barrett, Hausmann, and Jimmy Rolder. Most people believe Barrett will get the nod to start alongside Colson, but Hausmann has a chance to unseat the veteran linebacker before the season ends. 

Barrett says the two of them push each other in practice and they both want to help each other get better every day. 

“He’s a quick learner that came in ready to learn and ready to work,” Barrett said of Hausmann. “We push each other every day. And our room in general, I feel like we are just all kind of pushing each other, helping each other get better. It’s never any like tension in the room. It’s always wanting to help the other one be better to help ourselves get better.

“He came in with just that will to learn and that grind that we’ve been looking for and he’s definitely gonna help us a lot this year.”

Hausmann played in all 12 games and started seven games as a true freshman with Nebraska. He finished the season with 54 tackles and was one of the few bright spots on the Cornhuskers' defense in 2022. While he may be young, he has plenty of football experience after one season down and Barrett told the media it's nice being able to talk football with somebody like Hausmann -- a different viewpoint. 

“[Ernest brings] a different point of view,” Barrett said. “Just being able to talk football from somebody from outside.

Michigan opens the season on Sept. 2 against East Carolina.