4. Michigan football breakout candidate No. 4: Michael Barrett, LB
Of the many faults that Michigan teams under Harbaugh have had, they Wolverines have consistently figured out ways to get top-end athletes and playmakers on the field. They did it with Jabrill Peppers and then Khaleke Hudson, moving them all over the field and just giving them the chance to make an impact on the game. Michael Barrett has the potential to fill the hole now left by Hudson in that regard.
Barrett was recruited as an athlete and he checks the box in that aspect. However, Harbaugh and the Michigan football staff decided to make him into a linebacker. To this point in his young college career, though, he’s been more of a “get him on the field wherever possible” type of guy rather than settling into any one role.
Last season, the young defender played most often on special teams and was one of the tone-setters on that unit for the Wolverines. But with Hudson gone, Barrett should step into the vaunted VIPER role for this defense, a hybrid safety linebacker that is basically a move player who is asked to where a number of hats.
From what we’ve seen from Barrett on special teams and with his recruitment profile as an athlete, he’s capable of stepping into that role and thriving. Though he’s inexperienced in this capacity, it would be a safe bet for him to be among the team’s leader in tackles and to come up with more than a handful of splash plays in the 2020 season.