Michigan CB Jyaire Hill: Nebraska's 'Pat Mahomes' lookalike is a 'good player,' Wolverine star Jaishawn Barham is 'a killer'

Before former Michigan Wolverines football cornerback Will Johnson was making plays for the Arizona Cardinals, he was a standout in Ann Arbor while also spending a lot of his time mentoring younger players. Current junior cornerback Jyaire Hill spent two seasons watching and learning from Johnson, and now he’s viewed as the team’s top player at the position.

“I just looked at previous CB1s, seen how they take control, lead,” Hill said. “Will Johnson last year, so I just try to mirror what he did. 

“I’ve been leading more, more vocal to the team and the younger guys in the DB [group]. Vocal, stepping up and teaching the younger guys. I’ve been teaching them.”

Michigan has plenty of young talent at that spot, too, with no better example being that freshman Jayden Sanders, who enrolled in the summer ahead of the 2025 campaign, started last week against CMU with senior Zeke Berry out. Two more first-year corners — Elijah Dotson and Shamari Earls — also impressed against the Chippewas. Dotson had an impressive interception, the first of his career.

“I like his play. He’s a fun kid, funny kid,” Hill said. “He’s a little physical, a lot physical. I feel like he’s fast, he tracks the ball and he can catch, too. It wouldn’t surprise me if he played both sides.”

Hill redshirted as a freshman, like most defensive backs at Michigan. He’s impressed with the way Sanders has jumped in the lineup right away.

“That’s hard,” the Kankakee, Ill., native explained. “It’s impressive that he’s growing up. You’ve got to grow up, fresh out of high school, coming in. He probably didn’t expect to come in [and start], but he’s done a good job taking control of what he can handle.”

Michigan is entering Big Ten play, and Hill is confident in his team despite the 2-1 record coming out of the non-conference slate.

“The whole team is loaded,” he said. “Everybody is looked at as a one. If you travel, you’re a one.”

The first conference test will come at Nebraska Saturday afternoon. The Cornhuskers are 3-0 with wins over Cincinnati, Akron and Houston Christian and boast a passing offense with a high upside. Sophomore quarterback Dylan Raiola has completed 76.6 percent of his throws for 829 yards and 8 touchdowns with no interceptions, and the Cornhuskers have a dynamic wide receiving corps.

Hill was asked about Raiola and immediately pointed to the comparison between the Nebraska quarterback and Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes.

“What do they say, like a Pat Mahomes type of guy?” Hill said. “He’s a good quarterback, though. Good arm strength, fast and good player.

“Why do I say that? He kind of looks like him.”

Hill understands the challenge, and is confident Michigan will be ready for it.

“They’re a good team,” he explained. “We just have to come in and dominate. It’s the Big Ten — everybody’s got to come in and work [with a] winning mindset. Come in and win.”

Jaishawn Barham a ‘killer’

Last week, Michigan debuted a new look with senior linebacker Jaishawn Barham moving down to the defensive line to play edge rusher. He was all over the field in his 27 snaps, posting 2 sacks.

“He’s a dawg out there,” senior linebacker Jimmy Rolder said. “It’s fun to see. Having three linebackers out there, when I’m out there with him, it’s fun. Everyone’s out there running around, making plays.

“He’s fast, physical and dynamic. Put him wherever, and he’s going to make plays.”

Hill knows that Barham’s ability to get after quarterbacks helps Michigan’s secondary in coverage.

“A lot,” he added. “He’s a killer on defense, man. A lot of help. The quarterback doesn’t even get a lot of time, for real. He just wrecks everything, so it helps.”

It also means more playing time for Rolder.

“I’m just happy to be out there doing what I can, making plays and having fun,” he said.