'2-Day' Improvement in the Michigan Wolverine Secondary

Coming out of spring there were three areas of concern that the Michigan coaching staff was going to need to address. The first was going to be the starting Quarterback, the second was adding WR depth and experience and the last area was the secondary. The quarterback position won't be answered unless Michigan can pull one off another team.  The wide receiver situation was taken care of two weeks ago when they added CJ Charleston and Amorion Walker.  Michigan used the portal again, but this time addressed the secondary. 

Thursday/Friday turned out to be fantastic days for Michigan as they added 3 pieces to the secondary in Albany’s Aamir Hall, Louisville’s Wesley Walker and Michigan State’s Jaden Mangham.  With the three additions, Michigan added much-needed depth and experience to the secondary room.  Since spring ball ended it has not taken Michigan long to address spots of need using the portal. 

Aamir Hall

Aamir Hall a 6-foot-1,201-pound cornerback heads to Michigan after playing at Albany last season. In 2023 Hall was an FCS All-American totaling 57 tackles, 13 pass breakups, and 5 interceptions, with 1 Touchdown (he also caused 1 Fumble). Hall adds depth at the cornerback position and will push for playing time come fall.

If Hall can put together a solid Fall camp there is a good chance he is playing opposite Will Johnson when the season starts.

Wesley Walker

Wesley Walker is a 6-foot-1,200-pound safety from Louisville, but only took part in spring ball there, as he played the 2023 season with Tennessee.  Michigan will be the 4th school Walker will attend in his college career.  Last season according to PFF, Walker allowed zero touchdowns on 340 coverage snaps, he also totaled 53 tackles, 1 sack, forced 1 fumble and had 2 pass breakups. 

After Rod Moore tore his ACL earlier in the spring and the transfers of Keon Sann and DJ Waller, Michigan needed depth at the safety position.  Walker gives them that depth and should come in and compete for the starting job with Zeke Berry, Makari Paige, Myles Pollard and Quinten Johnson.

Jaden Mangham 

The 6-foot-2,185-pound safety heads to the Michigan Wolverines from instate rival Michigan State and it's always a great feeling when you can pull a top player from a rival.  Mangham was the last commitment of the day and the one that Michigan fans took the most joy from, just because it spat sparty and he picked Michigan over Ohio State and Nebraska. In his last season for MSU, Mangham totaled 53 tackles, 3 pass breakups and four interceptions.  Mangham started in 10 games for MSU, was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and was one of the only bright spots in a very down year for MSU.  

Mangham has done the unthinkable and transferred from MSU to Michigan, having a former Spartan should help intensify a rivalry that doesn’t need it.  The good news for Manham is this backyard brawl is in Ann Arbor, not East Lansing.  Mangham will compete for playing time but, honestly, if I had to bet come Aug. 31 Jaden will be the starter.

Michigan Wolverines Summer Portal Finale

Michigan, since the end of the transfer portal summer window, has been able to quiet the critics who thought 2024 was going to be a big drop-off. Michigan now needs to shift attention from the transfer portal to building its 2025 class.    At this point, Michigan only has 5 Hard commits and has missed on a few key targets.  

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