2023 Season Countdown: #55 Jyaire Hill
Thanks to Ashley, David, and Stephen for the recent Paypal donations! Please use this LINK if you would also like to donate:
Name: Jyaire Hill
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 171 lbs.
High school: Kankakee (IL) Kankakee
Position: Cornerback
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #20
Last year: Hill was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 42 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 interceptions, and 3 forced fumbles.
TTB Rating: 88
Hill swooped in late during the 2023 recruiting class and quickly became one of the most exciting players in the group. Michigan needed help at cornerback and had struggled to land a big-time player at the position despite on-field success and a good chance of playing time if D.J. Turner II and Gemon Green decided to leave, which they did. (To be fair, Turner and Green did not announce their decisions until after the December signing day.) Hill had been one of Michigan’s top priorities at the position, but he was considering Illinois and Auburn, two programs whose success on the field in the past few years has paled in comparison to Michigan’s. So it seemed like an obvious choice, but Michigan had to sweat it out, anyway.
This season will be an interesting year for Hill and the cornerback position in general. Sophomore Will Johnson is a lock to start on one side, but the other side still seems up in the air. Amorion Walker was talked up in the spring, but he didn’t look good in the spring game. UMass transfer Josh Wallace is a multi-year starter who has the experience edge over everyone. And it’s also possible that nickel corner Mike Sainristil could play on the outside.
It would be a surprise if Hill leaps over those other guys for a starting role. I think he needs to wait until at least 2024 before he’s ready for that responsibility. But as a talented player at a position that’s going to need a new face next year – both Wallace and Sainristil will probably be gone – it would be good for Hill to get some experience in 2023.
Prediction: Backup cornerback
