Michigan Wolverines linebacker Jaishawn Barham is reportedly leaning towards returning to Ann Arbor for one more season, but not to play linebacker.
Instead, Barham could go the route that Abdul Carter went for Penn State and switch from linebacker to edge rusher. Barham is a quick-twitch athlete that is regarded as the hardest-hitting tackler on the team, and moving to the edge could be exactly what he needs to eventually reach his full potential.
The position change could be beneficial for Barham and the defense because it would allow him to attack the quarterback and create mismatches against opposing offensive linemen, using his impressive blend of physicality and speed. Michigan edge rusher TJ Guy explained why Barham’s skill set would translate to success on the defensive line.
“You see his frame and the violence he plays with. I think it just gives us another piece that the offense has to worry about, as a rusher and a dropper,” Guy said. “It’s going to be a problem for offensive lines.”
If Barham decides to return for his second season with the Wolverines, he could become part of a really solid group of pass rushers with Guy, Derrick Moore and Cameron Brandt. This would also mean Jimmy Rolder would likely slide into a starting linebacker spot next to Ernest Hausmann and open up room for incoming Georgia transfer Troy Bowles.
After transferring to Michigan from Maryland last year, Barham started all 12 games for the Wolverines in 2024 and was second on the team with 65 tackles. He also had 3.5 tackles for loss and one sack. Barham displayed glimpses of dynamic upside, especially late in the season, and switching to edge rusher would play to his strengths of generating pressure on the quarterback.
With the exception of the Wolverines’ defensive linemen, Barham earned the third-highest pass rushing grade on the team, according to Pro Football Focus. The 6-foot-3, 248-pounder registered 18 quarterback pressures (which was a team-high by a non-defensive lineman) on 86 pass rush snaps en route to receiving a solid 71.5 grade.
Barham seemingly struggled to find his footing at the beginning of the season, but started to find a rhythm late in the year. That upward trajectory could continue in 2025 with a switch to edge rusher. This potential move would bolster an already impressive pass rushing unit, making Michigan’s defense even stronger heading into next season.