Michigan defensive backs coach updates position battles in secondary

After spring camp, the biggest question regarding Michigan’s football program was the depth at the cornerback position. Assuming he’s healthy by the time the Wolverines take the field for their season opener June 2 against East Carolina, rising sophomore Will Johnson is penciled in as the No. 1 after a breakout freshman year. The Wolverines had zero starting experience behind Johnson this spring, but they might have found a solution for their other starting cornerback spot by adding UMass transfer Josh Wallace in June. The 6-foot, 190-pounder was a four-year starter for the Minutemen and was a two-time captain, compiling 140 tackles and three interceptions in 39 games. “Josh Wallace is a guy we brought in who is going to do a really good job for us,” Michigan defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale told Jon Jansen on the “In the Trenches” podcast this week. “He’s been able to adapt right away. He’s very willing to learn what’s going on, so I’m excited about him.” How quickly Wallace can learn the playbook and adjust to playing against better competition remains to be seen, but the Wolverines also have other options. Amorion Walker, who played six defensive snaps as a true freshman in 2022, remains a possibility. The 6-foot-3, 180-pounder was one of the most touted Michigan players during spring practices as coaches raved about his speed and athleticism. Head coach Jim Harbaugh said in late-February that he considered Walker a starter. Then came the Wolverines’ intrasquad scrimmage April 1, where he looked overmatched and out of position at times. Nevertheless, Clinkscale hasn’t lost confidence in his young defensive back. “I feel like Amorion is right where he needs to be,” Clinkscale said. “He had a pretty solid beginning of the spring, had a little bit of a roller coaster up and down, and now he’s fighting his way back up. That’s what you need to do. As a corner, it shouldn’t be all roses. I played corner. The guys that play corner, there have been times where you’ve lost the game for the team. You’ve been beat in a situation where you never forget about it. I’m 45 years old, I still remember the times I’ve gotten beat in the 90s. It’s never going to go away, but he’s doing a lot better job of building off it and not letting it stunt his growth. I’ve been very proud of him this summer and his ability to focus in.” Other players remain in the mix, such as fifth-year senior German Green, redshirt sophomore Ja’Den McBurrows redshirt freshman Myles Pollard, walk-on Keshaun Harris and freshman Jyaire Hill. There’s always a chance Michigan moves slot corner Mike Sainristil to the outside as well, Clinkscale said. “You have Mikey Sainrsitil who can play at safety, corner, nickel,” Clinkscale said. “Wherever we ask him to. He’s definitely the catalyst to that group and helping those guys improve their game. “The game has slowed down for him which was already not too fast. I’ve seen him grow definitely more as a leader. Not just holding people accountable because by his nature, by his work ethic, he’s always going to hold you accountable. He’s a lot more focused when you see him out there. You don’t see the smiling and joking all the time anymore. He’s about his business. This is his last go-around, and he knows that he can’t do that by himself.” At safety, Michigan has two players returning with starting experience in Rod Moore and Makari Paige. Fall camp will give other players an opportunity to make noise on the depth chart. “Our depth, we don’t do free (safety), strong (safety),” Clinkscale said. “We do right-left. You have to know every position. Our depth is actually pretty solid. The two initial guys in Rod Moore and Makari Paige. Quinten Johnson is doing a really good job for us. Keon Sabb is doing a great job. Zeke Berry and Caden Kolesar, we get back as well. Then you have Kody Jones, who is kind of doing a little bit of corner, nickel and safety. Mixing all those guys in there together. We have a couple of new guys we’re interested and really excited to see help us in that position.”