This Michigan Defensive Player Is Ready To Make A Big Impact In 2023 After Getting Praise From Players And Coaches
Jaydon Hood came to Michigan in the 2021 class -- along with fellow linebacker Junior Colson. Colson was the star of the defensive class that season, but Hood was no slouch himself.
Coming from powerhouse Fort Lauderdale (Florida) St. Thomas Aquinas, Hood was a four-star recruit and chose Michigan over Alabama, Miami, Florida State, and others.
Entering his junior season in Ann Arbor, Hood has been biding his time to play. He has appeared in just four games over two seasons and has recorded four tackles.
The one-time depth piece for Michigan appears to be ready to explode on the scene in 2023.
Most of the talk centers around the usual suspects of Junior Colson, Mike Barrett, and newcomer Ernest Hausmann, but when you listen to the coaches and players speak -- Hood is ready to play.
Jim Harbaugh is extremely impressed with the 6-foot-1, 225-pound linebacker. He said Hood is right in the mix both defensively and on special teams to lock down a role.
"The guy who I’d say who’s asserted himself the most is Jaydon Hood," said Harbaugh earlier this week. "As far as where he was last year to where he is now. He is really getting right there in the mix -- special teams and defensively."
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Colson, who led the team in tackles last year with 101, says Hood is extremely locked in during practice. He says the Florida native is the last one to leave and stays to watch film.
"He’s ultra-focused on the moment," said Colson when speaking on Hood. "You can tell he stays here — especially during camp, he’s been one of the last ones to leave, watching film, trying to get better, trying to get as good as he can at football. He’s asking a lot more questions than he normally is. That's one thing he's matured in — maturity-wise, he's allowed his game to take that next step to reach that next level. He’s gonna keep going up and up."
If Michigan can get solid production from a guy like Hood -- who was highly recruited -- then the Wolverines' already strong linebacker core is going to be even stronger than anticipated in 2023.
Michigan will take the field on Sept. 2 against East Carolina.