Tag: Jason Hewlett

2024 Spring Football Preview: Linebacker

2023 Starters: MLB Junior Colson, WLB Michael Barrett
Losses: Colson (NFL), Barrett (NFL)
Returning players: Jaydon Hood (RS Jr.), Ernest Hausmann (Jr.), Micah Pollard (Jr.), Jimmy Rolder (RS So.), Semaj Bridgeman (RS Fr.), Jason Hewlett (RS Fr.), Hayden Moore (RS Fr.)
Newcomers: Jaishawn Barham (Jr.), Jeremiah Beasley (Fr.), Cole Sullivan (Fr.)
Projected starters: MLB Barham, WLB Hausmann

With the prevalence of the nickel position, linebacker has been somewhat de-emphasized in recent years. A position group that used to play three guys is now primarily whittled down to two. Michigan had a very good two in 2023 in Junior Colson and Michael Barrett, but both are off to the NFL. Both have had very different paths, with Colson playing three years – two as a starter – and Barrett bouncing around between running back, slot receiver, Viper, and weakside linebacker.

Michigan will have two new starting faces at linebacker in 2024, and both of them are transfers who previously wore red. Barham is a two-year starter at Maryland whom the Wolverines poached this off-season. Hausmann started as a freshman at Nebraska in 2022 before joining the Wolverines in 2023, rotating heavily with Colson and Barrett as basically a third starter. So while both will be new starters at Michigan, they have three combined years of starting and another year of heavily involvement out of four college seasons. That’s a ton of experience for two “new” starters and should help Michigan’s defense succeed in 2024.

The backup situation is a little murkier, especially with a new defensive coordinator (Wink Martindale) and a new linebackers coach (Brian Jean-Mary). Jimmy Rolder got a lot of experience in 2022 before playing sparingly in 2023 in the hopes of preserving his redshirt, which was a successful endeavor. Rolder seems like the most likely guy to emerge as a rotational guy or primary backup in 2024. Meanwhile, Jaydon Hood is a fourth-year player who was recruited by Jean-Mary to Michigan out of high school; some suspected Hood would have left by now with no clear path to playing time, but he’s still wearing a winged helmet.

Junior Micah Pollard has played a ton of special teams and some in a backup role, but the rest of the guys are total unknowns on the college level. Semaj Bridgeman, Jason Hewlett, and Hayden Moore all redshirted in 2023, and Michigan gets two early enrollees involved this spring with in-state product Jeremiah Beasley and Pennsylvanian Cole Sullivan. There are way too many players (10) in the linebacker room to support just two starting spots, so this is a position group that will certainly be thinned out by transfers within the next couple years. But for now, it will be interesting to see who could eventually step in, because both Barham and Hausmann could conceivably jump to the NFL with solid seasons in 2024.

2023 Season Countdown: #96 Jason Hewlett

Name: Jason Hewlett
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 215 lbs.
High school: Youngstown (OH) Chaney
Position: Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Hewlett was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 59 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 interceptions, and 3 forced fumbles on defense. He also recorded 14 catches for 317 yards and 3 touchdowns on offense, adding 2 defensive scores and 1 kickoff return touchdown.
TTB Rating: 81

Hewlett is a wild card from the 2023 class. As a 6’3″, 215 lb. wide receiver, kick returner, linebacker, and edge rusher in high school, he could play a variety of roles in college. While offense is probably not in the cards, Jim Harbaugh could probably turn him into a pretty decent H-back. With that speed and a decent frame, he could be a tough cover for defenders, but he might struggle with the blocking aspect.

But I digress.

Hewlett is more of a defensive athlete who could be an inside linebacker, turn into an outside linebacker, or even eventually put his hand down to play defensive end. I think his best spot is outside linebacker where he could potentially be a more explosive Jaylen Harrell. He’s not going to be that this season, though, and Harrell wasn’t a contributor as a freshman, either. Hewlett needs a year of bodily development and probably needs to focus on one position for a bit. He might get some garbage time snaps in a few games this year, but I expect it to be four or fewer so he can redshirt this season.

Prediction: Redshirt

Jason Hewlett, Wolverine

Youngstown (OH) Chaney linebacker Jason Hewlett committed to Michigan on Monday afternoon. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Kentucky, North Carolina State, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia, and he was committed to Cincinnati until recently.

Hewlett is listed at 6’4″ and 220 lbs.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 3-star, 79 grade, #33 OLB
On3: 3-star, 87 grade, #68 LB
Rivals: 3-star, 5.6 grade, #42 ATH
247 Sports: 4-star, 90 grade, #21 ATH

Hit the jump for more.