Ernest Hausmann previews Michigan linebacker room

Historically, Michigan football hasn’t made a habit out of naming starters before the season begins — especially at quarterback. Over the past few seasons, the Wolverines have grown accustomed to keeping position battles as quiet as possible throughout fall camp and into the first game week.

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With fall camp set to begin next week, Michigan will almost certainly continue on its tradition of keeping fall camp developments inside Schembechler Hall.

But at linebacker this season, there is no speculation about who the Victors Valiant will trot out to open the season. Michigan returns both starters from last year’s squad: Ernest Hausmann and Jaishawn Barham — two seniors who are bound to be key pieces in Michigan’s defense this season.

Michigan’s linebacker duo combined for 155 tackles last season, playing behind a pair of first-round picks in Mason Graham (No. 5 overall) and Kenneth Grant (No. 13 overall).

Beyond Hausmann and Barham, though, Michigan’s depth at linebacker is largely inexperienced. Jimmy Rolder and Jaydon Hood are entering their fourth and fifth seasons with the program, respectively, but neither player has seen consistent snaps yet in his career in Ann Arbor.

On Thursday afternoon at Big Ten Media Days in Las Vegas, Hausmann met with reporters to discuss the upcoming season, and he divulged what the linebacker depth chart looks like beyond himself and Barham.

Hausmann highlighted Rolder and rising sophomore Cole Sullivan, in particular.

“[Rolder] is someone we looked at as a starter last year,” Hausmann said. “He’s very smart. He’s very versatile. He knows both positions. We can trust him to go in there and know any position and play it at a very high level. He’s done a really good job of staying locked in no matter what. And that’s what I respect about Jimmy. He never complains. He’s never, ‘I want more playing time — I want this.’ He’s just, ‘Let me know when I’m in, let me know my time and I’m going to execute my job,’ and I really appreciate that about Jimmy.”

Rolder appeared in 13 games as a freshman at Michigan in 2022, including nine appearances at linebacker. In 2023, Rolder missed a good chunk of the season due to an undisclosed injury, forcing him otherwise redshirt his second season in Ann Arbor.

Last year, the 6-foot-2, 240-pounder played in 12 games at linebacker, making 26 tackles.

Hausmann also spent time highlighting Sullivan, a stud sophomore. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, native made 12 appearances at special teams last season, with one appearance at linebacker for the Wolverines.

“Cole, he’s someone that has a very high ceiling,” Hausmann said. “I saw him day one when he first put the pads on, and it’s been really cool to see him grow. And for myself, if I can do anything to help him, because he has a very high ceiling and he’s going to do great things for his career here at Michigan and the future — same thing as Jimmy. So if there’s anything I can do to help expedite that process, for myself, using my experience of playing as a freshman, and helping him so that his second year now, he can have that big role, because I know he can do that. And he’s putting so much work in and I’m very excited to see him. Because his skill set, his size and his length is very, very dangerous for an offense.”

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